" A curious incident "

[Skipman]

At the beginning of August 1915, troops of the 15th (Scottish) Division were being given an introduction to trench warfare, with short tours of the front line. In the history of The 15th (Scottish) Division Lt-Col J Stewart & John Buchan

" A curious incident occurred during this tour. Early one morning, just as it was getting light, a woman was seen to climb through the German front wire and run across No Man's Land towards the junction of the British and French lines. She got about half-way before the enemy opened fire on her. Nothing daunted, she ran on, and finally reached the French wire under heavy fire. By this time both the French and the British were alive to the situation, and shouting to her to lie down, they opened rapid fire on the enemy trenches. Unfortunately the poor woman either did not hear or by this time had completely lost her head. Taking no notice of the order, screaming with terror, she tried frantically to push her way through the wire, only to collapse a few seconds later riddled with German bullets. Had she lain down it would have been an easy task to bring her in. Her body was recovered that night, and from papers found on it she proved to be a native of Lens. "

Has anyone come across this in war diaries?

Mike

[Steven Broomfield]

Are you sure she wasn't a Turkish sniper on attachment?

[Guest]

Are you sure she wasn't a Turkish sniper on attachment?

Mike

[centurion]

One can only surmise - a French agent who had been "blown upon" trying to escape?

[Guest]

One can only surmise - a French agent who had been "blown upon" trying to escape?

Quite possibly. Would such a casualty be entitled to a Commonwealth War Grave, if a British Agent?

Mike

[hazelclark]

Can't see it mentioned in the Diaries, although i also had seen it in the History. Thought she was just someone trying to escape the Germans.

H