VERDUN
Days at Rest: 22
Days in Trenches: 8
Travel: 1
Casualties: 22 KIA
2nd October
Training has started near St Dizier
Jules comments that yesterday he was due to leave for his training, which he did at 07h00 in the morning. However he spent most of the morning trying to find transportation to St Dizier. The situation was so hopeless that they decided to take the train, but they only arrived at 01h00 in the morning and very tired.
However, training waits for nobody and this morning the course started early, with 5 hours of lessons, but the food for once it not too bad. In addition St Dizier, is a bigger town than they have been used to recently and is very pleasant and has civilians as it is well away from the frontlines.
Letter – Training has started near St Dizier
3rd October
7e DI JMO day review: Soldier from the 102e RI appeal against a court martial is rejected and is executed at 06h00 near to Vroil (to the north of St Dizier)
4th October
Confirmation from Jules that he still on his course and will not get any of Jeanne postcards or letters until he is back with the regiment
Jules is alone on the course with only one other soldier from the 315e, who he did not actually know before the course (understandable when the regiment is about 3000 men).
The weather again has taken a turn, unfortunately the majority of the classes are outside, but they do not stop for bad weather! As Jules concludes after this course “he will become an artillery expect”, which maybe of help later, but at least it has wasted another 8 days.
Jules finishes by reflecting on the fact they will be in the trenches again for another winter. This is a prospect which fills nobody with joy, as soldiers still remember the mud, snow and the cold from last winter
Letter – Training near St Dizier: another winter in the trenches
5th October
Quick postcard to muse into when this war will be over and when he will be able to hold his sweet Jeanne in his arms
6th October
Lucky a friend lent me some money, because the wallet was getting very light, because a lot of money gets spent during training
Letter 6th October
Jules confirms that his trench artillery course is coming to an end in the afternoon and he will be leaving tomorrow during the day. He is eager to leave to get back to this regiment so he can get his hands on his letters and packages that have been delivered during his absence.
He comments that he think his regiment is still in the same place, but he is not sure. However he is hopeful that they will still have some more rest before going back to the trenches.
The course has also had one negative. He has spent a lot of money, therefore his wallet getting very light and flat (which we can only assume is post training drinks….)
Letter – Final day of training at St Dizier
8th October
Postcard and letter, the postcard was sent at 15h00 after he received his watch which he forget in Paris back in August.
“On m’avait renvoyé mes lettres au cours ou j’étais, lettre recommandée aussi et un colis, pensez si je n’étais pas content après le chef qui a fait cela”
Jules is now back with his regiment since yesterday and is pleased to have found them in the same place in the Marne near Alliancelles. Jules had hoped to have many letters and parcels waiting for him, but many of the letters were forwarded to the his training camp …. therefore Jules is not best pleased (assumption is that he told the chief to hold onto his letters whilst away rather than forward them).
As previously mentioned earlier, Jules is struggling for money and asks for 25f again as he has spent all his money on the course and has not been refunded the “expenses”. As he concludes even when he does get refunded he will still have no money left, as they are still at rest and that where he spends the most money!
Jules is cousin (name unknown) has been wounded near Siens, whilst his brother Camille is on leave.
Today is Sunday and the weather is rather miserable, as it has been raining since this morning. This evening Jules plans to do some reading as there is nothing else to do.
Letter – Back with the regiment
Casualties: Marius Rique (30 years old) Died of gangrene in Vadelaincourt hospital
9th October
Rien de nouveau ici, toujours des bruits de départ pour Verdun
Another day at rest for Jules and the 315e regiment. There is some news on his cousin who is wounded, but he has heard that it is not serious. In addition Jules has still not received some of the parcels that were forwarded to his training camp in St Dizier, he disperses they could be lost, but hopes not.
Rumours have started going around they will be going to Verdun again, but Jules hopes they are not true. However the days are getting longer and longer with nothing, but training. In addition he can no longer train his “trench clearing grenadiers” section as he was previously. The reason Jules was given are “new regulations mean he has to take part in all regiment and compagnie exercises”, which Jules then goes onto describe as “long and boring”.
As he comments “nothing to say…. nothing to do”, it has not been a good day!
