Atrocity Story from Hooge, 1915

[SiegeGunner]

Baldur von Schirach, Reich Leader of the Hitler Youth, before his execution for war crimes.

This apparently now departed member used to specialise in illuminating WW1 discussions with references from WW2, which was evidently his own 'area of expertise'. For the record, Baldur von Schirach was sentenced to and served 20 years in Spandau and died in his bed in 1974.

[peterhogg]

I believe the quote is attributed to Hans Frank, GG of the Occupied Polish Territories prior to being hung for war crimes and crimes against humanity at Nuremburg.

[Guest]

General Nugent says "I have endeavoured to trace witnesses who could speak

as to the effect of the flame, but have been unable to trace a single man who got away from

the trench."

The flame attack is mentioned in (page 73) A brief history of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, 1755 to 1915

" Hardly had the Battalions exchanged places when, at 3.20 July 30th—31st.

a.m. on the 30th, the Germans began a burning gas attack Affair at H00GE.

upon the front of the trenches we had captured from them ten

days before, and at the same time a terrific shell and minenwerfer

fire was opened on the support trenches. The German

trenches were not more than twenty yards distant. What

actually was the effect of the flame attack we do not know, as not

a single man was left alive to tell the tale, except an officer's

servant, who escaped by a miracle. "

Mike

[Mark Hone]

Just to revive this 'Classic Thread': we shall be retracing the flammenwerfer attack and the 7th and 8th KRRC counter-attacks on our next school battlefields tour in October 2015. The action has a particular relevance for our school as we have Holmes's eyewitness account from 7th KRRC and old boy Rifleman W. D Lauria was killed serving with 8th KRRC. I shall have to reacquaint myself with all the fascinating material on this and other associated threads. Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to this.

[Mark Hone]

To get back to the original 'atrocity' story and the identity of the officer originally named by Corporal Holmes: Lieutenants Robert Longbottom, Francis Seymour and Sidney Henry Snelgrove appear to be the three possible candidates and in earlier posts, Longbottom was identified as the most likely. In preparation for our forthcoming visit to Hooge, I did a little research on the other two. Holmes states that the officer involved was only 19 and of slight build. If I've identified him correctly, Francis Seymour, a House of Commons Clerk in civilian life, was born in 1886, and Sidney Henry Snelgrove, from Tunbridge Wells was born in 1891. Therefore, unless Holmes was misinformed as to age, Longbottom appears to be the officer involved. From the photographs I have seen he also seems to be 'of slight build'.

[Cnock]

Hello,

I read this thread for the first time.

as Paul Reed stated, that brutality on the battlefield is noy linked to nationality.

see attach, from official history Würtemberg RIR 248

After the fighting of 24/25 May 1915 at Hooge, two German soldiers were found with their eyes stuck out. An official complaint was filed.

regards,

Cnock

[Mark Hone]

The author of the letter describing the 'atrocity' incident, Corporal Philip Holmes, was killed 100 years ago today. His story, together with transcripts of two of his letters, can be seen on our online Bury Grammar School Roll of Honour:

http://www.bgsarchive.co.uk/Filename.ashx?systemFileName=BGBSROH000015.pdf&origFilename=BGBSROH000015.pdf