Le Petit Poilu

Home
Le Petit Poilu

The French soldier of the First World War presented through historical artefacts: OLIVERES collection

16/05/2024

This helmet belonged to an army engineer who served in the 3rd Machine Gun Company. The helmet is coated in a darker shade of blue applied by brush in the field, as per the summer 1916 regulations. The badge, however, retains its horizon blue factory paint, suggesting reissue/rebranch after being overpainted, as the initials “SL” of a former wearer as well as the number of the 126th Infantry Regiment had been scratched out and replaced by “Meyer, 3e Compagnie Mitrailleuse.” Some machine gun companies were attached to engineer regiments for protection. The liner in this specimen is of the second pattern.

03/05/2024

This helmet, which is badged to the infantry, is of the later productions. It has been overpainted by brush in the unit in dark bluish-grey. This helmet was picked up as a souvenir by American sailor David Robert Robbins and sent back home to his family in Phoenix, Arizona. The details of his name and family’s address are hand-etched onto the helmet. Robbins arrived in France in 1918 while attached to the USS Carola, and was stationed in Brest, which served as a Franco-American Naval Operating Base. He was discharged from the Navy on 30th September 1921.

David Robert Robbins (formerly Rabinowitz) was born in Atlanta, Georgia on 4 August 1891 to immigrant parents: a Russian father by the name of Frederick Robbins (formerly Rabinowitz) and a German mother by the name of Louise Mariamson. He had five siblings: Dora, Eva, Sophia, Amelia, and William. Before the Great War, official records stated that he resided with his family at 1307 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona. Upon enrolling in the United States Navy on 15 March 1918, David was attached to the patrol ship USS Carola. Soon after, he arrived in Brest, France, which served as a Franco-American Naval Operating Base, which thus became a landing point for U.S. Army troops serving in the American Expeditionary Force. When he was stationed in France, David befriended a fifteen year old French girl by the name of Marguerite Pochat, whom he encouraged to write to his little sister Dora back home in Phoenix. This gesture made the local papers back in the United States. Sometime in 1918, David souvenired this French Infantry helmet and sent it back home, addressed to 1307 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona. David was discharged from the Navy on 30th September 1921, though re-enlisted in the Navy in 1942 during the Second World War. In peacetime, David moved to Los Angeles and was a physician and surgeon. David passed away at age 62 on 16 March 1954 and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. At the time of his death, he resided at 10290 Seabury Lane. he left behind his five siblings, his widow Blanche, and son Robert.

01/05/2024

This képi modèle 1914 first type in horizon blue cloth belonged to a soldier of the 8th Infantry Regiment (Saint-Omer). With the introduction of poison gas onto the battlefield by the enemy in the Spring of 1915, the French soldier is therefore equipped with anti-gas lenses (typically worn around his képi) and a thick face-pad soaked in chemicals to combat this threat. The anti-gas lenses strapped to this képi are of the first models used as of May 1915. Though this képi is the same 1914 pattern as the previously shown first type specimen, there are some distinct differences due to manufacturer features. For example, the visor of this specimen is flat, the overall profile of the képi is lower, and the ventilation slots are positioned higher than the previously shown first type képi. The soldier who wore this képi had lined the interior of the sweatband with newspaper to act as extra padding and/or insulation during cold weather.
From my private collection.

29/04/2024

This helmet, which is badged to the Health Service and attributed to an army pharmacist, is in almost mint condition. Of the very first productions, this specimen is in its factory-applied horizon blue configuration. The leather liner is of unblackened sheepskin leather, suggesting a very early manufacture. The insignia of the Health Service was adopted in August 1915 when the War Ministry recommended issuing helmets to medics and doctors.

