From Convent to Conflict; Or, A Nun's Account of the Invasion of Belgium — John Shaqi
From Convent to Conflict; Or, A Nun's Account of the Invasion of BelgiumMarie Antoine, Sister
History
From Convent to Conflict; Or, A Nun's Account of the Invasion of Belgium
Marie Antoine, Sister
Couvent des Filles de Marie (Willebroeck, Belgium); World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Belgium
Many doctors rode along in motor cars. They were distinguished by a
special dark-colored uniform, with a red collar and gilded trimmings.
They also wore the arm-band of the Red Cross. Officers on horseback led
each division of the army. The faces of all were disfigured with sweat
and dust, while dust in abundance covered shoes and clothing. Some were
staggering along, unable to walk straight, owing to the hard shoes and
blistered feet. Hollow-cheeked, and with eyes which seemed to protrude
from their sockets, they passed along, piteously imploring a morsel of
bread.
Fortunately, the abundant supply of bread in the Convent had just been
increased by the addition of forty of those immense loaves found only in
Belgium. All of this was hastily cut, buttered and, with baskets full of
pears, dealt out, piece by piece, to the passing soldiers, until,
finally, only a small portion remained over for the supper of the
wounded remaining in the hospital.
The servant maids went out to the village later in search of bread, but
there was not a loaf to be found anywhere. All had been given to the
soldiers. Two Sisters and one of the maids remained up all night. The
oven was again heated and the usual supply of bread doubled.
Every large locale in the village from which, by the way, all
non-resident refugees were obliged to depart, received the various
divisions of the army which were allotted to them. About two hundred
soldiers were assigned to those parts of our Parochial School unoccupied
by the village refugees or not in use by the Red Cross.
Before the command was given to enter the schools, we saw soldiers,
among whom were also priests, lying on the ground on the opposite side
of the street, even as horses which, having run a great distance, fall
down from sheer exhaustion. Some of these, we learned afterwards, did
not have their shoes off in nearly three weeks. The socks, hard and worn
out, were in some cases stamped into the blistered feet in such a manner
as to cause excruciating pain. In some cases the feet were so painful
and swollen that the patients had to be carried in on stretchers. In the
meantime, several ambulance wagons had stopped at the school gate, and
numerous wounded were carried in.
When finally one division entered d’Externat, a hasty search was begun
for hay and straw. All that could be found was carried into the garret
of the schools and the empty classrooms.
The refugees of Willebroeck were very generous to the soldiers, giving
them all the provisions which they could find. Many soldiers were seen
with pails in their hands in search of water. Of this there was a good
supply on the place, and more could readily be obtained at the cistern
which was connected with the canal. In a short time they were refreshed
and cleansed from the dust and sweat of that long and tiresome march,
and were observed sitting in groups on the grass which surrounded the
school.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account