Shot at Dawn
Soldat Fortunat Auger, the first Canadian soldier Shot at Dawn in the Great War, also shares the rare distinction of having been buried in both Belgium and France.
A Swan of Ypres
Soldat Fortunat Auger 23621 an architect and carpenter, enlisted at the age of 23 years, 6 months at Valcartier, Quebec, 28 August 1914. Mother Rose-Anna Perreault (b. 4 September 1874) and Father Joseph Cyrice Auger (b. 6 February 1869) of 2500 Boul. Rosemont, Montréal, PQ. Fortunat had seven siblings.
A French-Canadian Catholic, standing 5′ 4″ tall, Auger had volunteered with the Royal Montreal Infantry Battalion. Auger’s unit part of the first Canadian Expeditionary Force Contingent to arrive in England before Christmas 1914.
Honourable Captain Adolphe Ludger Sylvestre
Auger sailed from Quebec per SS SCOTIAN, 4 October 1914. On Christmas Eve 1914, Captain Adolphe Ludger Sylvestre, Roman Catholic Chaplain of the Battalion, celebrated Mass in a hut occupied by the French-Canadian soldiers from the Carabiniers de Mont-Royal.
Subsequently, the 14th Battalion posted to France and Soldat Fortunat Auger entered the trenches at Fleurbaix.
Soldat Fortunat Auger first saw Ypres on 16 April 1915.
Auger may have seen the Swans of Ypres at this time.
Before the month over, his battalion sustaining huge casualties in the Second Battle of Ypres – the first gas attacks.
Quickly followed by a further large loss of life at the Battle at Festubert. From the 19th to 22nd of March, the battalion losing 75 other ranks killed and wounded, bringing the total for the engagement up to 143.
Ploegsteert Wood
On 29 June 1915 the Battalion paraded at 2.30 p.m. and marched three miles to near Steenwerck, following this move by another short march on the 30th to billets near la Crèche. Fortunat spent four nights at la Crèche, marching on the evening of July 5th and relieving the 4th Canadian Battalion in trenches in front of Ploegsteert Wood.
On the way forward to the ‘Plug Street’ trenches, passing through Ploegsteert Wood, Fortunat much interested in the board walks bearing the names of London streets, with the field batteries hidden in attractive surroundings. The Headquarters huts, reminded Auger of log cabins in the sugar bushes back home.
AWOL
Between November and early December 1915, Soldat Fortunat Auger went AWOL twice and charged accordingly. Having absconded for a third time in December 1915, tried for Desertion by Field General Court Martial (FGCM). However, found guilty only of being AWOL sentenced to 12 months hard labour. However, Fortunat serves less than a month of his sentence.
Just prior to his release, Fortunat completes his will on 2 January 1916, leaving all to his parents. Perhaps his first will lost, as this rather unusual for a soldier having already been to the front.
Field General Court Martial
Just a week later, 11 January 1916, Soldat Fortunat Auger AWOL yet again. Although the reasons for his actions are unknown, perhaps justifiably argued Auger had adopted something of a cavalier attitude. Maybe Private Auger could beat the military disciplinary system? After all, he had got away with AWOL three times in quick succession without any dire consequences.
Soldat Fortunat Auger once again found himself on trial at a FGCM. Lacking adequate (if any) counsel, Fortunat pleaded guilty to Desertion, unaware of the consequence. As no Canadian soldiers yet Shot at Dawn, authorities wrestled for some time with Auger’s fate. Promulgation of the verdict delayed, Fortunat remains in detention.
Messines Front
From 1 to 25 March 1916, the 14th Battalion continued to move in and out of the trenches. Large working parties to the Engineers at frequent intervals and, when in the line, instructing platoons from the 58th Canadian Battalion and the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion.
On 18 March 1916 Lieut-Col Frank William Fisher left the battalion to take over duties in England. Fisher commanded the Regiment for nearly five months. A period when no battle honours gained. But, during which the battalion accomplished work calling for courage, endurance, and marked determination.
Fisher refused repeated demands for an ‘example’, but now Soldat Fortunat Auger’s fate determined by Major Robert Percy Clark.
Major Robert Percy Clark, MC
When Lieut-Col F W Fisher returned to England, command of the 14th Battalion, Royal Montreal Regiment passed. Assumed by Major Robert Percy Clark, MC (shortly afterwards promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel).
Major Clark had crossed from Canada with the First Canadian Contingent. Proceeded to France on the Staff of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade. And, subsequently served as Staff Captain at Canadian Corps Headquarters. His work had merited the Military Cross, and devotion to duty had marked him for promotion to command of a battalion. Accordingly, Fisher accepted command of the Royal Montreal Regiment. Just when the unit completing a long period of service on the front opposite Messines.
The battalion now preparing to move back to the Ypres Salient. Fortunat can hardly believe his eyes when he sees Cloth Hall again.
Ypres Salient
On 17 March 1916 the first units of the Canadian Corps moved out. Others following daily and marching to replace units of the British V Corps, holding the Salient’s southern curve. However, before the 14th Battalion moved out, Clark forwarded Fortunat’s case for Promulgation. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, Sir Douglas Haig approved.
