The City of Mons Liberation Committee

Maintaining order, supplying the population and carrying out purification operations are the committee's main missions.

Its members are: Edmond Bovyn, Albert Bekaile, and Edgard Platteau for the Front de l'Indépendance; Marthe Thiry, Hélène Huppez and Pierre Ruelle for "Solidarité du Front de l'Indépendance"; Léopold Prince for the Partisans Armés; M. le commissaire Hottiaux for the Mouvement National Belge; M. Vienne for the Cheminots résistants and Abbé De Vogel for the Catholic party, Emile Houssiaux for the Christian Democrat party, Léon Leborgne for the Liberal party, Adrien Lux for the Socialist party and M. Hennequin for the Communist party.

The committee officially welcomes the American liberators to the town hall. Signing the visitors' book: Major Dugan (Intelligence and Public Relation Officer of the 3rd AD), American war correspondent George Hicks and Lieutenant Tresca (French liaison officer).

At the end of the afternoon, the Grand Place was filled with Montois people in their Sunday best, enjoying the fine weather and their new-found freedom. Apprehended collaborators were taken to the town hall, before the Liberation Committee, then assembled at the Casteau camp. Léonce Descamps testifies: "The liberation was scandalous in Mons. When I arrived at the Grand-Place, I could have cried. Women's belongings were undone, their hair was cut short, and swastikas were carved on their heads. Most had to be released".