https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/19630-1914-holdouts/Jack Giffard was wounded in the head and legs while serving with L Battery at Nery. On the 6 September, 1914, he and 140 other patients were recovering in a German hospital.
'A perfect day after the last few cloudy and close ones. Gunfire and a little musketry opened about 7 am but its quite impossible to realise what's happening. About 5 pm an English Cavalry patrol of 5 crossed the end of the park from N-S and were fired on. The hospital guard have entrenched themselves just under my window.
Had just settled down to go to sleep 8 pm when an orderly rushes in to say the Germans wish to surrender as the place is surrounded by French who very soon disarm and take over the Germans and take possession. They have come from S of Paris today and say there are no Germans near Paris, they were originally up in Belgium and trekked back and move on N or E tomorrow.'
Next day, Sept 7th:
'Heavy firing to S and SE started at 8 am. Firing gradually to E and NE and ceased by 1 pm. 5 German cavalry men passed through in the morning. An Inniskillen Fusilier came in - said he escapted from the Germans 3 days ago.
At 3pm we sent out Hopkins and Trayes to go to Nantreuil Stn to find out if anything was doing there; 5 1/2 miles out they met a German cyclists' patrol and 2 German MOs who chased them back here, but we hid them and they got no satisfaction and appeared to have no time to stop! About 6 pm, 3 Uhlans and 2 cyclists passed through. A German Dragoon demanded an officer's cloak which he did NOT get. 2 French soldiers came in, one whom the German patrol shot with revolvers, dirty dogs.'
Sept 8th:
'Two motors of French officers passed through. Smal German patrol still hanging about. Heavy firing to NE from 6 am onwards, about 12 mls. Sent Hopkins to find some means of our getting to Paris. [he] produced an aged native who can fit us out with a 4 wheel cart 4 horses and a cover, and a man to show the way.'
Sept 9th:
'We sallied forth in great style at 6 am flying the Red X flag. We passed a lot of French troops and transports en route and reached Plessis at 7.30 am where we called at Rly station and found there an ambulance train was leaving for Lr Borget [sic], just outside Paris at 9 am.'
Jack never went back to France but he died at the age of 72 in 1956.
