Soon after the Canadians were told of their fate – they would be executed. One by one, each man was escorted towards a flight of stairs that led into the Abbaye’s garden. A SS NCO awaited them at the bottom of the steps and as they walked up another was positioned. Forensic evidence suggests that the first six were killed by “crushing blows to the head” – the last five, were shot. One can only imagine the horrific scene that awaited the last men as they entered the garden, not to mention the stretcher bound McKeil. The next day the 12th SS was involved in an assault on the Canadian 7th Brigade. One of the SS troopers in that battle was Jan Jesionek; his motorcycle was damaged by a mine in the morning’s battle and he was sent back to headquarters at the Abbaye to repair his machine. Not long after Jesionek observed seven more Canadians, all North Novas, brought into the Abbaye grounds at about noon. They were then marched to the Abbaye’s stable for interrogation. Kurt Meyer, noting the arrival of the Canadians, was heard to say by Jesionek, “What should we do with these prisoners? They only eat up our rations.” Meyer was then seen turning to another officer to whom he whispered something and then he announced, “In future no more prisoners!” At this time a SS soldier was posted at the entrance to the garden. Jesionek, who had been working on his motorcycle during this episode, was washing the grease off his hands in the Abbaye’s watering pool, and saw the Canadians escorted to the entrance of the garden. He witnessed a German officer interrogate of the Canadians. At each of the Canadians’ responses, the German officer laughed contemptuously. Jesionek witnessed one Canadian who started to cry- the men had obviously learned of their fate. In turn, each of the seven men’s name were called out – each shook hands with their remaining comrades and escorted up the stairs, their last moments on earth. Upon entering the garden, each was shot in the back of the head. The seven were Walter Doherty, Reginald Keeping, Hugh McDonald, George McNaughton, George Milar, Thomas Mont, and Raymond Moore. It is believed two more captured Canadians were murdered at the Abbaye later that month on 17 July.
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