August 1914 – 25th September 1915
9th August 1914
Etat-Major: 9 Officers
5eme Battalion: 15 Officers
6eme Battalion: 14 Officers
25th September 1915
Etat-Major: 8 Officers
4eme Battalion: 12 Officers
5eme Battalion: 12 Officers
6eme Battalion: 13 Officers
Regiments strength on the 9th August 1914
38 Officiers, 135 sous-officiers, 2059 soldiers, 124 horses
During the first 13 months
22 officers were killed
15 killed on 25th September 1915
Etat-Major August 1914
Chef de corps: Colonel Gustave Emile DEVAUX+++
Born 25th October 1856
Class of 1876
Plewna Class of 1876-1878 at Saint Cyr
Matricule: 480
A professional career soldier
Professional soldier and graduate of Saint Cyr in 1878. By the time of mobilization in August 1914, Devaux was second in command of the 115e RI at Mamers as a Lt-Colonel. He took command of the 315e RI in August 1914, which he led with distinction, was promoted to Colonel on 5th May 1915 and awarded the distinctive title of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur on 26th May 1915. He would remain in command until his death on his 60th birthday, on the 25th October 1916 at Verdun, where he was fatally wounded whilst coming back down to Fort Belleville from his command post at MF2.
Died 25th October 1916 near Fort de Belleville
Etat-Major
August 1914
Capitaine Henri Charles Ferdinand OLIVIER
Born 22th December 1862, Class of 1884
Finished his military service in 1884, promoted to Capitaine in 1900, whilst with the 115e RI and in 1911 was awarded the Legion d’Honneur. A jovial leader, he was mobilized with the 315e RI and was made Head of 6e Battalion in November 1914. Kept that position until being transferred to the 204e RI, when the 315e RI was disbanded in December 1917. Survived the war, died on the 12th January 1949
Médecin chef de service: Médecin Major 2e Classe: DUCOS (unknown)
Officier chargé des détails: Lieutenant THOMAS
Part of the 315e up until dissolution in December 1917
Assumption survived the war
Officier d’approvisionnement: Lieutenant ROTTREAU (unknown)
Chef Téléphonique: Sous lieutenant Laurent Eugene Marie FOUQUET
Assumption survived
Porte Drapeau: Lieutenant MEROT (unknown)
Chef de Section Mitrailleuses: Sous Lieutenant Charles Edouard GOULON
Born 7th October 1888
A keen smoker, he started his military service with the 39e RI in October 1901 and was quickly promoted to Sous Lieutenant in 1912, where he moved as a reserve officer with the 115e RI. Mobilized with the 315e RI as Head of the a machine gun section and then Head of Compagnie by October 1915. By April 1916, he was promoted to Capitaine, where he stayed until being transferred to the 369e RI in November 1917. Wounded twice and three citations including one on the 25th September 1915. Died on 24th January 1922 from pneumonia
Below is Charles Goulon citation for the 25th September 1915
Chef de section de mitrailleuses: Sous Lieutenant Joseph Louis Germain DOREL+++
Born 22/3/1891 – Classe 1911 – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 2413
JMO indicates that Dorel may have been killed between 30/10 and 2/11, but no official records found. Only sous LTN identified is the one above but no service record found.