27/04/2024

Along with enlisted men and other ranks, French officers’ headdress in early 1915 also saw significant alterations whilst simultaneously still taking influence from the pre-war patterns. In remarkable condition, this Bévière (Tours) tailored private purchase infantry lieutenant’s demi-foulard képi in horizon blue cloth is of the manufactures from the first semester of 1915. The demi-foulard style was a popular pattern from 1884 onwards, with the Hungarian knot for ranking also still being carried on into wartime productions. Although officers’ headwear were typically adorned with brass regimental numbering, the lieutenant who wore this képi adhered to the regulations issued in December 1914, which called for unit numbers to be removed from headdress.
From my private collection.

25/04/2024

In December 1914, shortly after the introduction of the 1914 first type képi, the képi modèle 1914 second type makes its appearance in the field. This specimen, manufactured by L.Joly (Le Puy) in light bluish-grey cloth, is typical of imported material. What differentiates the second type képis from the first type is the eradication of the seam placed about one centimetre from the top edge, eliminating the formation of water pockets from the top of the képi during rainy weather. In accordance with the regulations, this képi possesses no branch piping or unit number, and the buttons are painted in a dull iron grey.

24/04/2024

This battle-damaged helmet is furnished with the branch insignia of the Colonial Infantry - a flaming bomb over a fouled anchor. This specimen is of the earlier productions in horizon blue, but has been overpainted by brush in the unit in midnight blue as per the mid 1916 regulations. It was struck by shrapnel on the left side, which penetrated through the steel and tore through the leather liner.
From my private collection.

23/04/2024

The French soldier of 1915 wears the képi modèle 1914 first type in horizon blue cloth, a pattern which replaces the pre-war modèle 1884 as the standard-issue headwear for the French army. In September 1914, the army commissariat suggested making a new, simplified képi to shorten delays in manufacturing. The modèle 1914, unlike the modèle 1884, was made of a single strip of cloth, in two pieces sewn vertically at the front and back. The lining style is of reduced sheepskin and linen, and the piping on the exterior of the képi has been dispensed with. A new unit patch was proposed, though this particular képi does not have one, which is in accordance with the stipulations of the December 1914 regulations banning the use of unit numbers on headwear for all branches except Chasseur battalions. This specimen, which had come out of family succession, belonged to a soldier of the 74th Infantry Regiment (Rouen).
From my private collection.

22/04/2024

In August 1914, the French soldier marches off to war with a lot of pride and patriotism. This esprit de corps is reflected in the uniform he wears. The 1884 model is the standard issue headdress for the French soldier in the first months of the Great War, but eventually gets phased out due to the clothing crisis of 1914/15. Reserve stock was being exhausted and France could no longer manufacture new textiles using red dyes as the imports came from Germany. Thus, they looked towards adopting horizon blue, a new colour that could be produced en masse. This specimen of the modèle 1884 képi belonged to a soldier of the 24th Infantry Regiment (Paris-Bernoy).
From my private collection.

21/04/2024

The helmet was first introduced to the Army of Africa in August 1915. The first deliveries of the helmet to this unit were in the standard factory-produced horizon blue colour along with the flaming gr***de badge of the Infantry. Soon after, troops of the Army of Africa were given their own insignia - the Islamic crescent moon surmounted by the letters “RF” (République Française). In October, a decree was issued to the Army of Africa by the army administration to repaint their helmets in a khaki colour to match their newly issued khaki uniforms. After November, all newly-produced helmets badged to the Army of Africa were factory-painted in this new khaki colour. This specimen presented here is of the early productions that pre-dates October 1915, identifiable through the prevalence of two coats of light and dark khaki paint applied by brush to envelope the factory horizon blue paint. This helmet has taken notable battle-damage from shrapnel, which tore straight through the steel.
(From my private collection)

19/04/2024

In Autumn 1915, French soldiers are issued helmet covers to conceal the conspicuous paint of the first deliveries of the steel helmets. These cloth covers, which were issued in regulation beige, blue calico, and white, see service up until the end of 1916 before being banned by army regulations due to the fear expressed by the Health Service that projected cloth in open head wounds would facilitate further infections. Despite being officially banned by the winter of 1916, we still see helmet covers being used up until the end of the war, though in limited numbers. This specimen, of regulation beige cloth, is a complete matching set to the helmet which came together. The helmet is badged to the Health Service.
From my private collection.

