Death of Corporal Trésignies
From the Account Given by First Sergeant-Major ---- of the 2nd Regiment
of Unmounted Chasseurs.
On the 20th of August, the Belgian army, supported by the line of the
Antwerp Forts, took position on the Rupel and the Nèthe. In front of
it, the 3rd and 9th German Corps were quartered. On learning that
violent fighting was going on on the Sambre and in the direction of
Mons, a _sortie_ was decided upon for the 25th and 26th of August. The
6th Division took Hofstade and the Schiplaeken Woods. The 1st and 5th
Divisions took Sempst, Weerde, and Eppeghem; but, on the left wing,
the 2nd Division could not gain the left bank of the Louvain canal
and, in the centre, the 6th Division could not occupy Elewyt. The
army, therefore, returned to the retrenched camp.
On the 26th of August, 1914, towards nine in the morning, a platoon of
the 2nd Unmounted Chasseurs, under the command of First Sergeant-Major
---- occupied a trench, constructed by the Germans, at Pont-Brûlé, on
the south bank of the Willebroeck Canal. A continual rain of balls
from the enemy's lines soon made the position impossible, even for our
men who were firing as they lay on the ground. There was no retreat
possible. It was necessary, therefore, at all costs, to cross the
canal. There was a bridge only a few yards away, but its platform was
raised and the crank of the windlass was on the opposite bank.
The Sergeant attempted to construct a raft, but this was almost
impossible, as the necessary material was lacking and the enemy's
firing was too frequent and violent. He was compelled to give up this
idea.
"A good swimmer who will volunteer to cross the canal!" he cried out.
"Present!" replied Private Trésignies, getting up from the ground.
"It is to go and lower the bridge, my boy."
"Right, Sergeant."
Quite tranquilly, Trésignies wrote on a slip of paper the following
words for his wife: "Adieu, it is for the King." He handed the message
to his officer, slipped off his clothes, and sprang into the water.
Whilst he was swimming, the Sergeant called out to him: "Trésignies, in
the name of the Colonel, I appoint you Corporal."
Trésignies smiled in answer to the words, crossed the canal, reached
the other bank, climbed on to the abutment of the bridge, and seized
the crank. He first turned it the wrong way, raising the bridge still
higher, but, on seeing his mistake, he turned it the opposite way. The
bridge slowly descended. The man's tall figure stood out against the
horizon, looking like an antique statue. The firing from all sides was
now aimed at him. His thighs and his arms were hit. The blood spurted
from his wounds and ran down his body. He continued turning, as though
nothing had happened, determined to accomplish his work of deliverance.
He went on turning and turning until his heart was pierced and he
fell down on the blue stone. After a few nervous twitches, his body
remained still and lifeless, the head hanging down....
* * * * *
In remembrance of this hero, the Municipal Council of Antwerp decided
that one of the streets of the capital should be named after Corporal
Trésignies, and that a subscription should be opened for the benefit of
his widow and two children.