Shot at Dawn
Private Fortunat Auger the first Canadian soldier to be Shot at Dawn during the Great War on 26 March 1916. Major Robert Percy Clark, MC having recently taken command of the 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment) intended to send a strong message to the many undisciplined soldiers of his unit.
Fortunat Auger born in Ste Marie, Montreal 23 December 1890. Fils de Joseph Auger de Montréal, Québec. Fortunat Auger’s family have been able to trace their roots in Canada back to Pierre Auger (1664-1736) born in France. He had arrived in Quebec by 1685 and the Auger family remained mainly in Quebec well into the 1900’s. Almost a quarter of the country’s eligible men lived in Quebec in 1914, but only about 10% Quebec-born.
Attestation of Private Fortunat Auger
Auger an Architect/Carpenter by trade, Roman Catholic, and a member of the Active Militia when he volunteered for the Great War.
Private Fortunat Auger 23621 attested 23 September 1914, with the Régiment de Maisonneuve – 85th Regiment at Valcartier, Quebec, at this time he stood 5’4″ tall, with fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
Auger with the 12th Battalion as of 28 September 1914.
12th Battalion
Organized Valcartier Camp composed of recruits from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel H F McLeod, and embarked from Quebec 1 October 1914 aboard SCOTIAN, later disembarked England 14 October 1914 with a strength of 54 officers, 1156 other ranks. Then, 6th, 9th, 11th and 12th Battalions became Canadian Training Depot on 17 January 1915, and absorbed by new 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 4 January 1917.
Colours presented at Valcartier by Lady Hazen on 30 September 1918, and later deposited in Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton. In addition, Perpetuated by The York Regiment, which, on 1936, amalgamated with The Carleton Light Infantry to form The Carleton and York Regiment. Also perpetuated by The Royal Rifles of Canada.
Private Fortunat Auger’s unit sailed 3 October 1914.
14th Battalion
The 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment) organized in Valcartier Camp, and composed of recruits from Montreal, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Stephen Meighen, later embarked from Quebec 30 September 1914 aboard ALAUNIA and ANDANIA, disembarked England 16 October 1914 with a strength of 46 officers, 1101 other ranks.
Disembarked in France 10 February 1915, 1st Canadian Division, 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion. Finally, returned to England 15 March 1919., and disembarked in Canada 18 April 1919, demobilized 20 April 1919. In addition, Colours presented by Duke of Connaught in February 1919, and deposited in Church of St James the Apostle on 28 September 1919. Perpetuated by The Royal Montreal Regiment.
First Desertion of Private Fortunat Auger
The 14th Battalion entered the trenches during the Battle of Festubert on 26 May 1915. While on active service, Private Fortunat Auger deserting his Majesty’s service on 26 May 1915 – absent from trench – 2 days.
On 9 November 1915, the 14th Battalion leave Kortepyp Huts and enter the trenches. Again, while on active service, Auger deserting his Majesty’s service 10 November 1915 – absent from trench – 4 days. The 14th Battalion into Brigade Reserve later at Courte Dreve Farm on 4 November 1915.
Having absconded for a third time in December 1915, Auger tried for Desertion by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM), but found guilty only of being AWOL and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Such long terms typically reduced – Auger released and returned to his unit during the first week of January 1916.
Last Will and Testament of Private Fortunat Auger
Just prior to his release, on 2 January 1916 Fortunat completes his will.
Je donne tout ce qui mai partier a mes parrent, pere Jos Auger et ma mere Rosana Perreau.
Fortunat Auger
Less than a week goes by, and while on active service, Private Fortunat Auger deserting his Majesty’s service on 8 January 1916 – left trenches without orders – 3 days. The 14th Battalion had just entered the trenches from Red Lodge on 7 January 1916, and later back into Divisional Reserve at Kortepyp Huts on 11 January 1916.
Again, while on active service, deserting his Majesty’s service on 15 January 1916 – disappeared on his way up to the front line – 9 days. The 14th Battalion returned to the trenches on 23 January 1916.
Second Field General Court Martial of Private Fortunat Auger
Private Fortunat Auger again tried by FGCM on 15 March 1916, and later sentenced – Executed for Desertion.
Found guilty of desertion Field General Court Martial 15-3-16. Maximum punishment carried out at 5:43 am, 26 March 1916.
FGCM
Lt Col F W Fisher
Having suffered many cases of military indiscipline and crime over the previous year, the 14th Battalion had undergone a change of Commander. Unit discipline problems including Auger’s absences, began just after Lieutenant-Colonel Frank William Fisher took command of the battalion.
After being in control for only five months, a period where no battle honours gained, Fisher swiftly replaced on 18 March 1916 by Major Robert Percy Clark, MC (shortly afterwards promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel). With this change at the top, there was an inevitable tightening of order. Clark had responsibility for signing off the death sentence on Private Auger just eight days after he assumed command. His decision intended to serve as a severe warning to the rest of 14th Battalion that such behaviour not tolerated.
On 25 March 1916, the 14th Battalion moved from Red Lodge to Rest Area No.2, near Bailleul.
First Canadian Shot at Dawn
First Canadian Shot at Dawn, 26 March 1916. Immediately buried at Douave Neuve Eglise.
At 9:30 am on 28 March 1916, the 14th Battalion proceeded, reaching Canada Huts, near Ouderdom, five hours later.
Exhumation
Following the Great War, Auger’s remains exhumed from Douane Neuve Eglise, Sheet 28.T.20.c.6.4 Row A, Grave C and interred at Les Trois Arbes Military Cemetery, Sheet 36.B.13.a.7.1, Plot III, Row A, Grave 6.
Douane Cemetery, Neuve-Eglise, at the Custom House on the road from Neuve-Eglise to Nieppe, contained the graves of 15 soldiers from Canada and four from the United Kingdom who fell in 1915-16.
Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck
Steenwerck is a village about 6 kilometres south-east of Bailleul, and to the east of the road from Bailleul to Estaires. The Trois Arbres Cemetery is situated to the north-east midway between the village and the main road from Bailleul to Armentieres and north of the recently built motorway.
Steenwerck village remained untouched for much of the Great War, but on 10 April 1918 captured by the Germans and remained in their possession until the beginning of October. Trois-Arbres passed into German hands a day later than Steenwerck, after a rearguard defence by the 34th Division.
The site for Trois Arbres Cemetery chosen for the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in July 1916, and Plot 1 and the earlier rows of Plot II, made and used by that hospital until April 1918. A few further burials made in the cemetery after the German withdrawal at the end of 1918 and after the Armistice, over 700 graves brought into it from the battlefields of Steenwerck, Nieppe, Bailleul and Neuve-Eglise.
1,704 Commonwealth servicemen of the Great War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 435 of the burials unidentified but there are special memorials to ten casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The cemetery designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
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