A Russian Cossack riding among refugees fleeing before a Central Power advance. The Russians adopted a scorched-earth policy in the months-long retreat before the German-Austro-Hungarian Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive of the spring, summer, and fall 1915, with Cossacks accused of burning homes and crops to deny them to the advancing enemy, and to prevent civilians from remaining behind and providing intelligence to the invader.
Il Cammino della CiviltàThe Path of Civilization
"Just north of the La Bassée road, while a relief was taking place, the Germans had blown what was then their largest mine. One man was blown onto the top of a near-by brickstack. The total casualties were put at three-score or more. A few civilian casualties included the Mayor of Cambrin, who was visiting his Commune: he lost a leg. He and his wife had opened a wine parlour in Beuvry, which was frequented by many of us because of its homely, sociable atmosphere. Madame was a motherly soul who delighted to bake a cake for someone's birthday, or do any kindly service for a customer."
Excerpt from the entry for January 2, 1916 from the writings — diaries, letters, and memoirs — of Captain J.C. Dunn, Medical Officer of the Second Battalion His Majesty's Twenty-Third Foot, The Royal Welch Fusiliers.
The War the Infantry Knew 1914-1919 by Captain J.C. Dunn, page 175, copyright © The Royal Welch Fusiliers 1987, publisher: Abacus (Little, Brown and Company, UK), publication date: 1994
1916-01-02, 1916, January, mine, civilian, casualty, shelter, France, Soissons shelter, inventoryId 6551, 6551-75-dpi-civilian-shelter-Soissons-1915.jpg