13/02/2024

From my collection, an assortment of standard-issue WWI French identity discs demonstrating the different types/patterns issued during the Great War.

After the Franco-Prussian War, the Service de Santé noted that the number of unidentifiable dead was alarmingly high, especially when compared with their German counterparts who had a more effective system of post-death identifications. In October 1881, the War Ministry had thus decided to formally introduce an issued identity disc, the Modèle 1881 (typically aluminium or steel), which was worn on a cord/string around the neck. The front of the discs were stamped with the surname and first name(s) of the soldier along with the year of his class (when he reached twenty years old. Men were eligible for conscription at 19 years of age). The back contained the bureau of his recruitment along with his service number. However, it still seemed that post-death identifications were still challenging at times, due to the possibility of the single-issued disc being lost or damaged. Thus, in May 1915, the War Ministry introduced the Modèle 1915, which was identical to the 1881 pattern, but contained two stamped holes for it to be worn as a bracelet around the wrist. This would solve a large portion of the cases of difficulties with post-death identification, as now a soldier possessed two discs - one which would be recovered for record keeping, and the other left on his body for burial information.

29/01/2024

In the Spring of 1915, the képi modèle 1914 first type in horizon blue cloth replaces the pre-war modèle 1884 as the standard-issue headwear for the French army. This specimen does not have the regimental number to the front of the képi, which is in accordance with the stipulations of the December 1914 regulations banning the use of unit numbers on headwear for all branches except Chasseurs battalions. This example, which had come out of family succession, belonged to a soldier of the 74th Infantry Regiment.

13/01/2024

In 1915, the French soldier fights in the regions of Champagne, Artois, Argonne, Pas-de-Calais, & the Vosges wearing the képi modèle 1914 first type, a pattern which replaces the pre-war modèle 1884 as the standard-issue headwear for the French army. This original specimen from my collection is marked to a soldier of the 8th Infantry Regiment and is made of a bluish-grey cloth, typical of imported material. With the introduction of poison gas onto the battlefield by the enemy in the Spring of 1915, the French soldier is also equipped with anti-gas lenses (typically worn around his képi) and a thick face-pad soaked in chemical to combat this threat. The gas lenses strapped to this képi are of the first models used as of May 1915. These képis are iconic of the French soldier of the 1915 period, having been issued before the introduction of steel helmets and are therefore very, very scarce to find.

22/12/2023

The Modèle 1914 1st pattern képi is quite probably my favourite piece of French WWI headdress... After three years of searching I have acquired one example, though without a regimental patch as per the regulations of December 1914 which banned such practices for all army branches except for Chasseurs. Therefore, specimens without the unit patch are the more commonly seen variant of these early war képis, even in period photos. This is detailed in Laurent Mirouze's excellent book, of which the section on képis is my favourite part of his work.

22/10/2023

Some belongings of my Great Grand-Uncle François Marie Célis Collin who was killed in action during the First World War on June 10, 1917 at Cerny-en-Laonnois, Chemin des Dames.

Collin was born on 30 November 1897 in the small commune of Fréterive, St.Pierre d’Albigny, Savoie. He was conscripted on 7 January 1916 as a private of the 99e Régiment d’Infanterie. He underwent training and took part in reserve duties until late September. In October 1916, Collin was sent to Verdun as part of a reinforcement wave after his regiment had been nearly entirely wiped out during ferocious fighting at the Tavannes sector. He fought in the Battle of Verdun from October to December 1916 in the Eix sector, and in early 1917, he was sent to the Somme where he and his regiment took part in an occupation of a sector towards Marquivillers. From 17 March 1917, his regiment pursued the retreating German troops during their strategic withdrawal (Operation Alberich) in the direction of Saint-Quentin, where they thus made contact with German troops in Happencourt, resulting in fierce fighting and the eventual French liberation of the villages of Seraucourt-le-Grand, Fontaine-lès-Clerics, Castres and Contescourt. In April 1917, Collin and his regiment were sent to take part in the bloody battle of the Chemin des Dames, and he was ultimately killed in action on June 10, 1917 at the sector of Cerny-en-Laonnois during a rigorous French counter-attack led by Commandant Multrier, who was gravely wounded during the fighting as well.