Assumption that he may have transferred to 333e RI
Died: 25/10/1916 near Fort Vaux at Verdun
Etat Major
May 1915 update
Capitaine adjoint, fait fonction de major: Lieutenant Pierre Yves Marie GUILMARD++
Born 29/8/1881 – Classe 1908 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 669
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive
Sous Lieutenant Pierre Joseph Daurat
Born 18/3/1877 – Classe 1894 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 47339
Mobilised with the 102e RI and was transferred to the 315e 6th November 1915
Wounded on 6th Sept 1916 at Verdun
Promoted to Lieutenant on 14th October 1917
Survived the war
*wounded 1914 ** wounded 1915 *** wounded 1916 **** wounded 1917 *****wounded 1918
+ KIA 1914 ++KIA 1915 +++KIA 1916 ++++KIA 1917 +++++KIA 1918
5eme Bataillon
Chef de Bataillon: Capitaine MARTIN*
Wounded 13th September 1914
Assumption war wounded and did not return to 315e RI
Martin replaced by Capitaine Roy
CBA Capitaine Lucien Roy,
Born 4th August 1861,
Finished his military service at Saint Cyr in 1889, then served with the 3e Zouaves, 82 RI, 121e RI and 115e RI where in July 1913 he was promoted to Capitaine after three campaigns in Algeria. Mobilized with the 315e RI, he took over as Head of the 5e battalion after the death of Capitaine Leon Andre on the 30th October 1914. He would then himself be subsequently wounded multiple times. April 1904, fell off a horse, on the 23rd September 1915 wounded by a badly fused 58’ mortor shell and then again on the 25th September 1915. Following his convalescence, he transferred to the 151e RI and survived the war. Died on the 14th February 1925. Awarded the Legion d’Honneur to its highest level of Commandeur in December 1917
Médecin: Major de 2ème cl Joseph-Elie-Eugène-Gaston REVERDY
Only officer in 5e Battalion to not be wounded on the 25th September 1915. Part of the 315e RI until May 1916
17ème compagnie:
Capitaine Charles de FONTANGES de COUZAN**
Born 1869 – Classe 1887 – Professional Soldier Saint-Cyr – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 1375
Wounded at Auberive does not return to the 315e
Awarded Legion d’Honneur 10th December 1914
Archives Départementales 76 (archivesdepartementales76.net)
Lieutenant DESROYS du ROURE+
25th August 1914 “Disparu” body not found
Sous lieutenant Jean Charles Elie FAUVEL+
Born 27/7/1888 – Classe 1908 – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 1656
Transferred to the 130e RI on 11th August 1914
Died: 22/8/1914 at Virton in Belgium with the 130e RI
May 1915 update
Lieutenant Rene Jules Henri POLINIERE**
Born 23/6/1890 – Classe 1907 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 577
Transfers from the 18e compagnie before November 1914
Noted “Disparu” after the Auberive offensive on 25th September 1915
Actually captured and was a prisoner of war until being repatriated on 7th January 1919
Sous Lieutenant Henri Jean Joseph REGNARD++
Born 21/8/1884 – Classe 1904 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 1331
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive at 31 years old
“disparu” body never found
Regnard , Henri Jean Joseph , Matricule 1331 – Visionneuse – Archives de Paris
18ème compagnie:
Capitaine ROUX
By October 1914 no longer part of 315e RI
Assumption wounded or transferred
Lieutenant Gregoire Louis Jean FERRAN+++++
Born 1874 – Classe 1894 – Reserve Soldier – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 680
A jovial man, mobilized with the 315e, who by November 1914 would be quickly promoted to Capitaine of Machine Gun Compagnie and then Head of the 4e battalion in May 1915. A brave soldier and commander, who earned 4 citations and was wounded twice. He would tragically succumb to Spanish Flu on 9th October 1918, at the age of 44 years old
Sous Lieutenant POLINIERE
Transfers to the 17e compagnie by November 1914,
See 17e Compagnie for more information
Sous Lieutenant ROULLEAU de la ROUSSIVER
By October 1914 no longer part of 315e RI
Assumption wounded or transferred
May 1915 update
Sous Lieutenant LE BARBIER
Prisoner after the attack of the 25th September 1915
Lieutenant RECOING** (arrives in Autumn 1914)
24e compagnie for details
19ème compagnie:
Capitaine GAUDIOT
By October 1914 no longer part of 315e RI
Assumption wounded or transferred and Survived
Lieutenant GUESPEREAU
By October 1914 no longer part of 315e RI
JMO indicates that LTN Guespereau moved to brigade
Assumption survived
Sous Lieutenant MORINOT
By October 1914 no longer part of 315e RI
Assumption survived
May 1915 update
Capitaine Paul Emile PETARD++
Born 6/6/1879 – Classe 1899 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 640
Mobilized with the 315e and the 6e bat, 24e compagnie as a Lieutenant. By mid-September, he moved to the 19e compagnie and was promoted to Capitaine in October 1914. He would tragically die on the 25th September 1915, whilst leading his compagnie at Auberive. Capitaine Petard’s fate became more widely known after his death, with extracts of his war diary published in Marcelle Lerouge: Journal d’une adolescente dans la guerre. Buried at the Necropole nationale du Bois du Puits at Auberive.
