Aurel Sercu Posted 28 December , 2014 Share Posted 28 December , 2014 A question on behalf of an acquaintance, Roger, from Roesbrugge, a village north of Poperinge. He is doing research on Roesbrugge soldiers, One of them is Octaaf Decra. His name is on the commemoration plaque in Roesbrugge (see the bottom line on the photo), saying that he died in "Dunerivie". From another (handwritten) source we know that this first -E- should have been a -C-. (It looks like later the centre of the E was not blackened, maybe in order to make it look like a C ?) And we also know, from the handwritten source, that this is a place in Scotland. Probably Duncrievie. I think there is no doubt about that. But the question is : what was that Belgian soldier doing in a tiny (?) village like Duncrievie ? Was he being treated there for wounds ? This Forum doesn't mention that village anywhere. Was this a place where wounded (Belgian or other) soldiers recovered or so ? Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 28 December , 2014 Share Posted 28 December , 2014 Hello Aurel I found this in a Perthshire paper from September 1915. It may be a piece of the jigsaw And the second article from 1922....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 28 December , 2014 Share Posted 28 December , 2014 Could he be Octave Marcel Corneille De Cra, who died 22 Dec 1914 Buried in PERTH (WELLSHILL) CEMETERY (Perthshire) (CWGC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 28 December , 2014 Share Posted 28 December , 2014 Aberdeen Journal, 24 December 1914 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theletterwriter Posted 28 December , 2014 Share Posted 28 December , 2014 Aurel The Statutory Records via Scotland's People confirms that Octave de Cra was a sergeant in the 12th. Regiment of the Line, Belgian Army age 31 years old. He died as a result of an accidental gunshot wound on 22 December 1914 in a wood near Duncrievie House, occupied by the Reverend Dr. Adamson. Sgt. de Cra's parents were Arthur de Cra and his wife, Stephanie (maiden surname Christiaen). Douglas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 28 December , 2014 Share Posted 28 December , 2014 And the following day...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 28 December , 2014 Share Posted 28 December , 2014 Has ever such a sad story been laid out from scratch in 36 minutes! Extraordinary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 28 December , 2014 Share Posted 28 December , 2014 One outstanding question - the name of the chap who fired the fatal shot. I can't quite make it out in this article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 Perhaps it's best that a veil is drawn over the unfortunate Joseph's surname - but I suppose there would have been a coroner's report on the death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpf1958 Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 Fascinating tale, will pop up and have a look when I next visit Poperinghe. Thanks to everyone who researched the story. Wilhelm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 29 December , 2014 Author Share Posted 29 December , 2014 Stephen, Douglas, CGM, When a new member joins the Forum, for a specific question, I often read that when he discovers the postings after his initial question, how amazed he is, and grateful to the helpful older members. And then I think : "You are amazed ? Well, isn't that "normal" ? For that is the way this Forum works. You ask a question, and you get your answers ... As simple as that......." After all these years I have come to realize that hardly one question (also of mine) remains unanswered. But I must say that when I posted my topic yesterday on the Belgian soldier who had died in Scotland, I thought : "Well, at least I have tried ... And if no one can help with this - which will turn out to be very likely - then life goes on ..." But to my surprise, already after half an hour the problem was solved ! And in a really stunning way ! Who had thought that reality was not that Soldier Octaaf Decra had not died of his wounds incurred in Belgium, but in a hunting accident ! And ... with paper clippings explaining the tragic circumstances of his death ! Thanks again, especially Stephen ! And I have already contacted my friend Roger in Roesbrugge. He is so pleased with the result. This Forum is indeed amazing ! Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 And to complete the story, a photograph of his grave. He seems to be listed on a stone which commemorates others. (Maybe others who died at Duncreve House. I can see Black Watch mentioned.) CGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 What a magnificent Christmas present from the forum to our Pals in Belgium! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 Happy to help Aurel, and to repay some of the many many favours you have done for me over the years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 Perhaps it's best that a veil is drawn over the unfortunate Joseph's surname - but I suppose there would have been a coroner's report on the death. No Coroner in Scotland. There would probably be the brief result of the procurator fiscal's enquiry which would be a kind of appendix to the death record (In scotlandspeople there would be a link to it.). It would be brief, usually speaking only to the time, place and cause of death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdr Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 impressive work ! Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lang Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 An incredible story. Just incredible. Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 29 December , 2014 Author Share Posted 29 December , 2014 Thanks all, again. There are things that make a man's day. This topic is one of them. For my and Roger's day. Stephen and Mick and CGM, I'll send you a PM. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 29 December , 2014 Share Posted 29 December , 2014 Aurel, I have replied to your PM. CGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieLola Posted 6 August , 2016 Share Posted 6 August , 2016 I know this is an old thread, but I found it while googling Octaaf (Octave) De Cra. i live in Perth and am currently involved in a project researching local men. I found, through my research, that there was a solitary Belgian soldier buried here in our cemetery. as I have a love of all thing Belgian, I wanted to find out more about him and I am grateful to Stephen and others for filling in some of the blanks. i see there are 3 Black Watch solders with him, and I will try and find out why they are in the same grave, especially as they died at different times. It's also unusual that they don't have the white military headstone. Anyway, here's a picture of his headstone that I took today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieLola Posted 6 August , 2016 Share Posted 6 August , 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysie Posted 7 August , 2016 Share Posted 7 August , 2016 There are also two Belgian soldiers buried in St Kentigerns RC cemetery in Glasgow ,we found their grave stones last week. Mary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 7 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 7 August , 2016 Auntie Lola, You wrote : " as I have a love of all thing Belgian" ... Let me calculate ... You wrote that 21 hours ago. That must have been yesterday 10 p.m. (my time here). So that was approx. an hour after our Belgian (Flemish) rider Greg Van Avermaet triumphantly raised his arms in Rio de Janeiro ? So you should gave written : "And now that Greg Van Avermaet triumphanty etc .... I even have more love for all things Belgian !" :-) Serious now. Thanks ! And right after this I will forward the photo and the additional information to Roger (the acquaintance from Roesbrugge, from where Octave De Cra was). Mary, Who are the two Belgian soldiers ? (I am only asking because I may give their names (= additional information) to In Flanders Fields Research Centre, for their "Namenlijst". Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysie Posted 7 August , 2016 Share Posted 7 August , 2016 They are L F G BARRE 29/10/1914 A P G BOUNDON 22/1/1915. They are both on the CWGC SITE, For Glasgow St Kentigerns.If you go on to the Scottish War Graves site you will see the stone for them. Mary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
healdav Posted 8 August , 2016 Share Posted 8 August , 2016 Could you send the photo and details to: Patrick DeWolf at: ABL1914@pandora.be He is revising the inventory of Belgian war graves, and I am sure would like the details of this rather obscure grave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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