This grouping consists of his army-issue identity tag, his coin pouch which was struck by shrapnel, his military ID booklet, some letters from his fiancée and family, as well as some letters addressed to his parents. Several of these items were retrieved from his body and sent back to my family upon his death.

20/10/2023

André Emile Mentien was born on 21 April 1896 in Maffliers, Seine-et-Oise, to Joseph Alexandre Mentien and Noël Berthe Delphine. As part of the class of 1916, Mentien was conscripted at the Versailles bureau into the 25e Battalion de Chasseurs à Pied on 12 April 1915, and underwent training and took part in reserve duties until being sent to the front on 15 August 1916. Mentien received his baptism by fire at Soissons before being sent to the Somme in July, where he was wounded at the Bouschavesnes sector by shrapnel to his left hand on 27 September 1916. He was thus evacuated to a military hospital and was only sent back to the front on 13 December 1916. Mentien and his battalion were posted in Moussy (Marne), Soissons (Aisne), and Soupir (Aisne) between the months of January to April 1917 before being sent to Royère in May. Mentien was recognised on the order of the Battalion on 3 June 1917 for his actions in the previous month in the sector of La Fèrme de Royère, where he was cited as “a very dedicated Chasseur who was detached as a runner between the battalion commander and the first trench line. He showed courage and composure by accomplishing his mission under heavy bombardment during an enemy attack on 14 May 1917.” After being relieved from the Royère sector, Mentien and his Battalion were sent to the Vosges in June 1917 where they were stationed until being relieved and sent to the reserve lines in January 1918 (where they remained until March). On 14 March 1918, Mentien was named the unit bugler. In the face of the German Spring Offensive, Mentien and his unit were sent to reinforce the British line at the Somme region. After the stabilisation of the Western Front and the allied counter-attacks, Mentien and his Battalion were further involved in the French offensives in numerous sectors during the Hundred Days Campaign, before advancing into Alsace. After the war, Mentien settled down in Val d’Oise and got married to Marcelle Amélie Sente on 16 July 1927.

18/10/2023

A First World War French Model 1915 Engineers Adrian helmet that belonged to a soldier by the name of ‘Meyer’ of the 7th Engineer Regiment. This helmet, which was manufactured by the firm ‘Dupeyron’, has some interesting hand-etched markings scratched into the underside of the front & rear brims with the name 'Meyer' appearing to both, along with the addition of unit markings '3e Compagnie Mitrailleuse’ (3rd Machine Gun Company) and ‘7’, hence this soldier was likely part of a machine gun corps that was attached to an Engineer unit for armament and protection purposes. This helmet also likely belonged to another soldier prior to being in Meyer’s possession, as there are the initials ‘SL’ and the number ‘126’ which have been crossed out and were most likely the initials and infantry regiment of the soldier that wore this helmet before Meyer did. It is likely that when the soldier was killed or wounded, the helmet was reissued and thrown back into circulation, and Meyer had simply switched out an Infantry badge for an Engineer one. The helmet had received a hand applied overpaint of midnight blue over its lighter factory horizon blue in the field, according to the directive of 1916 to envelope the conspicuous earlier bright factory paint finish with a more muted hue for better concealment. The engineers badge is firmly affixed to the crown and remain in the earlier light horizon blue colour, which was a feature often seen on period Adrian helmets when a soldier was transferred in between branches, or when the helmet was simply reissued to a soldier in another branch of service, hence needing a badge replacement, such as what happened with Meyer. The chinstrap sits very tightly around the visor which was a very common practice done by Poilus of the Great War. The liner is of the second pattern, introduced in September 1916, and has been reinforced with a backing made up of the M1915 horizon blue uniform which have been used in the construction of the liner system.

