he was clearly very much in love with his fiancee, erna, for whom he wrote a diary detailing his short service. he was killed in france on the 20th of september, 1914. his unit crossed into belgium on the 15th of august, and on the morning of the 17 arrived at liegges. his diary had at first expressed understanding rather than enmity towards the belgian population. however, after they entered the town he and his comrades talked of their sister battalion part of the initial assault on the city. the troops were ordered to search the houses, find food and as the diary explains simply throw the residents onto the streets. anyone with a man, woman or child who in any way resisted should without ado be shot. living along a population center was never going to be -- inevitably going to be finance, and the men's anxiety increased when an infantryman on watch was shot. two nights later, he came under what he believed to be -- [inaudible] he and ten other men were escorting their officer back to his quarters. they were walking down a quiet, leafy street when suddenly from behind them three shots