The Soldier: CARROGER Ferdinand
His Story :
Ferdinand CARROGER is born on the 18th of June 1894 in the commune of Baugy, Cher (18) to parents Charles CARROGER and Marie BINDET. Noted as having the profession of cook on his registration document, CARROGER is very suddenly conscripted as a young man of the class of 1914 and becomes a soldier with the 3rd Zouaves Regiment September 5th of the same year. Through the campaign against Germany, CARROGER will operate machine guns as a gunner of the 5th Company of Machine Gunners of the regiment. At the age of only 20 years old, Ferdinand CARROGER becomes obligated to fight for his country at all costs and participates in the First World War.
The 7th of December 1914, CARROGER is wounded to the right shoulder by shell explosion in the commune of Tracy-le-Val, Oise (60) and is evacuated and treated until the 21st of the same month. Following close to a year of operations with the unit, CARROGER will again be wounded to the right shoulder by shell blast at Saint-Hilaire, Marne (51) during the disastrous Champagne Offensive in September of 1915. In fit health enough to return to service the 10th of November 1915, CARROGER rejoins his unit and will participate in the bloody Battle of Verdun through the year 1916. Having defended the Louvemont sector through the first semester of 1916, CARROGER will participate in the offensive launched in July, and is evacuated the 10th by cause of intoxication by gas at Barleux, Somme (80). The 3rd Zouaves Regiment has suffered great losses by this point in the war, and despite his wounds, CARROGER is fortunate to still be alive. Wounded for the fourth time in April of 1917 by shell blast to the thorax and left forearm, CARROGER will be awarded the Croix de Guerre with citation for bravery the 19th of August, cited by his unit as being, “Courageous and intrepid machine gunner, has always made himself remarked by his courage and his cold-blood. Wounded three times.”
Demobilized the 31st of August 1919, the First World War is over for Ferdinand CARROGER. After four long years of fighting and four cited evacuations wounded, this brave soldier has the fortune of surviving and returning home. Returning to his department, CARROGER marries Lucienne-Pauline MOREAU in 1920 at Bourges, Cher (18), and is awarded the Medaille Militaire in 1925. Shortly after, around 1929, CARROGER and his wife will move to Anvers in Belgium, and live a quiet life through to CARROGER’s death the 14th of March 1978. Ferdinand CARROGER becomes a Knight of the Legion d’Honneur ten years earlier, February 9th 1968, and is a hero for his dedication to his country through the Great War.
Dedicated to the memory of this soldier.
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Registration Document: tinyurl.com/592efb98
Legion of Honor: (in progress)
Geneanet Search: tinyurl.com/52xcj2w8
CARROGER in his uniform of the 3rd Zouaves Regiment, c.1919. On his right sleeve he displays his four wound chevrons, detailed in his registration document. He also displays his Croix de Guerre stripe on his torso for his bravery citation.
A “Combatant’s Card” awarded to veterans of World War I. With great luck, CARROGER’s card is visible on Geneanet.com. This gives us a precious photo of CARROGER ten years after the armistice.
The back of the photo of CARROGER shortly after the war. He gives us all the necessary information to find him and to share his story.