16/10/2023

A very interesting mle1898 (modified to mle1915) identity wrist tag attributed to Joseph Emile Bleine and adorned with Greek and Turkish coins that were souvenired during his time serving in the Balkan theatre. Joseph Emile Bleine was born on 18 August 1891 in Marseille to Joseph Etienne Bleine and Sarazin Marie Léonie. When Bleine turned twenty, which was the age for mandatory military service, he was excused due to “irremediable weakness” (health issues). However, upon the outbreak of war and the desperation to fighting men of age to beef up the regiments that were liquidated in the first few months of the war, Bleine was conscripted into the 112e Régiment d’Infanterie on 28 November 1914, before being transferred to the 13e Régiment d’Infanterie on 8 February 1915. Bleine was wounded on 23 December 1915 by a mine explosion at Bois Mulot, Forêt d’Apremont, Meuse. He was wounded for a second time on 22 June 1916 at Éparges, Meuse, by a torpedo that was dropped from a German bomber. Following his recovery, he was transferred to the Auxiliary Service section of the 6e Régiment d’Infanterie Coloniale on 5 January 1917, and on 15 January 1917, was sent to Turkey and Greece in the Balkans theatre as part of the Armée d’Orient to combat against the Ottoman and Bulgarian armies. He was stationed in the Balkans until 6 April 1918, and during his time there, he had acquired some Greek and Turkish coins to personalise this identity wrist tag. Upon his return to the Western Front in April 1918, Bleine was transferred to the Auxiliary Service section of the 22e Régiment d’Infanterie Coloniale on 9 June 1918 due to his health degradation from pulmonary tuberculosis, severe bronchitis, weight loss, general weakness, and severe exhaustion.

15/10/2023

An ensemble of medals awarded to my Great Grandfather, François Louis Noël Olivères, for his service in the French Army during the First World War. Born in Montbolo, Pyrenées-Orientales on December 5, 1898, Olivères was conscripted on May 2, 1917 into the French 24th Colonial Infantry Regiment. On December 19, 1917, he was transferred to the 6th Colonial Infantry Regiment, where he took part in fighting at St.Mihiel, the Somme, and Amiens. He was finally transferred to the 224th Infantry Regiment and saw heavy fighting at Nanteuil-la-Fosse, Aisne. He was severely wounded in combat from shrapnel to his face and right eye, and therefore evacuated to a military hospital on September 8, 1918, where he remained until January 23, 1919, two months after the end of the war. He was described as an “excellent soldier who always had a good attitude under enemy fire,” in his military records. Consequently, Olivères was awarded the Croix De Guerre furnished with a bronze star for his sustained wounds accompanied with acts of bravery cited at regimental level, the Croix du Combattant which was given to all the fighting soldiers of France between 1914 - 1918, the Médaille Militaire “for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against the enemy force”, and the Légion d’Honneur, the highest military decoration in France.

14/10/2023

Sylvain Louis Villaret was born to Numa Villaret and Léonie Julia Gervais on June 9, 1897 in the commune of Lédignan. He was conscripted as Private First Class into the 356e Régiment d’Infanterie (matricule 627) on August 26, 1916 and saw combat at Verdun (Vaux, Côte 304, Bois d’Avocourt), Haute Alsace (Suarce), & the Somme (Bouresche, Vinly, Oeuilly, Bois des Châtaigniers, crête d’Orfeuil). He was noted to have multiple role specialisations during his frontline service as an Infantryman: telephonist, signaler, liaison agent, and grenadier. Villaret was wounded by mustard gas on December 22, 1917 at Alsace and his left hand was struck by shrapnel at the Somme on June 7, 1918. Consequently, he was awarded the Croix De Guerre with two bronze stars. He survived the First World War and continued his military service into the Second World War, this time as a senior nursing officer. Villaret retired on October 1, 1944.