Letter – Verdun return? No more individual section exercises
10th October
Quick postcard to say another day has been checked off and he has arrived back from another mind numbing exercise. Nothing new to report, apart from his parcel and letters from St Dizier have still no arrived back ….. therefore he believes it is now likely they are lost!
11th October
Vous pourrez m’acheter un tricot
Another day ticked off during another long and drawn out rest period. Jules main focus is get hold of the parcels that were forwarded to St Dizier and have not been sent back. As he comments “La poste are never in a hurry to help!”
Thoughts are now turning towards winter and Jules has asked Jeanne to send him a new “tricot” to keep him warm once they know which sector they will be sent too.
One silver lining for Jules today, is that he had no exercise to do, as he was on guard duty!
Letter – Warm clothes needed
13th October
l’exercise……. quel cauchemar pour moi
Jules is writing today letter before lunch and going on exercise, which Jules despairs at and cant wait for this cycle of daily exercise to end. To darken his mood even more, no news over the lost parcels, plus there has been no letters or parcels arriving by train.
Still no news on the Verdun rumours, which Jules admits is “annoying not knowing what the regiment next more is” because he does not want to end up in a “mauvais coin”.
On his new compagnie, Jules is in reflective mood, mentioning there is no really camaraderie as there are so many new faces. As Jules states “what to do what to say” to these new recuits.
He also mentions he is going to bed at 18h00, where he reads and thinks about his sweetheart Jeanne.
il n’y a pas d’entente et beaucoup de nouveaux aussi quoi faire et quoi dire
14th October
Nothing new again, but Jules and his compagnie are getting suspicious at how long they have be left at rest with no news. Barbier has still not bothered to send him a letter …. Some friend he is 😊
15th October
Nothing new, still at rest with no news. They have been told they maybe leaving, but nothing has been confirmed and nothing on the destination.
16th October
On nous mène comme des bêtes
Another day another afternoon exercise completed. Jules confirms there are still no new updates on the rumours about where they could be going in the future, which means he think it could mean they are moving soon.
However leave is no longer suspended, but Jules still has not got his parcels …… as he comments, everything time I ask “m’envoie balader” I am told to get lost! As he concludes, its very sad to be treated in such a way by the postman.
Jules now provides us with a breakdown of the leave system and its “unique way and logic” which Jules grimly mentions that they treat us “as if we were stupid like animals … “
Jules states that within the 14e compagnie he should have 3 leave period of 7 days per year or every 4 months. However as Jules mentions “not in this compagnie”, 1 person goes on leave every 5 days for 200 people in the compagnie.
Letter – Unjust leave system
Doing the maths with 200 people, that means its every 6 months that solders would get leave, therefore would never be able to comply with the Army standards
17th October
18th October
mieux ici que dans n’importe quel secteur serait-il le meilleur
Another day and nothing new apart from the weather has turned. This afternoon they are again out on another exercise. Still nothing about moving to a new sector, but as Jules mentions “we would all rather stay here than move to anywhere else”.
In regards to the parcel saga ….. still nothing and he now believes it is lost for good and is frustrated he cant do anything about it. Update aswell on the Tricot, which Jules mentions that he would still like one, despite being given an army issued one, but he comments that “it is of poor quality”.
Letter – Still no movement
19th October
Today Jules has had confirmation that they will be leaving in a couple of days, but he does not know in which direction or where. The news along with the continuous rain has dampened the moral of the compagnie. Finally some news that they will be leaving, but nobody knows when.
Barbier his so called “friend” has still not replied to him (been 2/3 months now), but has sent one to Jeanne …. Sounds like Barbier after the same women!
20th October
Nos officiers sont partis hier, ils reviennent ce soir et alors saurons-nous quelque chose
Quick postcard today, as they are waiting to find out where they will be going, but they should have news soon as the officers all left yesterday and they are back tonight. This afternoon they will be out marching, but because it nice today, it will be more like a nice walk in the countryside
21st October
Pour notre départ c’est toujours autant de jours gagnés sur ceux qui nous restent à faire
As Jules joyfully announces another week has gone by out of the trenches, which nobody is complaining about! At the moment he is on guard duty, so no work today! Final update on the missing parcel, it is now definitely lost! In regards to the tricot, he is still going to need it as the weather is start to turn cold in the morning. Jules says he has been given a “chandails” but believes it will not last long, so he will be asking for his tricot to be sent soon!
