World War Wounds

How about tomorrow?

Tomorrow perhaps, in our turn,

in transmitting the Key Message,

that is to say, in prolonging the Memory,

even if we did not either see or even understand by ourselves,

will we be able to help closing,

very slowly, very carefully, but without forgetting,

beyond the generations,

the boundless wounds

that the War had inflicted to these Women...

Photography: Internet - "In front of Souchez, Artois".

Translated by Louis CAZAUBON - Ville d'Avray, on the 18th January 2009

The Women, in the family, had survived these eight deadly years. They were lonely, from now on.

Survivors, indeed, but for ever wounded.

And their wounds were becoming quite heavy to bear...

So heavy that they would have to share them, now, with the oncoming generations.

Nowadays, time has come when the marks left by the tragedy are fading slowly, inexorably, ...

Church Tower in Mont-Saint Eloi, Artois: photographed in February 1916 by Henri Baudiment, then in April 2006 by Louis Cazaubon.

Church in Bouvigny, Artois: photographed in January 1916 by Henri Baudiment, then in April 2006 by Louis Cazaubon.

Church in Villers au Bois, Artois: photographed in February 1916 by Henri Baudiment, then in April 2006 by Louis Cazaubon.

The Haÿ brewery plant in Loos-en-Gohelle, Artois: photographed in October 1915 by Henri Baudiment, then in April 2006 by Louis Cazaubon.

City Hall in Bouvigny, Artois: photographed in January 1916 by Henri Baudiment, then in April 2006 by Louis Cazaubon.

... when so few are the ones who come and review the names of the dead, engraved on the marble, in the official staircase of the former City Hall of Châteauroux, operating today as a Municipal School of Music, ...

Châteauroux - 1999: The marbles of the official staircase, in the former City Hall - Photography: Louis Cazaubon.

Châteauroux - 1999: The former City Hall, now operated as a Municipal School of Music - Photography: Louis Cazaubon.

Châteauroux, postcard, beginning of the 20th Century: the City Hall.

... the Memory remains intact and accurate, not within the details, but through the Key Message, as it was delivered to us by these beloved Ladies who had mourned without seeing, and who, then, have gone, in their turn, without really understanding.

Family photography, in Algiers, by 1960 - From Left to Right: Charlotte, Augustine, Euphrasie.

In fact, to elaborate, then to transmit the Memory, do we really need to make sure that we can see and understand on our own?

For Angèle, who had made the clear decision to settle, then to die in Algeria, the native country of her husband, was the price to pay, to rest under this abandoned grave in a waste cemetery?

Hussein Dey, on the 28th May 2007: the current status of Angèle Baudiment's grave - Photography kindly transmitted by Mr Rashid Hadrou.

Jean-Baptiste struggled bravely to overcome his wounds, but, at last, weakened by them, he was blown away on the 28th January 1922, by a blight which murdered many more than this "Great War": the Spanish Flu.

His father Boniface, undermined by the sorrow, had himself, been swept away by the virus, two weeks before.

Then came the long mourning, heavy to bear, for the parents, for the remaining brother, for the sisters. Family mourning which was not even interrupted by the sound of the bugle, on the Armistice Day, the 11th November 1918.

Family photography, Spring 1916, in Algiers - From Left to Right: Fernand, Euphrasie holds his daughter Yvette in her arms; on the tree: Marc (in white) and the cousin Robert Merle (future famous French novel writer) ; under the tree: Jean-Baptiste and Henriette holding his arm; in the rear: Marie-Anne; Eugénie Merle (mother of Robert); Françoise Ollagné, Marie-Anne's elder sister and Eugénie's mother; Boniface, with his black armband.

"[...] Young beauties that the sky gives to the winter,
As he gave flowers to the spring.
Strip off the crown the leaves of your pleasures .
Dance with joy, thankful to your defenders.
But if, suddenly comes to the fair,
An old jackal with his scars on the front,
In order to settle your debt towards him, let a mild smile from you, children,
Compensate the blood he had given [...]."

[March of the 1st Zouaves]

Jean-Baptiste never recovered a normal health, and so, never returned back to fighting:

Official ceremony at the 1st Zouaves Regiment, at the "Champ de Manoeuvres" (training area), in Algiers, beginning of 1915: Jean-Baptiste Baudiment carries the Regiment flag.

By an official decision of the General Commanding the Algiers Division, dated 23rd Décember 1917, he was seconded to the Head Quarters of the French Troops in North Africa, to be employed by the Regional Inspection of the Deferments in Algiers.

On this very day, Saturday 22nd April 1916, almost in the mean time, Jean-Baptiste had been marrying Henriette Dupuy de la Grand'Rive, in Algiers...

Then came the attack on Verdun...

March 1916: Photography of Henri Baudiment, Lieutenant (Temporary), in dress uniform.

On the Left Bank of the Meuse River, the 90th Infantry Regiment took part, starting on the 21st April 1916, to the very intense fights of the "Battle on the Wings". On the 22th of April (it was the Holy Saturday), the 1er Batalion was defending the right front of the Regiment, in the bottom of the Ravin de la Hayette [namely: "Ravine of la Hayette"], in connection with the 161st Infantry Regiment, who was defending the western slopes of the Mort-Homme [namely: "the Dead Man"]. The losses were very heavy.