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive at 36 years old
Sous Lieutenant Laurent Zachaire CARCHET++
Born 9/1/1875 – Classe 1899 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 585
Moves from the 19e compagnie in mid September 1914
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive at 36 years old
Archives départementale du Gers – Matricules militaires (archives32.fr)
20ème compagnie:
Capitaine Leon BASTIER+
Born 6/1/1873 – Classe 1901 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 4258
Temporary transfer to the 130e RI on 11th August 1914 then back to the 315e
Died: 26/09/1914 of wounds at Villers-Cotterets at 41 years old
1501 1893 – Visionneuse – Archives departementales de la Haute Vienne (haute-vienne.fr)
Lieutenant Charles Henri WIRIOT++
Born 12/8/1881 – Classe 1901 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 4258
Started his military service with the 115e RI in 1902 and rose quickly from the ranks to Sous Lieutenant in 1908. Mobilized with the 315e and the 5e bat, 20 compagnie, he was made Head of Compagnie in November 1914. On the 8th September 1914, was evacuated for adenitis, but returned by the 1st November 1914. He tragically disappeared leading the 20e compagnie on the 25th September 1915 during the Auberive offensive at 34 years old
Sous lieutenant ALLAIN
Transfers to 24e compagnie then Etat major in October 1915
Survived the war
May 1915 update
Sous Lieutenant Ernest Auguste Felix RENARD+++
Born 4/7/1885 – Classe 1905 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 4342
Noted as “disparu” after the 25th September Auberive attack
Died: 9/3/1916 in hospital in Germany at 30 years old
SLT Pierre Michel Marie GARNIER++
Born 24/12/1886 – Classe 1906 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 4258
Died: 8/8/1915 at ferme de Wacques 28 years old
6eme Bataillon
Chef de Bataillon: BOURREAU
Replaced by Olivier during September 1914
No other records can be found
Médecin: aide major de 2ème cl BERMAN
By May 1915 no longer part of 315e RI
May 1915 update
Chef de bataillon: CBA : Capitaine Henri Charles Ferdinand OLIVIER
Transfers to 6e bat from etat major in late September 1914
See Etat Major for more details
médecin: aide major de 2ème cl (R) SIMON
21ème compagnie:
Capitaine Leon ANDRE+
Born 17 June 1871 – Classe 1891 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 198
Born in Auxonne in Cote-d’Or, a professional soldier and Saint-Cyr graduate in 1893. Legion d’Honneur recipient in 1910, he was mobilised with the 315e and the 6e battalion, which he would command. He was mortally wounded whilst leading his battalion at Quesnoy on the Somme on 30th October 1914, he was 43 years old.
“An officer of great value, he knew how to instill in his battalion the qualities of energy and tenacity. Was killed while leading his most brilliant men to storm a village”
Lieutenant Pierre Yves Maris GUILMARD++
Transfers to etat-major of the 315e in November 1914
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive
CdS: sous lieutenant Robert Albert Joseph TOUCHARD+
Born 31/12/1885 – Classe 1905 – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 126
Transferred to the 130e RI on 11th August 1914
Died: 22/8/1914 at Virton in Belgium with the 130e RI
May 1915 update
21e Compagnie
Lieutenant MORINEAU
Transfers to the 315e in October 1914 then believed to have been wounded in early 1916
CdS: sous lieutenant Edouard Rene TOLLARD***
Born 26/2/1884 – Classe 1904 – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 913
July 1915 promoted to SLT and his 1st citation in October 1915
Transfers to the 17e from 21e on 1st October 1915
Seriously wounded: below his second citation on the 6th September
22ème compagnie:
Capitaine Lucien ROY**
Born 4 August 1861 – Saint Cyr 1887-1889 – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 1438
Finished his military service at Saint Cyr in 1889, then served with the 3e Zouaves, 82 RI, 121e RI and 115e RI where in July 1913 he was promoted to Capitaine after three campaigns in Algeria. Mobilized with the 315e RI, he took over as Head of the 5e battalion after the death of Capitaine Leon Andre on the 30th October 1914. He would then ? himself be subsequently wounded multiple times. April 1904, fell off a horse, on the 23rd September 1915 wounded by a badly fused 58’ shell and then again on the 25th September 1915. Following his convalescence, he transferred to the 151e RI and survived the war. Died on the 14th February 1925. Awarded the Legion d’Honneur to its highest level of Commandeur in December 1917
