R. Beamish Report - December 10, 1918
Transcript
Mission Militaire Francaise. Etat-Major. 1re Division de Cavalerie. [December 10, 1918] I have the honour to report the splendid behavior of the family in BERTRY (NORD), Madam BELMENT-GOBERT, and her son-in-law, LOUIS BASQUIN, who for nearly four years have kept hidden in their home an English soldier of the 11th Hussars, No. 2419 Pte. Patrick, FOWLER. On January 15th, 1915, M. Louis BASQUIN, as he was going through BERTRY wood, discovered this British soldier, lying on the ground sick and exhausted and almost dead of starvation. He took him to his house. The next day at dusk, he led him to the house of his mother-in-law, who offered to take care of him. Since that day to the time that BERTRY was re-captured by the British troops, Mme. and Mdlle. BELMENT-GOBERT kept this soldier in their house, hiding him successively in a wardrobe, in a spring mattress, under the steps of a stair case, in a chimney, and in holes dug in the cellars, even when the houses were searched by the Germans, when troops were billeted in the house, and in spite of the penalties proclaimed by the "Kommandantur" against inhabitants who should give shelter to soldiers of the Allied Armies, or civilians unregistered in the books of the Commune (confiscation of property, death or deportation). Thus Pte. FOWLER, from [January 16, 1915] to [October 10, 1918], lived compeltely at the expense of Mme. and Mlle. BELMENT-GOBERT, who had to deprive themselves to feed him. Diring all that time he very rarely went out of these hiding places, except disguised as a woman or as a civilian, always accompanied by Mme. BELMENT, her daughter or her son-in-law. In order to avoid risk of disclosure, she explained the situation only to very few people, namely M. BAUDET the Pharmacist, Mme. Vaudoit Antoine, who herself gave shelter to this British soldier in order to mislead the searchers when the houses were re-inspected, and Mme. CAIL, who keeps a farm, and provided milk and eggs, while he was sick. In March, 1918, Mmr. BELMENT-GOBERT had to vacate her house in the "Rue de Clos" which was requisitioned by the German authorities, and had to live in a small cottage in the "Ruelle de sac". She herself moved her furniture in a small cart, Patrick Fowler being hidden in the wardrobe. Finally, during the last days of the German occupation, the inhabitants of BERTRY received the order to vacate the village and to occupy the big factory on the TROISVILLES road. Mme. BELMENT then pretended to be sick, refused to go with the other people, and went with her daughter and the English soldier to hid in the cellar of their neighbor Mmr. POULAINE- Memaire, who gave them shelter and aided them in avoiding the German Police. In order not to abandon Patrick Fowler, in case they should be obliged to leave BERTRY, Mme. and Mlle. BELMENT had arranged to carry him in a small handcart, concealing him in a big bag containing washing. In December, 1916, Mmr. BELMENT'S younger daughter obtained permission from the Kommandantur to leave with a patry of repatriated civilians, and thus was able to send from Paris news of Pte. Fowler to his wife and children. It would take a whole volume describe in detail the experiences of htese two women, but I thought it my duty to bring to your notice the admirable conduct of the family BELMENT-GOBERT. Mmr. and Mlle. BELMENT risked their lives and suffered great privations in order to save this British soldier. (Sd) R. Beamish Officer Interpreter attached HQ 1st Cav. Div.
Transcript
Remarks added by Lt. Col. Anderson, C.B. D.S.O. Commanding XI Hussars. On receiving the report I at once visited BERTRY with Lieut. BEAMISH and satisfied myself as to its accuracy. I found M. LOUIS BASQUIN in bed, dangerously ill with consumption. I tried to thank him. His answer revealed as nothing else could have done the pure and beautiful patriotism of the French people. "Monsieur, you have nothing to thank me for. I was too ill to fight for my country, and I wished to do my duty. I could do no less." They have no wish for any monetary reward, and would resent the suggestion. Mme. BELMENT-GOBAIN appreciated greatly the suggestion of a memento from the Regiment, and this she will of course receive. 13th October, 1918
Details
| Title | R. Beamish Report - December 10, 1918 |
| Creator | Beamish, R. |
| Source | Beamish, R. R. Beamish Report. 10 December 1918. Boyce, Joseph Collection, 1844-1913. A0161. The Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | In this report, dated December 10, 1918, R. Beamish wrote concerning the discovery of a hidden English soldier in Bertry, France. |
| Subject LCSH | Great Britain. Army. British Expeditionary Force; Great Britain. Army--Cavalry; Great Britain. Army. Royal Army Medical Corps; World War, 1914-1918--France |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | A0161 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | December 10, 1918 |
| Language | English |