Henri was mowed down by an 88mm Austrian burst firing, while he was on the front, commanding his musketry and ordering his men to fire at the attack of the German infantry, which had been launched by 4:15 pm.

The attack did not come closer than 200 meters from the barbed wires, then was stopped.

Panoramic view, taken from Hill 310: on the left, Hill 304; in the center, the Ravine of "la Hayette"; on the right, the "Mort-Homme".

Commander Bréant was serving at the Head Quarters of the 90th Infantry Regiment. In his book "De l'Alsace à la Somme" [namely: "from Alsace to the Somme"], as a direct witness, he describes the battle:

"...On our lines, the shells keep on detonating. By 7:00 pm, a lull occured. Two officers are reported killed in action [...]. The Germans have been attacking in waves, then been stopped by our musketry, and by an accurate fire barrage.

The Colonel is waiting for complementary reports. They reach us. Captain B[audiment] has been killed, five lieutenants have been wounded. Amongst the troops, 150 wounded, 80 killed and some missings in action.

[...] Captain B[audiment] had his head swept away by a shell, during the attack, when he was ordering: "Fire as required!" [...]."

[Translated from "De l'Alsace à la Somme", by Commander Pierre Bréant]

April 1916: Last photography of Henri Baudiment, Capitaine (Temporary), mess kit.

Henri was mentioned in dispatches of the Army:

"Officer endowed with an unfailing bravery, doing a lot countlessly to the benefit of his men, to whom he had passed on his fighting spirit and his disregard for death, gloriously fell down, on the 22nd April 1916, during an attack that the enemy was conducting towards the front of his Company".

He had just been appointed Captain (Temporary), on the 30th March 1916.

Henri was buried, on the very following day, Sunday 23rd of April, which was Easter Sunday, in the communal cemetery of Jubécourt.

He rested there until the 27th of January, 1931, when his remains were transferred towards the National Necropole of Ville Sur Cousance (grave #948), where he has been peacefully lying, since then.

Postcard provided by Augustin Simon (many thanks to him)

Then came the last letter, dated on the 1st February 1916, three weeks only before the German attack on Verdun:

"... I am glad to announce you that my next holiday leave to come will be totally dedicated to you. Angèle and myself are currently making some arrangements, and I wish to commit to visit you before the end of next April. This will be a great joy for everyone, and as Angèle was saying, I would not be free of myself. This duty leave will be especially for you. So many stories to tell! And my bag is full of battle episodes! I just have become a tough nut, now, and they dared to nickname me: the "Pachyderm" [...] Still in good shape, I sincerely hope that this amazing luck will last until this expected holiday leave, and that we will celebrate together this come back so much desired. I will end sending all of you my best kisses.

Your son and brother,

Henri"

[Last letter from Henri Baudiment to his parents, dated on the 1st February 1916].

Henri used to share frequently news about Angèle, his wife, whom he tried to meet as often as possible:

"...For two days, I have been staying with Angèle, 20 kilometers away from the Boches [sic]. Although amazing, this is exact anyhow: with enough boldness and determination, you can brave anything..."

[Letter dated 7th April 1915]

"... I just had left Angèle on the 5th May; then, on the 9th and on the 10th of this month, we had to give a vigorous battle on Loos [...]"

[Letter dated 26th July 1915]

"... On the 3rd July, we were posted to the reserves of the 10th Army, nearby St Pol (Fruges). Since I knew that we would be at rest for fifteen days in the third zone of the Armies, I sent a telegram to Angèle to invite her to join me here. She succeeded, and in a magnificent villa where I was taken care of by two good old people, I could spend 8 days with her..."

[Letter dated 26th July 1915]

"... How eager I would be to clear off, and to come and have some good time with her and you, under our warm sun in Algiers, Algiers sun that me often miss here... Angèle is well, and keeps always in her mind the hope to meet all of us together..."

[Letter dated 11th October 1915]

"... You may understand that I have not much availability in Paris, and that, for such, I have to be forgiven. Angèle is well, and since we have met again, this is pure joy..."

[Letter dated 17th January 1916]

His thoughts were, too, very often dedicated towards Charlotte...

Family photography: Charlotte by 1914.

... towards Augustine...:

Family photography: Augustine by 1912.

"... of course, I cannot write to everybody separately. Charlotte, Titine keep on asking me for news. So, I have to multiply myself, I am so happy to see how generous they are. Every now and then, I get a parcel from them, cookies, cigarettes, etc... I still have to thank them!"

[Letter dated June 1915]

"... The present letter which will be of much interest for Baptiste, will be sent to him, reminding him to forward it, ultimately, towards Titine and Charlotte. I have just received from them, a small parcel full of cigarettes. I send them my endless thanks, and since they are asking for new detailed stories, here comes a new one of my own, which is worth to share..."

[Letter dated 11th October 1915]

...and towards Euphrasie, whose husband Fernand was still at the front:

Family photography: Euphrasie and Fernand by 1910.

"Our poor Zézette did not get any recent news, so she will be able to read my letter, and these 8 pages are for every one of you [...]. I lost Fernand's address, so I cannot write to him. Is he in danger? I do not believe so, thanks to his duty as a radiographer."

[Lettre de Juin 1915]

"I am really happy to read that Fernand is returning home. He had not much to suffer from the war, and in the sector he had been assigned to, it was a snug spot. Nothing like Artois. Here, this is night and day fights".

[Letter dated 1st February 1916]