Cpl
Auguste Louis Jean Gatard
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 25/08/1888 |
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Place of birth: Breuil-Chaussée, Deux-Sèvres, France |
General information
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Last known residence: l’Aliette à Breuil-Chaussée, Deux-Sèvres, France |
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Profession: Farmer |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: France |
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Force: French Army |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 668 |
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Enlistment date: 01/08/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Parthenay, Deux-Sèvres, France |
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Units: — 77ème régiment d'infanterie (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 02/11/1914 |
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Place of death: Cabaret Bellevue, Nieuwemolen, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Cemetery
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Saint-Charles de Potyze Plot: Unknown Row: Unknown Grave: Unknown |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Auguste was born in August 1888 in Breuil-Chaussée, a rural village near the town of Bressuire in the Deux-Sèvres department of Aquitaine. He worked the land. In November 1912 he married Radegonde Marolleau, shortly after their daughter Marcelle was born in August of that year.
Auguste had completed his military service in 1909 with the 77th infantry regiment in Cholet. Afterwards, Auguste once again worked the land. On 1 August 1914, he was, like so many French men, taken from his field and called to arms. A few days later, the three battalions of the 77th regiment travelled via Sedan towards Belgium. After fighting at the Belgian border and in the Champagne region, the regiment was transported by train to the west. They travelled through the rolling countryside of Picardy towards Flanders. In Cassel, the journey continued by bus towards the Belgian border and Ypres. On 25 October, the 77th regiment left Ypres on its way to Zonnebeke, east of the threatened city. The roads were full of French cavalry and artillery. A large German force attempted to take Ypres. Zonnebeke had fallen into German hands on 20 October, but was recaptured by the 114th regiment on 24 October. The Germans entrenched themselves on the Broodseinde ridge, east of Zonnebeke. The next day, the attack was resumed and Broodseinde was captured. The 77th regiment was in reserve behind British troops and watched from a ditch along the Ieperstraat.
On 26 October, the French army command wanted to push through to Passchendaele, but the attack failed due to entrenched positions with machine guns. Countless dead remained in front of the lines. Many would never have a known grave. Auguste and his unit passed through trenches with British and German dead. At the end of the day, the regiment relieved the British troops. Although the French troops did not advance an inch towards Passchendaele on 26 October, it was decided to repeat the whole daring feat on 27 October, with predictable results. The men crawled up the Ypres-Roeselare railway line under heavy fire. The 77th succeeded in capturing several trenches along the railway line and dug in at Nieuwemolen, on the ridge between Passchendaele and Broodseinde. The 114th was positioned in the direction of ‘s Gravenstafel. Occasionally, gunshots crackled through the air. Tensions were high, both sides feared an attack and alarm signals sounded on both sides of the no man's land.
On 1 November, the division's general arrived on the scene to order a new attack on Passchendaele. He hoped that his illustrious presence would stir up the men's fire. In vain. The attack was broken up by artillery fire and stalled near the Passchendaele railway station. The positions that had been taken were quickly abandoned. It had taken a while, but reality had caught up with the allied army command and they abandoned further attacks. The temporary, shallow trenches became permanent. The trenches had been shot to pieces and were filled with water. The French and German dead lay mutilated in front of the positions, the ground around them churned up by the many bombardments. A command post was set up in the Bellevue cabaret. The German positions near Nieuwemolen were only thirty metres away.
Now that the Franco-British attack had been tempered, the Germans regained the initiative. They had the upper hand in terms of artillery and could direct their fire from the heights of Passchendaele, Moorslede and Beselare. German shells of all calibres pounded the shallow trenches and foxholes. Various German attacks followed from 2 November. Without much success. The offensive came to a standstill in mid-November. The cold became the greatest enemy. The 77th Infantry Regiment remained in the Ypres Salient until the spring of 1915, when they were relieved by troops from the British Empire. As the war continued, Passchendaele, Zonnebeke and the many surrounding hamlets were gradually destroyed; the Allies and Germans captured and recaptured them several times until only the names remained.
