The Soldier: LEBASTARD Georges
His Story :
Georges LEBASTARD is born on the 8th of November 1891 in Nantes, Loire-Atlantique (44) to parents Jean LEBASTARD and Julianne SIMON. Working as an employee of commerce before 1912, LEBASTARD is conscripted the same year to serve his military service for France, and will join the 2nd Regiment of Chasseurs à Cheval (hunters on horseback) as a soldier of 2nd class. LEBASTARD will not have time to complete his military service before the outbreak of the war, causing him to continue his time with the regiment through 1914. The 2nd Chasseurs Regiment, created in 1673, is garrisoned at Pontivy, Morbihan (56) as France begins its campaign against Germany. Through the course of the first months of the war, the French Army will quickly realize that the strategy of charging on horseback with sabres and carbines is ineffective and costly, and as a result, LEBASTARD will find himself combatting in the trenches.
Promoted to the rank of Brigadier in January 1915, Georges LEBASTARD will then marry Léontine Clarisse GOURET while on leave from the front the 2nd of August 1916 in Nantes. With great fortune, a photo taken of their wedding day shows us husband and wife during the war, an image far from the traditional. Georges, in his blue horizon military uniform attributed to the 2nd Regiment of Chasseurs à Cheval, holds his helmet and gloves in his right hand. Visible on his left sleeve are two chevrons, a uniform element signifiying the service time of a soldier at the front (first chevron for a year of service and more chevrons for each 6 month periods). Léontine stands to his left, right in the photo, wearing her beautiful wedding dress.
One month after his wedding, LEBASTARD joins the 17th Artillery Regiment, but will only spend a month with the regiment before joining the 81st Heavy Artillery Regiment in November of 1916. In May of 1918, as the First World War continues to evolve, the 81st Heavy Artillery Regiment is reformed and becomes the 500th Regiment of Special Artillery. LEBASTARD’s role will change as the French Army launches her early tanks on the battlefield, and past-cavalryman becomes tank operator in the last months of 1918. Awarded the Croix de Guerre decoration for his actions in September 1918, LEBASTARD’s registration document cites, “very brave and very calm sous-chef of tanks under the fire of the 28th of September 1918 after having perfectly guided his tank under very violent artillery and machineguns powerfully aided the progression of infantry by precisely firing from the cannon on the resisting enemies.”
In 1917, during his time with the 81st Heavy Artillery Regiment, LEBASTARD will have one daughter, Georgette, who he will return to following the armistice. As well as having served courageously during the Great War, LEBASTARD will have a great presence in the growing regiments of combat tanks. He is promoted to Marshal-of-Lodgings (Maréchal des Logis) in August 1919, the same month he passes to the 506th Special Artillery Regiment. Georges LEBASTARD, Croix de Guerre recipient and veteran of The Great War, will spend some time with the 512th and 514th Combat Tank Regiments before his death June 21st 1934 in his hometown of Nantes. Léontine LEBASTARD will lose her daughter in 1943 to the violent bombardments of the city of Nantes during the Second World War, and will pass peacefully in 1981, aged 88.
Dedicated to the memory of this soldier.
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Registration Document: tinyurl.com/bpadznub
Geneanet Search: tinyurl.com/98krbe9v
Georges LEBASTARD stands with his wife Léontine Clarisse GOURET, August 1916. LEBASTARD wears his military uniform with his infantry helmet and cavalry spurs.
LEBASTARD’s registration document citation for his participation in the attack of September 28th 1918 as a tanker.
Georges LEBASTARD and Léontine Clarisse GOURET marry on the 2nd of August 1916. This text is visible on the back of the photo.