For a couple of days now, they have been hearing artillery fire all day and all night, which Jules thinks is coming from Champagne region, but cant find anything written in the papers.
Letter – Artillery activity but where?
The noise from artillery that Jules has been hearing is likely to have been from the Verdun area. As on the 20th October the French launched a massive counteroffensive, with a large preliminary bombardment
22nd October
Flower Letter
« Je viens de recevoir votre gentille lettre du 20, et cette lettre d’après ce que je vous avais parle hier va vous causer encore beaucoup de chagrin. Nous partons demain pour V. mais nous sommes de réserve d’après ce que l’on nous a dit, ce ne sera pas pour longtemps mais en tout cas ma mignonne ne vous tourmentez pas j’en suis revenu une fois, cette fois ce sera la même chose. Je pense toute la journée et la nuit a ma Jeanne aimée, c’est ce qui me sauvera. Aimons nous bien ma Chérie et bientôt je l’espère nous serons heureux pour toujours ».
Today is the day, that Jules finds out where they will be leaving for Verdun. The letter of the 22nd October is unique, as there was a flower pressed inside.
Jules sadly confirms that they are now going back to Verdun, which for Jules, he know will unset Jeanne, therefore the tone of the letter is rather upbeat for somebody going back to the furnace.
The positive information is that they are due to be reserve and therefore should not be involved in any planned attacks. He finishes the letter with the phrase “j’en suis revenu une fois, cette fois ce sera la même chose” to say he has been there once and comeback and he will comeback again. He warns Jeanne that communication maybe patchy again in Verdun, therefore not to expect letters from him everyday.
Letter – Back to Verdun
23rd October
The Regiment is transport by truck back to Verdun. Jules writes a quick postcard at 18h00 to say all is well and his only thoughts are Jeanne.
Jules postcard provides us with very little detail, but we are very lucky in that Julien Boure who was in the 315e machine gun section described their journey back to Verdun on the 23rd.
We arrived at Bar-le-Duc by train, where we disembarked and continued our journey to Verdun by truck. Our packed Renault truck took us along the Voie Sacree, where there were trucks and cars nose to tail every 10 metres. We were 20 soldiers packed into the truck with our equipment. When a truck broke down it was immediately pushed off the road and into the ditch, to not slow down the lifeline to Verdun. The passengers from the broken down trucks would then have to find space on other trucks.
A number of Asian and African soldiers are in charge of the maintenance of the road. There job is to fetch stones and gravel in large baskets attached to their backs. They then pour the contents of the basket onto the road and under truck weight and wheels the gravel is crushed into the road.
After many hours on the road we arrived at Souilly were we disembarked. Then we got into 4 wide columns, with flag and music at the front. We marched in front of the the Marie in the town centre (see picture below). On the balcony there was the General Petain surround by Mangin and Nivelle, only Petain acknowledge and saluted us.
On our arrival into Verdun, we are surprised by the number of artillery pieces placed in abandoned and destroyed houses. We entered the citadelle by a large metal gate, that could no longer be closed. One of the main pillars on the right, that was 1m20 in height had been bent after the impact from a 210′ or 380′ shell.
Letter – Julien Boure 315e machine section
24th October
Postcard from the 24th October quickly describes their situaiton:
Dear Jeanne
I cant tell you much, but I am in good health, we have not left yet (assumption is the Citadelle (likley) or MF2 area), but we will be tonight. It is terrible what we see here, there is so much mud that we do not recognise our men, therefore I think we will not staying here long as the weather is so bad.
Jules mentions “they are not going up yet, but that is for this evening”. This would mean that they are maybe still at the citadelle.
The JMO for the 7e Div mentions that a battalions from 315e were put at the disposal of the 38e Div. This battalion was sent to MF2 (picture below) and the tranchee de Boulogne which 50/100m just to the north and Froideterre.
At this stage its hard to know exactly the 14e compagnie location, let alone the 4e Battalions position. But the 38e Div JMO confirms (see below) that the 315e did move up in the evening, near to MF2 to be in reserve of the 38e Div attack. The MF2 area was an area the 315e knew well from their exploits in September.