On 2 November 1914, 26-year-old Auguste Gatard was killed. He would never work the land again. Less than a month earlier, his second daughter Jeanne had been born. Auguste has no known grave.
Auguste had completed his military service in 1909 with the 77th infantry regiment in Cholet. Afterwards, Auguste once again worked the land. On 1 August 1914, he was, like so many French men, taken from his field and called to arms. A few days later, the three battalions of the 77th regiment travelled via Sedan towards Belgium. After fighting at the Belgian border and in the Champagne region, the regiment was transported by train to the west. They travelled through the rolling countryside of Picardy towards Flanders. In Cassel, the journey continued by bus towards the Belgian border and Ypres. On 25 October, the 77th regiment left Ypres on its way to Zonnebeke, east of the threatened city. The roads were full of French cavalry and artillery. A large German force attempted to take Ypres. Zonnebeke had fallen into German hands on 20 October, but was recaptured by the 114th regiment on 24 October. The Germans entrenched themselves on the Broodseinde ridge, east of Zonnebeke. The next day, the attack was resumed and Broodseinde was captured. The 77th regiment was in reserve behind British troops and watched from a ditch along the Ieperstraat.
On 26 October, the French army command wanted to push through to Passchendaele, but the attack failed due to entrenched positions with machine guns. Countless dead remained in front of the lines. Many would never have a known grave. Auguste and his unit passed through trenches with British and German dead. At the end of the day, the regiment relieved the British troops. Although the French troops did not advance an inch towards Passchendaele on 26 October, it was decided to repeat the whole daring feat on 27 October, with predictable results. The men crawled up the Ypres-Roeselare railway line under heavy fire. The 77th succeeded in capturing several trenches along the railway line and dug in at Nieuwemolen, on the ridge between Passchendaele and Broodseinde. The 114th was positioned in the direction of ‘s Gravenstafel. Occasionally, gunshots crackled through the air. Tensions were high, both sides feared an attack and alarm signals sounded on both sides of the no man's land.
On 1 November, the division's general arrived on the scene to order a new attack on Passchendaele. He hoped that his illustrious presence would stir up the men's fire. In vain. The attack was broken up by artillery fire and stalled near the Passchendaele railway station. The positions that had been taken were quickly abandoned. It had taken a while, but reality had caught up with the allied army command and they abandoned further attacks. The temporary, shallow trenches became permanent. The trenches had been shot to pieces and were filled with water. The French and German dead lay mutilated in front of the positions, the ground around them churned up by the many bombardments. A command post was set up in the Bellevue cabaret. The German positions near Nieuwemolen were only thirty metres away.
Now that the Franco-British attack had been tempered, the Germans regained the initiative. They had the upper hand in terms of artillery and could direct their fire from the heights of Passchendaele, Moorslede and Beselare. German shells of all calibres pounded the shallow trenches and foxholes. Various German attacks followed from 2 November. Without much success. The offensive came to a standstill in mid-November. The cold became the greatest enemy. The 77th Infantry Regiment remained in the Ypres Salient until the spring of 1915, when they were relieved by troops from the British Empire. As the war continued, Passchendaele, Zonnebeke and the many surrounding hamlets were gradually destroyed; the Allies and Germans captured and recaptured them several times until only the names remained.
On 2 November 1914, 26-year-old Auguste Gatard was killed. He would never work the land again. Less than a month earlier, his second daughter Jeanne had been born. Auguste has no known grave.
Sources 3
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Base des Morts pour la France de la Première Guerre mondiale - Auguste Louis Jean GATARD (Direction des Patrimoines, de la Mémoire et des Archives, Paris (DPMA). https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ Sources used |
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Journal de marches et d'opérations: 77e régiment d'infanterie (Direction des Patrimoines, de la Mémoire et des Archives, Paris (DPMA), 26 N 662/7). https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ Sources used |
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Registres matricules (Archives départementales des Deux-Sèvres et de la Vienne, Niort). https://archives-deux-sevres-vienne.fr/ Sources used |
More information 2
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Mémoire des Hommes https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ark:/40699/m005239ea26c2755 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=b6b9a6ed-222f-4305-8f39-c74d320cb0ae |