Maurice CATTOOR
Maurice Cattoor was born in Oostende, Belgium in 1899.
His grandfather was captain of the port of Ostende. Maurice lived there when he was a child. Later on, his father Robert moved to Antwerp where he started a trade in the port of Antwerp in import-export. When the war broke out, the family lived in Antwerp. As the Germans quickly occupied Antwerp, his father started to worry about his son. It was said that all young men would be sent for obligatory labour in Germany.
Robert decided he would send his son to Scotland, where he had some business friends.
In 1915, Maurice was part of a team who headed to the Netherlands. The border was protected by a wall of barbed wire and electrical wires. Each member of the team had gloves and intended to climb over it.
After my grandfather succeeded on getting over the wall, one member of the team got electrocuted, may be a hole in his glove, shouting "Auw"
All the members of team thought a German patrouille had shouted "Halte", and they all ran away.
A few weeks later, Maurice arrived in Glascow where he was welcomed by the Red Cross before he could join his father's business friend and his family in a village near Glascow.
His arrival is registered in the archive of the city.
He received a warm welcome from this Scotchman and his family, specially the two daughters who were about the same age and shared his patriotisme.
In 1917, when he was 18, he joined the Belgian army detached in Great Britain, after his training, he was sent to Hondschoote, in French Flanders in a reserve infantery unity, his unity was never engaged on the front. He was released from the army in November 1918 and got a 1000 Belgian Francs prime for his service under the flag.
On 19 April 1917, his cousin Walter Jean Bontez, born in1898 joined the Belgian army in the 7th regiment of artilery where he would serve as soldier to the end of the war, 11th November 1918.
On 29 June 1918, his grand uncle Ernest Bontez (born 1873) joined the transmission service of the Belgian forces in London. He lived 6 months in Bevan Street, Islington, London.
On 19 April 1917, his cousin Walter Jean Bontez, born in1898 joined the Belgian army in the 7th regiment of artilery where he would serve as soldier to the end of the war, 11th November 1918.
On 29 June 1918, his grand uncle Ernest Bontez (born 1873) joined the transmission service of the Belgian forces in London. He lived 6 months in Bevan Street, Islington, London.
On 17 October 1918, he asked his laissez-passer to the General Consulat in London as he wants to join Adinkrerque in Belgium.
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