This grouping consists of Villaret’s military booklets issued upon his conscription during the Great War which details his frontline service, his combattant ID card, some documents of his service during the interwar and the Second World War period, some postcards, a Croix de Guerre with two stars (awarded for having sustained two wounds in the Great War), as well as his First World War identity bracelet which is personally adorned with two coins of Napoleon III, along with a religious trinket which bears the slogan, “Family, church, motherland… Hold it tightly.”

14/10/2023

What may initially appear as a standard French Modèle 1915 Infantry helmet. Upon closer inspection, there lies a rare cloth helmet cover in calico blue which had been stuffed under the liner to act as extra padding an insulation, likely following the general order issued by the Medical Corps for the ban of helmet covers due to the belief that projections of dried mud with the cloth fabric into an open wound during a head injury would facilitate further infection. The rear-peak of this helmet is also named to a "Droussart". Another dimension added to this wonderful helmet.

13/10/2023

An extremely scarce object to find - an identity disc attributed to a soldier who served in the French tank corps during the final months of the Great War.
Pierre Albert Seguin was born on 4 February 1893 in Saintes, Charente Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, to Henry Seguin and Gantron Euphrasine. He was conscripted into military service on 6 September 1914 as a telegraphist in the 8e Régiment du Génie (engineers), before being transferred to the 81e Régiment d’Infanterie on 29 September 1914. While in service with the 81st, Seguin was wounded in action by a bullet wound to his lower lip, fracturing three teeth on 16 March 1915 at Beausejour. Seguin was transferred to the 3e Régiment de Zouaves on 25 March 1916. On 11 April 1916, he was shifted to the 1er Régiment Mixte de Zouaves & Tirailleurs, and six days later was sent to the 3e Régiment de Tirailleurs. While in service with the 3rd Tirailleurs, Seguin was wounded at Vendresse on 16 April 1917 by shrapnel to his seton. He was cited on 26 April 1917, as a “very courageous armurier, who proceeded with coolness and composure to dig up a buried artillery piece despite being under heavy enemy artillery bombardement.” On 8 February 1918, he was again cited as an “excellent rifleman who always maintained good conduct under fire and was wounded twice.” Upon the widespread introduction and utilisation of tanks in the French army, Seguin was introduced to the tank corps and was assigned to the 500e Régiment d’Artillerie d’Assaut on 15 July 1918, serving in a tank regiment during the allied Hundred Days offensive. A little over a month before the end of the war, on 6 October 1918, Seguin was then attached to the tank formation AS381 (Artillerie Spéciale 381), where he took part in the final allied advances. French armour and combined arms doctrine proved vital leading up to the allied victory of November 1918. After the end of the war, Seguin served in a multitude of different tank units, including the 5e Groupe d’AS, 509e Régiment d’Artillerie d’Assaut, and the 502e Régiment de Chars de Combat (502nd Combat Tank Regiment). Four years after the end of the Great War, on 23 December 1922, Seguin got married to Ernestine Marie Renou. Seguin passed away peacefully on 27 October 1981 in Le Chesnay, Yvelines, Île-de-France, aged 88 years old.

