Belgian War Graves Gros-Fays

The war grave of Joseph GUSTIN and Marcel BOURGUIGNON is located in the municipal cemetery next to the church of Gros-Fays.

Joseph GUSTIN was born in Gros-Fays on May 3, 1913.
Soldier 6th reg. Ardennes fighter battalion Moto VII, 1st Cie
Died in captivity in Zitau (Germany) on April 6, 1944.

Marcel BOURGUIGNON was born in Cornimont on February 5, 1897.
During the First World War he was already noticed for his patriotism.
In 1933 he became mayor of his village Gros-Fays.
From the invasion of May 1940 and after the capitulation of Belgium, the strong patriots had only one wish, namely to continue the fight.
Together with Jean Gustin, who had a mill in Gros-Fays, he organized a resistance movement. The base was the Canards hut between the Gros-Fays mill and
that of Mitauge (Oisy). Marcel Bourguignon would take care of the maintenance of this group, supplies, clothing, food and armament. He devised a system for extra
to obtain supply vouchers so that it was possible to feed the resistance fighters.
Through his position as mayor and with the help of his brother-city secretary, he was also able to issue false documents to many people, especially Jews.
His brother was later also deported to Germany.
It is probably after accusation that his activities became known to the Germans. Although he had been warned, he thought he could get away with it because he was so well organised. He was arrested by the Gestapo in the full municipal council on May 25, 1944, together with Jean Gustin.
They were taken to Cornimont and then to the camp at Six-Planes where he knew there was no one left, then to Petit-Fays and then to Vresse.
Each time the interrogations were very difficult. Beaten with sticks and clubs, he eventually admitted to being part of the resistance without betraying anyone in the organization.
After his arrest he stayed in Charleville and Namur. He was deported to the Buchenwald and Dora extermination camps, where he became very weak and almost unrecognizable. He died on March 3, 1945 in Norhausen.
His prayer card contained the following entries:
Political prisoner of the two wars. Recruiter and organizer of the resistance. Deputy Commander of Group D, Sector V, Zone 5 of the AS.
Honored with the 14-18 Political Prisoner Medal and Agricultural Decoration 1st Class.
April 6, 1944 in Zittau (DE)

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Source

• Text: Joost Verheijden
• Photos: Joost Verheijden (1, 2), Marie-Christine Vinck (3, 4)