They had the misfortune to cross death on November 11, 1918, minutes before the end of the fighting ... Augustin Trébuchon at 10:50 am in the Ardennes, and Auguste Renault at 10:58 in Belgium. Hence the question that will be topical this week: who should we officially honor as the last hairy fallen for France? This story, like forty or so others, is the summary of our 5th and last special issue devoted to the First World War.

They were French and both died on November 11, 1918. But 8 minutes apart, and not in the same way, nor in the same country ... One is Lozérien and fell near Charleville-Mézières (in France at 10 h 50. The other is Breton, who died two minutes before the liberating bugle call in Belgium at 10.58 am

August at 10:58

On paper, no debate possible: dying almost at the time of the cease-fire (11 am), Breton Auguste Renault (aged 19, assigned to the 411th RI) is the last French soldier died during the Great War. Except, there's a catch ... His story was not known until a year ago. It was Belgian students and an association (Brittany 14-18) who unearthed his unfortunate destiny. Mowed near Chimay, Belgium, he was buried in the necropolis of Dinant (still in the flat country). Victim of a French shell, Auguste Renault posed problem: his death was not a feat of arms to put forward. At least for the French army ...

Augustin at 10:50

Augustin Trébuchon (40 years old, 415th IR), he died 8 minutes earlier, Vrigne-Meuse (near Charleville) shot a German bullet in the forehead while he was carrying a message to his captain. And even if on his tombstone, the date of his death was advanced to November 10 (because, no, a hairy could not die the day of the Armistice), it is he who was chosen to symbolize the ultimate sacrifice of French fighters. And it is he who we will honor this week, at the commemorations of the end of the First World War.But for the association Britain 14-18, "no question of challenging the status of Lozèrien Auguste Trébuchon" , recognized as the last hairy dead in combat, but "only the desire to unite in the same homage all the sacrifices of this conflict," notes its president Rene Richard.

"National soil"

Since then, another historian has given the name of another hairy. It could be a certain Jules Achille (born in 1893, in Mayenne) and serving in the same regiment as Trébuchon. But the information is missing.

Traveling to Charleville-Mézières this Wednesday, November 7, President Emmanuel Macron will discuss the fate of Augustin Trébuchon, but with the cautious subtitle "last hairy fell on national soil . " Ditto for the Secretary of State for Veterans, Geneviève Darrieussecq, who will go, she, on the grave of the soldier Lozérien this Wednesday.

For if the bugle of 11 am on November 11, 1918, sounded the end of hostilities, it is only with Germany. The fighting will continue a few weeks in the Balkans and the Middle East (Lebanon and Syria), leaving a few hairy on the field of honor. And forgetfulness. Until further notice…

14/18, End of the war , special issue of 88 pages, currently on sale for € 5.90. In store and on boutique.ouestfrance.fr