Roy replaces Martin as head of 5e bat in 1915
Lieutenant Pierre Ernest TASSEL+++
Born 11 November 1880 – Classe 1900 – Reserve Soldier – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 1438
Mobilized with the 315e RI and the 6e bat, 22e compagnie second in command, before being given command in November 1914. By June 1915, he was temporarily promoted to Capitaine, which was made permanent by April 1916. Pierre’s brother Paul Tassel wrote a post war book on his war time experience and his conversations with his brother Pierre
Died 8th September 1916 at Verdun whilst leading the 22e compagnie during an attack near Fleury devant Douaumont
Sous Lieutenant Jacques Louis Marius Auguste BARTH+
Born 27 March 1887 – Classe 1905 – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 426
Born in Paris, a lawyer at la Cour de Paris, with a doctorate in law from Sciences Politiques (Sciences Po). Mobilised with the 315e and the 19e compagnie, which he would command. His death will be vividly described by Paul Petard in his diary whilst leading his compagnie at Quesnoy on the Somme on 30th October 1914, he was 27 years old
Tombé, frappé d’une balle dans le front à 10 m d’un canon allemand
LTN Barth death
May 1915 update
SLT Georges Marie Gustave Gabriel RICHARD***
Born 28/2/1885 – Classe 1902 – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 2545
Started his military service in the Classe of 1905, rose quickly from the rank of Caporal to Sergent by November 1907. Mobilized with the 315e as a temporary Sous Lieutenant, he was officially promoted on 5th January 1916 and made Lieutenant in January 1918. Wounded multiple times including on the 30th September 1915, whilst standing next to the 5e Chef de Bataillon Henri Olivier and then again on 6th September 1916 at Fleury, Verdun, where he earnt his Legion d’Honneur. Known as Mr R from the 315e RI in Charles Delvert “Carnets d’un Fantassin.
Survived the War
23ème compagnie:
Lieutenant Guy Paul Marie Julien GRANIER de CASSAGNAC+
Born 26/12/1882 – Classe 1902 – Mobilised 1914 -Matricule: 159
Transferred to the 344e RI on 11th August 1914
Died: 20/8/1914 at Fonteny with the 344e RI at 28 years old
Versailles 1902 – Visionneuse – AD 78 (yvelines.fr)
CdS: lieutenant (R) ROBERT
By May 1915 no longer part of 315e RI
CdS: Lieutenant ALLIX
Born 5/11/1887
Mobilized with the 315e and the 6e bat, 23e compagnie as second in command. He was promoted to Capitaine on 29th October 1915 and commander of the 23e compagnie. He was promoted to second in command of the 6e battalion in September 1917. Little else is known, but he survived the war and died in December 1969
May 1915 update
CdS: sous lieutenant DUFOIS
Assumption survived
24ème compagnie:
CdU: capitaine (R) MAVEL
Assumption survived wounded or transferred in after February 1916
CdS: Lieutenant Paul Emile PETARD++
Moves to 19e compagnie in mid September 1914
Born 6/6/1879 – Classe 1899 – Mobilised 1914 Matricule: 640
Mobilized with the 315e and the 6e bat, 24e compagnie as a Lieutenant. By mid-September, he moved to the 19e compagnie and was promoted to Capitaine in October 1914. He would tragically die on the 25th September 1915, whilst leading his compagnie at Auberive. Capitaine Petard’s fate became more widely known after his death, with extracts of his war diary published in Marcelle Lerouge: Journal d’une adolescente dans la guerre. Buried at the Necropole nationale du Bois du Puits at Auberive
CdS: sous lieutenant Louis Stanislas Gabriel RECOING**
Born 6/03/1888 – Classe 1905 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 220
Entered military service in March 1905 and in 1908 was promoted to Sous Lieutenant and sent to the 115e RI. Mobilized with the 315e RI, he was a lieutenant with the 6e bat, 24e compagnie Head of section. By June 1915, he was temporarily promoted to Capitaine of the 5e battalion, 18e compagnie, which was made permanent by April 1916. He would be wounded on the 25th September 1915 and again on the 1st November 1916 at Douaumont near Verdun. He earnt 4 citations including one on the 25th September 1915, where he “held his ground despite heavy loses, whilst under heavy fire, where his compagnie could no longer advance, until he himself was wounded”. Survived the war and died in 1958
Citation from November 1914 below
May 1915 update
Born 25/5/1887 – Classe 1907 – Mobilised 1914
CdS: SLT Leon Ernest Francois BECK++++
Matricule: 56
Moves from the 19e compagnie in mid September 1914
“a montre pendant la journee du 25 septembre, le plus beau calme et la plus grande abnegation, maintenant sa compagnie sous un violent bombardment, puis au cours de la nuit alant rechercher des blesses jusqu au reseau de fils de fer allemand”