25th October
7e DI JMO day review: During the night of the 25th the 315e regiment move back down to Verdun. In the afternoon around 17h00 Col Durand receives orders to bring the 315e regiment back down to Verdun. Col Devaux was stationed at MF2 and whilst walking down from MF2 to Fort de Belleville he was mortal wounded by a shell on the cote de Belleville (below would have been the logical route down from MF2 to Belleville).
It is worth noting that no letters or postcards were sent on the 25th and the 7e Div JMO is very unclear, but it seems that the 315e battalions were spread around the MF2 area as confirmed in 38e Div JMO.
The loss of Colonel Devaux would have added to the confusion. Devaux was temporally replaced by Capt Deleuze from the 4e battalion and Capt Ferran replacing Deleuze at the head of the 4e bat.
Also worth noting that it was not only Col Devaux that lost his life on that journey down to Fort Belleville (assumption along Boy de Nieuport – see below) . He was at the time with LTN Durand his Chef du Service Telephonique who was wounded by the same shell and would die of his wounds the next day.
Colonel Devaux was one of approximately 32 Colonel or Commandant that lost their lives during the Battle of Verdun. However he is the only one that died on their birthday, he was 60 years old.
Devaux was buried in Vadelaincourt cemetary to the south of Verdun. More information on Devaux here
Casualties: 5 (including Col Devaux)
Albert Lebeau – Died in an accident
Maurice Pilard – Died at Thiaumont
Joseph Corompt – Died near Fort de Vaux
Louis Henno – Died of wounds – Buried Necropole Glorieux: Tombe 318
26th October
7e DI JMO day review: A battalion from the 315e regiment is sent back to help with build new trenches for the 38e Div. The work is carried by the 6e battailion of the 315e (Capt Olivier) with a Colonial unit out during the night of the 26th to the 27th Oct.
Nous sommes couverts de boue et il tombe toujours de l’eau
A short letter today, but he starts by asking Jeanne if she has seen the news in the papers, about what has happened (the death of the Col Devaux)
To reassure Jeanne he confirms that he is fine, but very tired after only arriving back in Verdun during the night. Jules however is sure that their time will not be as bad as in September and the worst has passed for them, but he cannot say any more as he is afraid that his letter maybe read.
Jules also confirms that the battlefield is turning into muddy bog from the consent rain, as he says “we are all covered in mud”
Letter – Back in Verdun – Devaux Death
Casualties: LTN Eugene Durand (35 years old) Died of wounds from 25th October
Lucien Ferret (21 years old) Died at Thiaumont
Alfred Gallou (25 years old) Died near Thiaumont
Gustave Emile Gresse (38 years old) Died near Fort St Michel
Charles Marie Loyez (28 years old) Died near Thiaumont
Jean Francois Raccurt (24 years old) Died at Thiaumont
27th October
7e DI JMO day review: From the Groupement order of 27th October at 17h30, the 315e battalions have been temporarily seconded to the 38e Div. With the below handovers to happen during the night of the 27th to the 28th
Etat Major of the 315e and 4e Bat of Capt Ferran (Jules Bat) are moved to MF2 again to relieve Capt Cauvin of 102e
6e Bat of LTN Allain (Olivier injured) are moved to MF3 to relieve Rothenflue
Nous sommes encore en réserve et on travaille toute la nuit dans l’eau et la boue jusqu’au dessus des genoux, jamais je n’ai autant souffert et ce n’est pas croyable d’être dans un tel état
Jules confirms he has received Jeanne letter from the 24th October. He also confirms that they are in reserve (assume during the day at MF2) and they and working during the night with water up to their knees. Jules states “jamais je n’ai autant souffert et ce n’est pas croyable d’être dans un tel état” he has never stuffed so much and its unthinkable the state that they are in.
Health is still good, but as with the last tour of Verdun the food situation is again bad, with Jules commenting “there is nothing good left to eat or to find”.
He finishes with a downbeat tone, that he starting to wonder “when this war will finish, even with such suffering its still not ended, all this is demoralising”.
Letter 27th October
Je commence a désespérer car souffrir ainsi et ne pas entrevoir une fin c’est décourageant.
