The sector authorities communicate that the shelling had plowed
up the entire district, and that no trace could be found on
September 12 of either the body or the machine. Fresh inquiries,
which were made in order to answer the question of the Spanish
Embassy, were also fruitless, as the place where Captain Guynemer
fell is now in the possession of the British.
The German airmen express their regret at having been unable to
render the last honors to a valiant enemy.
It should be added that investigation in this case was only made
with the greatest difficulty, as the enemy was constantly
attacking, fresh troops were frequently brought in or relieved, and
eye witnesses had either been killed or wounded, or transferred.
Our troops being continually engaged have not been in a position to
give the aforesaid information sooner.
So there had been no military funeral, and Guynemer had accepted nothing
from his enemies, not even a wooden cross. The battle he had so often
fought in the air had continued around his body; the Allied guns had
kept the Germans away from it.
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