Citation 3 Octobre 1915
2nd citation 23rd Septembre 1916 a Verdun
Died: 3/11/1917 in a ambulance follow injuries at Courcelles sur Vesle aged 30 and 6 months
Etat-Major Revision
June 1915
4eme Bataillon
Created June 1915
Front Row: SLT Pierre
11 officers, 906 men, 41 horses
chef de bataillon: Fernand Albert HENRY++
Born 2/03/1867 – Classe 1887 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 753
Fernand Albert Henry, a soldier of vast experience, who was a Capitaine with the 341e RI where he was personally presented with the Legion d’Honneur by Marechal Joffre on 19th April 1915. He was then transferred to the 301e RI, before it was folded in June 1915. With the folding of the 301e RI, Ferdinand Henry transferred to the 315e RI to head up the newly formed 4e battalion. He would tragically die on the 25th September 1915 at Auberive, whilst leading his battalion
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive at 48 years old
Médecin: 1cl Raoul-Emile LEVIEL
Mobilised with the 301e on the 3rd August
Transferred to 315e 25 December 1914
Leave the 315e after 25th Sept 1915
Survives the war
13ème compagnie:
CdU: CNE Marius Louis ASTIGGIANO++
Born 1/06/1873 – Classe 1893 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: n/a
A professional soldier with prewar experience , 5 tours in Algeria and 2 in Sahara region. He started with the foreign legion in 1895, where he was quickly promoted to Sergent in 1898 and Sous Lieutenant in 1904. Transferred from the 301e RI to the 315e RI in June 1915 as Capitaine and Head of 13e compagnie. Twice wounded in his left leg in September and October 1914, which limited his mobility. Tragically killed on the 25th September 1915. Buried at the Necropole nationale du Bois du Puits at Auberive
Tomb: 445
CdS: SLT Eugène Alphonse PIERRE**
Matricule: 2801
Adjudant with the 101e (then 301e) RI. Promoted to SLT in April 1915.
Transfers to 315eRI 11th June 1915. Wounded (several) on 25 Sept 1915.
Late 1916 comes back to serve with 115e & 124e RI. Survived
3X Croix de Guerre
Died in a car accident in 1930
14ème compagnie:
CNE Henri Jules Edouard BIZOT++
Born 7/12/1867 – Classe 1887 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 74
In December 1914 joins the 158e RI to train young recruits
Then is transfer on 1st May to the 101e in the Somme and then to the 315e RI in Champagne
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive
CdS: SLT Paul Louis THEIS**
Born 25/07/1885 – Classe 1902 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 4397
August 1914 joins the 101e RI
Transfers to the 315e in June 1915
Wounded on 25th September 1915 during Auberive attack
Promoted to Lieutenant February 1918
Wounded again in March 1918 by gas
Theis , Paul Louis , Matricule 4397 – Visionneuse – Archives de Paris
CdS: SLT Francois Alexandre DIDELIN++
Born 2/10/1879 – Classe 1899 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 3176
Moved to 315e in April 1915
Died: 24/09/1915 pre Auberive offensive
Didelin , François Alexandre Victor , Matricule 3176 – Visionneuse – Archives de Paris
15ème compagnie:
LTN Jules MOINE++
Born 5/5/1882 – Classe 1902 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 875
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive
Noted as “Disparu” body not found
SLT Hubert Marie Auguste REGNAULD++
Name is often misspelt as Regnault or Rednauld
Born 28/8/1873 – Classe 1893 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 1421
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive at 42 years old
Registre matricule – 1 R 1185 – Archives départementales de la Marne
ASP Aristide GAUDIN++
Born 12/12/1895 – Classe 1915 – Mobilised 1915 – Matricule: 173
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive
Noted as “Disparu” body not found
16ème compagnie:
LTN Socrate Louis BOISBOURDIN++
Born 14/2/1875 in Vatan
A Parisian lawyer, who was transferred to the 315e RI in June 1915 with Capitaine Henry. Inspirational soldiers and leader, that took command of both 4e and 5e battalion on the 25th September 1915, when both heads were incapacitated. He kept the advance organized and dealt severe losses on the enemy. Was mortally wounded whilst leading from the front in enemy lines. Buried at the Necropole nationale du Bois du Puits at Auberive
Aged 40
SLT Pierre Leon ROGER++
Born 18/9/1882 – Classe 1902 – Mobilised 1914 – Matricule: 1259
Died: 25/09/1915 during the Auberive offensive whilst leading his section of “bombardiers”
Link to photos of the men they led