12/10/2023

Firmin Albert Béranger was born on 6 December 1887 in Nimes, Gard, to Auguste Albert Béranger and Marie Berthe Alexandre. In October 1908, a few months after marrying his partner Pauline Jeanne Gamondes, Béranger was called up for national service and was attached to the 40e Régiment d’Infanterie. After completing his mandatory military service, he was classed as a reservist. Upon the order for general mobilisation due to the outbreak of the Great War, Béranger was called up under the colours once again and was pressed into service. He was sent to Belgium with his regiment to fight in the Battle of the Frontiers. Béranger was wounded by shrapnel to his right poppliteal fossa at Chaudfontaine (Liège) on 1 September 1914, which led to him being hospitalised for over a year. On 20 September 1915, the attending physician of Béranger’s wounds noted the following in an official document: “Private Béranger, lightly wounded in the right popliteal fossa on 1 September 1914. He suffered a fall that same day and fifteen days later, paraplegic phenomena had started to develop. Currently, abolition of patellar reflexes, persistence of Achilles. No sensory disturbances. No pupillary disorders. Mild muscular atrophy. The injured person never presented any bladder or sphincter phenomena. Possibility of limited haematorachis. There is reason to evacuate this man to a depot for convalescents. Personally, he preferred to be directed to Nimes.” Two days later, on the 22nd, Béranger was discharged from the hospital, but remained in the rear until 20 January 1916. He was officially liberated from his wartime service in June 1916.

11/10/2023

A private purchase French Officer’s forage calot of the M1891/15 pattern in fine light blue cloth with black piping denoting the Army Engineers branch of service. The double gold rank braid to the front represents the rank of Lieutenant. The Interior contains the leather sweatband in a well worn condition, no doubt due to years of service from the Engineer officer who wore this piece of headdress. Beneath the scallops, the horizon blue colour remains much more vibrant as opposed to the more muted and faded shade on the rest of the cap due to years of usage, exposure to sunlight, and further storage of the cap. Although having moth holes due to it being well over a hundred years old, the cap has true character and remains an extremely iconic piece of headdress from the French army of the Great War.

11/10/2023

A stunning adornment of a French identity disc bracelet with coins from several countries/empires including Austria-Hungary, Russia, Greece, Serbia, Turkey, etc., dating from 1883 to 1913.
This disc belonged to Robert Joseph Vincent who served as a Maréchal des Logis fourrier in the 104th, 119th, and 83rd Heavy Artillery Regiments of the Armée d'Orient in the Eastern theatre (Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia) during the war.

Robert Joseph Vincent was born on 16 November 1893 in Villerville, Calvados, to Pierre Vincent and Jean Andrée Ader. Being from the class of 1913, he was called up for mandatory military service on 28 November 1913, and was attached to the 4e Escadron du Train as a supply train conductor. Upon the order for general mobilisation due to the outbreak of the Great War, Vincent was mobilised on 2 August 1914, and was promoted to Brigadier three days later. On 17 November 1915, Vincent was transferred to the 104e Régiment d’Artillerie Lourde, and was named Maréchal des Logis on 21 June 1916. Vincent was attached to the Armée d’Orient on 19 December 1915 and was sent to the Eastern theatre in the Balkans (Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia), where he was named Maréchal des Logis fourrier less than two years later, on 22 June 1917. The following month, on 11 July 1917, Vincent was transferred to 119e Régiment d’Artillerie Lourde, and then the 83e Régiment d’Artillerie Lourde on 14 December 1917 (between 9 October 1917 to 4 January 1918, Vincent was hospitalised due to sickness). Vincent was demobilised on 5 September 1919, ten months after the war ended. For his wartime service, Vincent received the Médaille de le Victoire, Médaille Commémorative Française de le Grande Guerre, Médaille Commémorative d’Orient, and the Médaille Commémorative de Serbie.

Address

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Le Petit Poilu posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Address
Alerts
Claim ownership or report listing
Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum?

Country:

City:

16/05/2024

03/05/2024

01/05/2024

29/04/2024

27/04/2024

25/04/2024

24/04/2024

23/04/2024

22/04/2024

21/04/2024

19/04/2024

13/02/2024

29/01/2024

13/01/2024

22/12/2023

22/10/2023

20/10/2023

18/10/2023

16/10/2023

15/10/2023

14/10/2023

14/10/2023

13/10/2023

12/10/2023

11/10/2023

11/10/2023

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share