Jean Grelaud
Encyclopedia
Jean Grelaud was, at age 108, one of the last three "poilus" or official French
veteran
s of the First World War
. He died at the age of 108 years and 122 days.
a month later in the Second Battle of the Aisne
on the Western Front
. In July 1918, he had been captured by the German
army during the Second Battle of the Marne
, but he escaped, although he only came back to France
on November 21, 1918, so after the Armistice
. He was demobilised in 1920.
Jean Grelaud also took part in the Second World War
as a fighter, and for this war he awarded the Croix du combattant volontaire 1939-1945, but refused to give account to media of what he'd exactly done. His life was kept secretive as well. For example, his death was announced eight days later, on March 5, 2007, according to his last wishes.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He died at the age of 108 years and 122 days.
Life
Mobilized on March 10, 1917, he participated as a soldierSoldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
a month later in the Second Battle of the Aisne
Second Battle of the Aisne
The Second Battle of the Aisne , was the massive main assault of the French military's Nivelle Offensive or Chemin des Dames Offensive in 1917 during World War I....
on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. In July 1918, he had been captured by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
army during the Second Battle of the Marne
Second Battle of the Marne
The Second Battle of the Marne , or Battle of Reims was the last major German Spring Offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. The German attack failed when an Allied counterattack led by France overwhelmed the Germans, inflicting severe casualties...
, but he escaped, although he only came back to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on November 21, 1918, so after the Armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
. He was demobilised in 1920.
Jean Grelaud also took part in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a fighter, and for this war he awarded the Croix du combattant volontaire 1939-1945, but refused to give account to media of what he'd exactly done. His life was kept secretive as well. For example, his death was announced eight days later, on March 5, 2007, according to his last wishes.
Awards
- Knight of the Legion of HonorLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Croix du Combattant Volontaire 1939-1945
- Croix du Combattant
- Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1914-1918
- World War I Victory MedalWorld War I Victory MedalThe World War I Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was first created in 1919, designed by James Earle Fraser. The medal was originally intended to be created by an act of the United States Congress, however the bill authorizing the decoration never passed, leaving...
(September 22, 1936)
See also
- French report on Jean Grelaud
- Jean Grelaud's biography
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2007