The child hero

Children were used for propaganda purposes. From the earliest stages of the War, legends were built up around the child hero. Émile Desprès is the most famous of them. There are several versions of his heroic actions.
He was aged 13-14 years old at the time of the events. He was born in Lourches in the Nord Department. He was a miner by profession.
At the end of August 1914, he attempted to give a French prisoner something to drink. He was arrested and sentenced to death. A German officer then proposed that Emile save his own life by executing the wounded soldier himself. Emile Desprès pretended to accept, but turned the weapon on the officer. He was immediately shot.
The real story is more banal. Victor Dujardin, from Neuville in the Nord Department, was one of ten hostages shot at the Chauffoir crossroads in Douchy-les-Mines on 25 August 1914. His name was changed to prevent reprisals against his family. He then became Emile Desprès in French propaganda.
Émile Carlier reported the story in the local newspaper, Le Petit Valenciennois, on 14 November 1920. "Dujardin is reported to have been arrested for attempting to give a drink to Eugène Boîte, a territorial from Neuville taken prisoner by the Germans, together with some customs officials and watchmen. They were all on the road to Bouchain.
When they reached the main road, Victor Dujardin and his friend from Neuville, Florimon Lancelin, also a prisoner, were rounded up and added to the group of hostages being taken to their place of execution."