Casualties: Herve Le Roux (39 years old) – died between Thiaumont and Fleury
28th October
Jules comments that that they left their previous position (assume Citadelle) last night to go to a redoute (MF2: before and after picture above), but he is hopeful they will stay in reserve.
The weather is currently awful and raining hard. As Jules complains that they are “soaking wet and covered in mud”. In addition he excuse himself to Jeanne for the poor handwriting, but as he mentions “his hands are freezing cold and he is struggling to write, plus he is in a very strange place or position to be writing”
Letter – Back at MF2 in reserve
Seeing the pictures of MF2 and reading the letter it does make you wonder from where he was writing the above letter, to comment he was in a strange location/position…. maybe the latrines!
29th October
7e DI JMO day review: During the night the 4e Bat (Jules) move to stay at MF2 under Capt Ferran. 5e Bat move to Saint ? under Capt Eschbach, 6e Bat move to the 4 Cheminees under Capt Allain
Jules today tells us that he has sent his citation to Jeanne for safe keeping as he is worried it may get lost. Plus with the current weather conditions he is afraid that it will get damaged as it is impossible to keep anything dry! In regards to his medal he has not sent it to Jeanne, but given it to “chef chez nous” who is in Verdun the town.
Tonight Jules confirms that they are going to be changing location, but the weather and the continuous shelling is making it a dangerous and miserable place.
Letter – Citation and Medal being kept dry and safe
Who was the “Chef chez nous” who was in Verdun ….. mostly likely Sergent Major or 14e cie commander LTN Chenal?
Hard to know for sure, but its nice to know the history of the below citation and medal and how they survived and knowing they have travelled to Verdun and back.
Casualties: Emile Alfred Lely (40 years old)
30th October
7e DI JMO day review: The below maps confirms the positions of the 4e, 5e and 6e bat of the 315e.
4e bat (Jules) are at MF2 near Froiterre
5e bat to the north near Bois en T
6e bat around Thiaumont
Despite being at the coal face in Verdun, he is still getting letters from home, which is a positive change from their last experience in September.
Jules comments that his health is still good, but “we are in such a state, it is unbelievable”. They are still in the reserve trenches and working either during the day or at night.
However Jules has no idea what the plan is for them here and if they will be staying or leaving. One element of the battlefield has not changed since September and that is the deafening noise of artillery …. as Jules bemoans “the loud continuous noise is enough to make people go mad”.
Letter – In the mud and artillery sending them mad
Casualties: 2
Pierre Beaur (34 years old) Died from his wounds near Verdun
Jacques Marie Madec (34 years old) 14e Cie: Died near Verdun
31st October
7e DI JMO day review: 315e RI are relieving the 102th RI. The 315e etat major go to l’Abri Adalbert, whilst the 4e Bat with Jules goes to subdivision FORT (location of the FORT of Douaumont?) and the rest of the Regiment to the village de Douaumont and Batterie F.
Below is abri Adalbert or TD2 near Douaumont, where the etat major moved too on the 31st October
la viande nous arrive dans des sacs a terre qui sont plein de boue, le pain également c’est tout ce que nous avons
31st October letter
Nothing new apart from the normal horrors of the Verdun battlefield. The 14e have just had another day in reserve lines, but Jules comments they are being relieved tonight, which Jules is relieved (going to FORT, we assume is Douaumont) about as he stats he does not like this area (MF2).
Again he is careful about what he says and instead of describing conditions and the landscape, he decides to use the way they eat to describe the horror..…. “the meat we get arrives in bags of soil that still have soil in them, the bread is also covered in mud and that is all we have to eat…”
Letter – Horrendous Food at the front …
Finally Barbier has written to him, for the first time in 3/4 months, but he decides to have a go at him for not writing to him ….. this Barbier guys seems to be quite the character…….
Casualties: 3
Jean August Segur (35 years old) wounded and died near Douaumont
Charles Victor Thiercelin (38 years old) died near Douaumont
Paul Louis Ferre (34 years old) “disparu” presumed dead at Fort de Douaumont – wounded in left thigh on 4th November 1914 and transferred to the 315e on the 1st October 1915 the same day as Jules. Buried Tombe 9351 Douaumont Necropole
Next Month November
