Gabrielle
was born in 1883 in Ohey, near Namur. Gabrielle
lived at the Chateau de Wallay-Reppe in Ohey.
During the
First World War, Gabrielle de Monge, who had the title the Vicomtesse de Franceau, helped
to evacuate French soldiers who were trapped behind enemy lines. The soldiers were conducted to safety, using a chain
of stately homes owned by Belgium’s aristocracy and then guided over the border
into neutral Holland. In all, Gabrielle
saved the lives over 80 soldiers.
However, on her thirteenth journey with a
group of French soldiers in January 1916, Gabrielle was apprehended, arrested and
put in prison in Liege. Transferred to
Brussels, she was tried and sentenced to three years’ hard labour before being
sent to the Siegburg Prison which was near Cologne in Germany.
After the
war, Gabrielle was awarded the French Legion d’Honneur medal and wrote about
her experiences in a book entitled “Les heures tragiques de ma vie” (The tragic
hours of my life), which she had published.
Sadly,
Gabrielle never recovered from the harsh treatment she received during her time
as a prisoner of war and she died in a Convent in Belgium at the age of 46.
There is a
Place Gabrielle de Monge in her home town of Ohey in Belgium dedicated to her
memory.
Source: http://www.ohey.be/personnages-celebres
With many thanks to Andrew
Morgan who kindly sent me a copy of “Did you say Belgian Heroes?! Episode 2 WW1 and
WW2” published by the Belgian Tourist Office, where you will find Gabrielle’s
story on page 53.
