"The plan to blow up the enemy's armoured train was a bold one and among others Quartermaster Sergeant-Major Vaněk volunteered to take part, disguised like the others in peasant costume. He was temporarily stunned by the explosion; when he recovered he found himself surrounded by the enemy.

They immediately sent him off to their division staff, where face to face with death he refused to give any information about the position and numbers of our [Austro-Hungarian] forces. Since he was in disguise he was condemned to be hanged as a spy, but in view of his high rank the sentence was commuted into death by firing squad.

The execution was carried out at once by the wall of the cemetery and brave Quartermaster Sergeant-Major Vaněk asked that his eyes should not be covered with bandage. When asked whether he had any wish he replied:

'Convey my last greeting to my battalion through one of your truce negotiators. Say that I died in the conviction that our battalion will continue to go forward on its path of glory. Also, tell Captain Ságner that according to the last brigade order the portion of tins is increased daily to two and a half tins per man.'

So died our Quartermaster Sergeant-Major Vaněk. With his last dying sentence he instilled panic into the enemy who had thought that in stopping us from crossing the river they would cut us off from our supply points, quickly starve us out, and sow demoralization in our ranks.

The fact that before his execution he played Kaufzwick with the enemy staff officers is a testimony to the composure with which he faced death.

'Give the sum I've won to the Russian Red Cross,' he said, as he stood and stared down the muzzles of the firing squad. This noble magnanimity brought tears to the eyes of the military representatives present."

A history of the K.u.K. 91st Infantry Regiment, 11th March Company,

-Volunteer Marek