a walker makes an unusual discovery in the earth

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A Poilu emerges from oblivion thanks to a walker. It was a ceremony of November 11 particular to Plerguer (Ille-et-Vilaine).

Jean-Luc Beaudointhe mayor of the town, after recalling the sacrifice of the Poilus of the Great Warinvited the public to another ceremony, this one unique in Plerguer.

A medal buried in the earth

We owe it to one of its inhabitants. Erwan Talbot found, almost a year ago, during a walk in the countryside, a military identity medal which was buried in the ground.

The walker picked it up and cleaned it so well that he managed to decipher the inscriptions on this medal. They put him, after much research in the archives, in the footsteps of Auguste Legrand, a stonemason from Plerguerois who, at the age of 30, had been forced to leave his wife and children behind due to of the mobilization decreed in 1914.

He died prematurely

This is how he participated in the conflict during which he was even decorated for bravery. In 1919, he was demobilized, but died prematurely on April 4, 1931 due to combat gases breathed in the trenches.

This story was told by Erwan Talbot in the presence of Philippe Gouesbier, the president of Souvenir Français, who helped him in his research as did the town hall secretary.

Descendants found

They were also able to find the descendants of Auguste Legrand including Fanch Douce, his youngest descendant himself preparing for a career in the army. It was also to him that his ancestor's military identity medal was given. A gesture which also pleased Fanch's grandfather: Julien Robinault, who was well known in Plerguer.

A hundred Plerguerois soldiers

In Plerguer, the ceremony on November 11 brought together a large audience in front of the war memorial. The president of Souvenir Français named all the Plerguerois soldiers, around a hundred, who fell on the field of honor.

Not only during the First World War, the Armistice of which was commemorated that morning, but also during all the other conflicts involving France.

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