I am looking for information about the battle of Beausejour farm, September 25, 1915.  My great uncle, August Jacquot, was killed on that day during the battle.  Any information or pictures will be appreciated.

Hi Irene
 
I don't know should you read french language. I could suggest to have a look on the following French webpages.
 
http://www.marne14-18.fr/bataille/bataille.htm
 
http://www.marne14-18.fr/icone/gcarte.htm
 
http://www.marne14-18.fr/Circuit/circuit.htm
 
http://www.marne14-18.fr/Circuit/c [...] sejour.htm
 
With reference to the French Ministery of Defense website http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/
 
Auguste, Delphin JACQUOT was born on July 31st 1894 in Beaume les Dames (Doubs) France. He was soldier at the 26sth Infantery Regiment and He was killed on Sept 25sth at Beauséjour (Marne)
 
26sth Infantery (26 RI) was part of the 11th Infantery Division (11 DI)
 
http://www.greatwardifferent.com/G [...] nce_01.htm
 
 
Regards
Armand

Irene
 
I suggest also a look on one of the best site about WWI
 
http://www.chtimiste.com/
 
Click the "Régiments" button to see the history of the 26sth and click on "Attaque de la butte du Mesnil" to read the detail of this battle of Beausejour.
 
Click the "photo" button to see 12 pix of 26sth RI and perhaps Auguste !
 
Regrds
Armand

 
My great uncle (same age) was killed in the same battle on the same day. Their regiments (26th and 69th infantry) had the same impossible mission : take the Butte (hill) du Mesnil.
An English decription of the battle is available at http://www.greatwardifferent.com/G [...] gne_01.htm
The ruins of the Beauséjour farm (photos) are now in the middle of a large military camp (Suippes) which is rarely opened to visitors. I went there on November 11th 2006 (photos).
When they were not later recovered by their families, the soldiers killed in the Beauséjour area are usually buried in military cemeteries (most of them in Minaucourt, photos) or still rest in the place where they died.
With the exception of the first days of the war in 1914, September 25th 1915 was the day when the French army lost the largest number of men (more than on any day of the well-known Verdun battle).
 
Best regards.
 
Francois Xavier
 
PS. As I am not very familiar with the image feature, I first post the message without the photos.

 
Beauséjour and Minaucourt cemetery photos (plus one of a commemoration ceremony taken in nearby Tahure on November 11th 2006).

 
Best regards.
 
Francois Xavier

 
Hello,
 
Photos of the September 25th 1915 unsuccessful attack of the Butte du Mesnil by the 11th Division (Division de Fer - Iron Division based in Nancy - which included 4 infantry regiments - amongst them the 26th and the 69th).
These photographs were published in "l'Illustration" on November 20th 1915; they look genuine (many photographs published after the war are reconstitutions).
The last survivor of this attack died about one year ago !  
 
Best regards.
 
Francois Xavier
 

 
I could find the name of the last survivor of this battle : Maurice Floquet who was in the same regiment (26th) as your great uncle. He was severely wounded on September 25th and finished the war in an armament factory. He died in november 2006 (As he was born in december 1994, he was nearly 112 year old, apparently the oldest veteran in the world).
 
Best regrds.
 
Francois Xavier

Merci beaucoup, Francois
 
This is the best account of the battle of Champagne that I have seen.  I received my great-uncle Auguste's service record from Vesoul, so I can now put that search to rest.
I still am searching for my grandfather's records, however.  No one seems to have them.  He received the croix de guerre during his service to France, but I do not know which department has his records.  If you have any ideas, please let me know.
Kindest regards,
Irene

 
What were the name and nationality of your grandfather ? Any other information about him that may help ?
Best regards.
 
Francois Xavier

His name was Gustave Jacquot and he was born at Baume-les-dames in the department of Doubs.  He emigrated to Canada less than one year before the French government called him to serve in the infantry.  These are his words "  I came to Canada on July 9, 1914, and returned to France on January 1, 1915 to join the 109th infantry regiment at Chaumont, Haute Marne. I left for the front with the 152nd regiment. I was transferred to the 352nd infantry regiment in 1917."
He was exposed to mustard gas at some point and received a pension from the french government until his death in 1960.  I have contacted BCAM but they say they do not have record of him.  
I have contacted Doubs and they also do not have record of him.  At this point I do not know who else to contact.
 
Kindest regards,
Irene