First Canadian Shot at Dawn
Fortunat spent his last night with Captain Adolphe Ludger Sylvestre, the 14th Battalion’s Roman Catholic Chaplain. The story of how Major Canon Frederick George Scott would plead for Sergeant William Alexander‘s life gives insight on what may have occurred during Auger’s last hours.
At 4:43 am on Sunday 26 March 1916, accompanied by Father Sylvestre, Private Fortunat Augers led out of his cell in Steenwerck. Brought to Trois Rois Camp, just over four kilometers away. There, Fortunat immediately tied to a post by his shoulders, knees and ankles.
Now blindfolded, a circle of white pinned to Auger’s chest over his heart. He faced a company of his own unit. A squad selected with a draw of straws the night before. Now standing with their backs to him awaiting the order to turn, aim and fire.
Blank cartridge
A firing squad typically consisted of between 6 to 12 men. One rifle randomly loaded with a blank cartridge, or so goes the story. Commanding officers would console themselves, thinking the soldiers would not know if they had fired the fatal shot. A ridiculous and perverse assumption. The man firing the blank shot would understand immediately by the lack of recoil. His gun did not contain a bullet.
A signal, rather than a verbal command given. Again, designed to help the prisoner, but actually to ease the burden of the commanding officer. Acts of cowardice not reserved solely for the condemned.
At dawn, 5:06 am on 26 March 1916, Private Fortunat Auger made the Ultimate Sacrifice. Becoming the first Canadian born soldier to be Shot at Dawn in the Great War.
Lt-Col R P Clark then paraded his men before the corpse.
This is what happens to anyone found guilty of desertion.
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Percy Clark, MC
Lieutenant General Sir Edwin Alfred Hervey Alderson, KCB
The battalion inspected by the GOC of the 1st Canadian Division the following day. Lieutenant General Sir Edwin Alfred Hervey Alderson, KCB, who had also approved of Fortunat’s execution.
Private Fortunat Auger’s Death Card reveals initially buried in “Douane” Neuve-Eglise at Sheet 28.T.20.c.6.4, Row A, Grave C. Fifteen Canadian soldiers eventually buried here. The location opposite Custom House beside Bulford Camp.
Two days later, on 28 March 1916, the 14th Battalion leaves Trois Rois Camp at 09h30. Five hours later arrived at CANADA HUTS, northeast of Poperinghe.
The Swans of Ypres
At 9:15 o’clock on the night of 29 March 1916, the 14th Battalion relieved the 7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Now in Brigade Reserve positions at Swan Chateau, Woodcote House, Sunken Road, Blauwe Poort Farm, Café Belge, and Canal Dugouts. These locations, familiar to all troops visiting the southern curve of the Salient. Famous in song and story, but Swan Chateau is probably the most famous of all.
These swans lived through all the shelling that Ypres has gone through. The centre bird born during the Great War.
Avant la guerre
The inhabitants of the Chateau driven away by the approach of war, and the house suffered appreciably from German shells. But, in its battered moat there still floated a white swan. Sole survivor of a flock whose dignified movements had delighted visitors in the far-off days avant la guerre. This bird suffered from the war and one eye torn out by shrapnel.
Like the Chateau, however, the bird awaited with apparent fortitude the day when the Hun should tread the soil of France no more. Accepting in the meantime such courtesy and attention as the khaki-clad allies of Belgium cared to offer. At first the bird presented difficulties to the kind-hearted British Army. But, long before the 14th Battalion arrived on the scene, some genial adjutant had solved the problem. Listing the swan as “trench stores”.
Each incoming unit signed a receipt for the “trench stores” in question and drew rations for the swan until relieved. Probably this swan the only one which has appeared on the ration strength of the British Army.
Courts Martials Sealed
In 1919, the British War Office stipulated all death penalty trial records to remain confidential for one hundred years. Initially, the decision met by initial condemnation. Also characterized as a wish to protect the identity of Officers responsible for carrying out the verdicts of the Courts Martial. However, the War Office also mindful of social stigma. What of the families of the 346 executed soldiers?
Unaware of their men’s fate, some led to believe their relative killed in action. In 2022, Canadian Courts Martial records of the Great War still sealed.
Trois Arbres Cemetery
Irrespective of military rank or record, each service man and woman uniformly commemorated by name on a headstone or memorial. In addition, the CWGC continues to ensure their cause of death remains undisclosed on their headstones.
Steenwerck a village about 6 kilometres south-east of Bailleul, and also to the east of the road from Bailleul to Estaires. The cemetery 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.
Douane Cemetery, Neuve-Eglise
The site for Trois Arbres Cemetery initially chosen for the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in July 1916. Plot I, 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. Finally, after the Armistice, over 700 graves brought into it from the battlefields of Steenwerck, Nieppe, Bailleul and Neuve-Eglise.
Graves from several graveyards also concentrated into Trois Arbres Cemetery, including Douane Cemetery, Neuve-Eglise. The Custom House on the road from Neuve-Eglise to Nieppe, which contained the graves of 15 soldiers from Canada, and also four from the United Kingdom who fell in 1915-16.
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