cars are not always allowed to enter the forest -
please check and respect the local regulation
What happened here
In may 1944, 23 young people from the MNB (Mouvement National Belge) which
refused to work for the german industry, left their respective homes to build
here a hut where they live for a month without noticeable incident. Friday 23
june at 4:30 in the morning, 150 german soldiers launched an encirclement attack
against this camp: without any weapon, the belgians could not defend the position.
Gilbert Roumieux, from the near Ougree village, is killed. Two other guys are
made prisonners, and a fourth is seriously injuried. All others hide themself
and then escape in all directions - taking their wounded and bleeding friend
with them. One month later, their chief, Jules Daco (from the nearby Champlon
village), will also be captured and fusillated by the germans.
Note: all the area is property of the municipality of Hotton.
Access is allowed, even by car on the main tracks. Hovewer, you should
respect the local guidances, specially during the season where hunting takes
place.
Waypoint 1:
Go to N50 07.752 E 05 33.133 (if you decided to enter the forest with your
car, you can park your car around there).
You will easily find a wooden chalet. The door is closed: on the padlock, find
the values of A and B from the following engraved inscription: ABUS N°A5/B0.
Then calculate C=B+3, D=A+2, E=C-D
Waypoint 2:
Go to N50 07.CDA E 05 33.EEC.
At this place, look for a cross. Find the value of XY (a two digit number)
from the inscription Jules Daco, XY juillet 1944.
Calculate (again, a two digit number) WZ = XY/2.
Waypoint 3 (the cache):
Go to N50 08.0WZ E 05 33.E8A (as you are entering the forest , the GPS reception
could be disrupted).
The cache is located between the roots of a tree at the inside border of the
camp, from which remains today only a 4x10 meters (not much deep !) cavity.