Henri Ghesquiere

Henri Ghesquière was born in Lille on 28 August 1863. His parents were textile workers. He became a spinner before being dismissed for his trade union activities. He then became a newspaper seller before starting a career as a political journalist.
He became a municipal councillor in 1896 and then held the post of deputy mayor until 1904. He was elected a Deputy of the 2nd constituency of Lille in 1906 and remained so until 1918.
A socialist propagandist and playwright, he was particularly committed to the protection of mothers and children. In the National Assembly, he put forward numerous legislative proposals on workplace accidents, mandatory maternal assistance and maternity allowances for single mothers.
His son, Marceau, was wounded at Hondigny on 22 August 1914 and died on 27 November 1914 in Hospital no. 78 in Clermont-Ferrand.
Henri Ghesquière was one of the hostages designated by the German occupation authorities. In 1915, he supported the strike initiated by workers refusing to work for the German war effort: this was the "sandbag affair". He was imprisoned and deported. Much weakened on his return to Lille, he died on 1st September 1918.