Melody LassalleJul 6, 2023
This is the Monument Aux Morts in Ogeu les Bains, France. The J.B Lassalle listed is my grandfather's brother. He was taken as a prisoner of war in WWI and was a servant to a German officer in Belgium. When WWI ended, they were released and he had to walk home to Ogeu. He got sick just before reaching the French border and died. #genealogy #geneadons #FrenchGenealogy #WWI
https://www.geneanet.org/cimetieres/view/6770109
Show threadSophie BoudarelJul 7, 2023

@MelRootsNWrites

Are you aware of the military record of his death?

https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ark:/40699/m005239f1b9b057e/5242bea6855b7

Visionneuse - Mémoire des Hommes

Show threadMelody LassalleJul 7, 2023

@sophieboudarel Thank you for this! I see it says Saarbruck, Germany. I went back to my notes and noticed I noted a discrepancy between what my uncle said and a cousin who lives in France. This confirms Germany (not Belgium) My cousin said after the war the bodies were exhumed and reburied in France (Moselle, I believe)

Thanks for clearing things up.

Show threadSophie BoudarelJul 7, 2023
@MelRootsNWrites You're welcome. Here's his military record
https://earchives.le64.fr/archives-en-ligne/ark:/81221/r209779zn7jdxk/f1?context=militaire::151987
If you need some explanations, I'd be happy to help
Lassalle, Jean Baptiste

Show threadMelody LassalleJul 8, 2023
@sophieboudarel Thank you for this! I'm reading through it with my limited French. Is the 8 Sep 1915 date when he was taken prisoner? I notice that he died a month after WWI ended. I know from family that his father received a letter about his death. I wonder if that is where the story about him walking home with other former POWs came about. Perhaps he started his journey home but didn't get very far. That would explain him dying in the hospital at Sarrebruck.
Show threadSophie Boudarel

@MelRootsNWrites He is listed as missing on Sept 8, 1915 at La Harazée (Vienne-le-Château), with no official notice. Then it says that he was taken prisoner in Argonne (where the fighting was) and interned at the Vahn (Wahn) camp. I understand that in the heat of the fighting, he was taken prisoner, and the official authorities initially reported him missing before being officially informed.

Here's more information about this camp https://histoiresdepoilus.boitasite.com/camps/camp-wahn.php

#1gm #wwi #FrenchGenealogy #Geneadons

Le camp de prisonniers de Wahn pendant la Grande Guerre - Histoires de Poilus

Histoire et vie quotidienne des soldats du camp de prisonniers de Wahn en Allemagne pendant la Première Guerre mondiale (1914-1918)

Jul 10, 2023 at 9:27amWeb
Show threadMelody LassalleJul 11, 2023

@sophieboudarel I really appreciate this extra information you've added to his story. I'm going to check out that link you sent about the camp.

I can imagine in the confusion of battle that it would be easy for someone to go missing.

My family lost my Lassalle great uncle in WWI and my Lassalle uncle (dad's brother) in WWII.