The Soldier: CLERMONTET Philippe
His Story :
Philippe CLERMONTET is born on the 31st of January 1878 in Bourges, Cher (18) to parents Philippe CLERMONTET (with which he shares his name) and Emélie CADIER. Although every young French man was conscripted to serve in the military at age 20, CLERMONTET is reformed by the Bourges Special Committee in 1899 and deemed unfit for his service because of cardiac hypertrophy and endocarditis. A year later, in better health, CLERMONTET will marry Marie BIANCHI the 26th of February 1900. The 7th of January 1901, CLERMONTET will have his daughter Lydie, and despite not having found an exact date of birth, the letter accompanying this photo of CLERMONTET shares that he has a son Robert. CLERMONTET works as an artisanal bookbinder, noted in his registration document.
Despite his health problems, the outbreak of World War I and the mobilization decree of August 1914 sees CLERMONTET called to service to fight for his country. 37 years of age, Philippe CLERMONTET rejoins the 62nd Territorial Infantry Regiment in April 1915, and is passed to depot of the 60th Territorial Infantry Regiment in July of the same year. To note is that CLERMONTET rejoins the depots of these units and the CHR (Compagnie-hors-rang), a regimental group tasked with the administrative and logistical functions of the unit. For CLERMONTET, this is certainly because of the health conditions cited on his registration document.
August 1915, CLERMONTET rejoins the 260th Territorial Infantry Regiment, again working in the CHR, and will stay soldier in the regiment until April 1916. He rejoins the 201st Infantry Regiment in September 1916, and will work in the administration of the regiment in the Somme sector. One year later, on October 22nd 1917, the regiment advances on Belgium at the Third Battle of Ypres and Philippe CLERMONTET is killed by the enemy in the Houthulst Woods. Poor weather made the attack of the 22nd almost impossible, and despite no mention of how exactly CLERMONTET is killed, ferocious German bombardments will likely have taken his life.
The war ends on November 11th 1918, and for the CLERMONTET family, no father comes home. Like millions of others, fathers, sons, brothers, the Great War took the life of Philippe CLERMONTET at the age of 39, and we remember him for his sacrifice for France. Rest well, son of France.
Dedicated to the memory of this soldier.
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Registration Document: tinyurl.com/2txkye2j
Geneanet Search: tinyurl.com/drvbr7dy
Lydie writes about missing her father, having a tooth pulled out recently, and hoping her father receives the package sent to him. “Your daughter who loves you, Lydie”.
CLERMONTET in his uniform of the 201st Infantry Regiment, c.1917
This patriotic card reads “My thought for my little father who is soldier”, 1915.
