Roger Terrin was born on 11 June 1923, the son of Alfons Terrin and Yvonne Callebert. On 1 January 1942, his father Alfons enrolled his son in the intelligence service and resistance group ZIG. On 15 February 1943, Roger Terrin received a compulsory summons from the German recruitment office to work in Germany.
He went into hiding in France, specifically with a former resident of Bever, Goethals, in Loyer-lez-Andelys, not far from Rouen.
The German recruitment office would not accept his refusal.
If Roger did not report for duty by the end of March 1943, his father Alfons would have to take his place.
Alfons Terrin immediately informed his superior in the resistance, Major de Penaranda de Fanchimont, of the ultimatum. The matter was then discussed at a higher level. Father Terrin is ordered to remain in Roeselare: “Belgium and the Allies cannot do without him. If he is lost, a vital link in the [Resistance’s] communications network will be broken.”
Alfons travels to Rouen and meets his son on a bridge over the Seine. There they discuss the difficult situation. Out of love for his country and a sense of duty, Roger decides to report to the Recruitment Office in Roeselare. On 25 March 1943, he leaves for Berlin. There, on 27 January 1944, he is killed during an Allied air raid. His father Alfons receives the tragic news whilst helping two American pilots go into hiding. He and his wife are devastated. Nevertheless, he fulfils his duty and takes the two Americans to their safe house on Rue Long Fraix in Brussels. It was not until 1 May 1948 that Roger’s body was repatriated to Roeselare and buried with the requisite military and civil honours at the municipal cemetery.
