'On 22nd August the Germans came out at Belle-Motte, at about 3pm. From that moment I no longer saw Sub-Lieutenant Cotelle, who had been on my left with his section. According to survivors of his company, Cotelle was seriously injured and refused to allow himself to be evacuated, continuing to ensure command of his section. Combat was very hard, very violent and lasted until 4pm when the battalion received orders to withdraw. Losses were heavy. There were estimated to be close to three hundred dead from the battalion, with as many injured.'
Colonel Rihouey, fellow soldier of Sub-Lieutenant Georges Cotelle and President of the Association of Former Members of the 25th Infantry Regiment.
The 25th Infantry Regiment would have lost 9 officers and 1,470 men, injured or killed, or about half of the regiment! According to the 'Died for France' records, more than 600 French soldiers ended up dead on Belle-Motte battlefield.
Visit other places on our memorial tour: http://ibeaken.mobi/fosses20