FACED FIRING SQUAD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 March 1928, Page 5

FACED FIRING SQUAD.

HITT ESCAPED DEATH

DRAMATIC WAR INCIDENT

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT, PARIS, March 2b. The terrible death of Edmond Augier, aged 34 years, a commercial traveller, caused through his car catching lire after colliding with a post,, recalls one of the most dramatic authenticated escapes during the war. On August 24, 1914, Augier was attached to a mounted patrol which was overtaken by the Uhlans in .he -Ardennes. His horse was shot, Augier faced the enemy, killed a. Uhlan, and was then taken prisoner. He was ordered to carry the German flag through a. German village. He refused, and was taken to the outskirts of the town, where there were eight other Frenchmen. .A squad of the 33rd German infantry fired and Augier received four bullets in . the- arms, legs and side, but was not killed. During the night time he recovered consciousness amid the bodies of his eight countrymen. He appealed to a passing cavalry mian. who fired at him and rode on. Augier lay there for three days, when the Germans discovered Inm, and, thinking he had been wounded in the fighting took him to hospital. He returned to France, on September 22, 1916. in a convoy of wounded men. He was a warded the. militaiy .me bd. and was promised the cgion of Honour, hut refused' when offered it after the war.