Wooden Honour Board
Includes names of people who left their homes in Australia and served with French forces.
Mr. LEON BARBU
It is your deepest regret that we learned this week news — received by cable — of the death of Mr. Léon Barbu, who fell on the field of honor in Verdun.
He was a corporal in the infantry regiment colonial terie of Morocco, elite corps who has distinguished himself many times and recently again during the resumption of Flenry in front of Douaumont. This regiment is the last to which the fodder was conferred on August 25 last. He received it from the hands of Generalissimo as he came back down of Flenry reconquered. Mr. Léon Barbu, aged 23 alone ment, was the only son of Mr. Charles Barbu, resident in Mosman who himself campaigned for 1870-1871 and is a medalist of this campaign.
We address to Mr. and Mrs. Barbu and to their family our condolences moved for the cruel loss they have just suffered
MR. GABIREL CALVET
We learned with the deepest regret of the death of Mr. Gabriel Calvet, a bomb on the field of honor on November 21. Mr. Calvet left Sydney for France on the first boat that left our port after the declaration of war. Incorporating his arrivals, he took part in numerous battles on the Western Front. He was Belsse in Ypres on November 1914. His successful career at the fen earned him successive promotions and it was as his lieutenant that he left for Salonika. A few days after the capture of Monastir, he fell gloriously at Suhadol Raja, in reconquered Serbia.
Mr. Calvet, who was an employee of the Wallon & Lamy house in Sydney, left an excellent legacy in our colony. Although his stay among us was relatively short, he was able to make himself highly esteemed by everyone.
We send our respectful condolences to his widow and to Mrs. Calvert Mere for the cruel loss that has just struck them.
MR. ALFRED DECOUVELAERE
A French woolbuyer, of Sydney (son-in law of Mr. George Playoust), who has been killed in action in Champagne. M. Decouvelaere was mentioned in despatches a few months prior to his death, and was recommended for the Medaille Militaire. He has left a widow and three children, who reside at Centennial Park.
MR. CHARLES DESCHARS
News reached Sydney yesterday to the effect that Charles Deschars, who was Deputy French Consul at Sydney some years ago, was treacherously murdered at the front. It appears that he was parleying with a German officer for the protection of an ambulance, when the latter drew his revolver and shot Deschars dead.
MR. ARISTIDE DESROUSSEAUX
We have the deepest regret to learn of the death of two of our well-known compatriots in Sydney, Mr. Aristide Desrousseaux and Mr. Georges Wanquies, both wool buyers. Mr. Aristide Desrousseaux was a soldier in the 243rd line regiment; He was born in Artois on June 11. He was married and father of two children, the second of whom was born in Limoges last December. Our compatriot was the buyer of the Masurel Fils house. His father once came to Australia on behalf of the same company.
MR. GEORGE WANQUIES
Mr. Georges Wauquies was a soldier in the 284th line regiment. He died of typhoid fever at the Bar-Le-Duc hospital. He had fought in Argonne in a very disputed sector. Once, out of 13 men who went on reconnaissance, he was one of three survivors. Mr. Wanques was the buyer of the Motte, Meiltasseux and Caullies house.
MR. HENIR HERAULT
News has been received in Sydney of the death of Henri Herault, who for many years was manager in Australia for Pathe Freres. Last year M. Herault married a Sydney lady, Miss Martha Riech, of Randwick and on the 22nd of August left with his brother-in-law, Mr. Roger Riech, by the R.M.S. Malwa, with the first contingent of Frenchmen, to fight for his country. He was killed at the battle of Vanquios, on the 1st of March 1915.
MR. GEORGES MORELLE
Mr. Georges Morelle.
It is with deep regret that none learn of the death of one of our compatriots of Sydney, Mr. Georges Nightshade. Mr. Georges Morelle had returned to France since the declaration of Gnerro and had taken part in numerous engagements. Mentioned on the agenda of the army poor an act of bravery, it was on the eve of passing his lieutenant. He was injured in the shoulder on January 13 life, per year burst of shrapnel and has died on January 27, 1915 from tetanus, at Clermont-Ferrand hospital. He was aged 25.
PLAYOUST FAMILY
Mr. Georges Playoust is returning to France with a permit. He plans to be back in Sydney towards the end of the year. We are happy to learn that in the year of his sons, Mr. Stephens Playoust, was promoted to sergeant on the battlefield for his good conduct at Neuvelle-Saint Vaast. Our heartfelt congratulations.
A FIGHTING FRENCH FAMILY.
M. George Playoust, one of the oldest and best-known French woolbuyers in Australia, has received cable advice that his son, Lieutenant Stephane Playoust, has been killed in action in the Champagne district. This makes the second son of M. Playoust who has given his life for France, the former being Private Marcel Playoust, reported missing some time ago, and not since heard of.
M. Playoust has three other sons still in the fighting line—Jack, Rene, and Maurice. A son-in- law, Lieutenant Decouvelaere, was killed in the Somme fighting. The late Lieutenant Playoust was educated at St. Aloysius' College, Sydney, and after leaving college was in business with his father, and was also well known in all the Australian wool exchanges. He was a single an, 28 years of age.
MR. ROGER PEUCH
M. ROGER PUECH, OF RANDWICK,
News has been received of the death In France of Mr. Roger Puech, son of Mr. and Mrs. Noe Puech, of Randwick. He was a single man, about 30 years of age, and was at one time manager In Sydney of Pathe Freres. Early In March of last year he left to offer his services to the French military authorities, and for many months was on the western front. He was seriously wounded at Verdun, and died in the hospital at Bar-le-duc a few days ago.
The deceased's brother. Mr. Edgar Puech, a Sydney vvoolclasser, who also left for the front soon after the outbreak of the war, and is still In the fighting line, has been decorated with
the French War Cross.
MR. PAUL WATTEL
A private cable received in Sydney at the week-end announced the death of M. Paul Wattel, a well-known Sydney wool buyer, who has been at the front serving his colours since 1914. The cable stated that he was killed in action at Verdun.
The deceased gentleman represented Emile Lahousse, of Turcoing, in Sydney, and was connected with this market for some time. He was very popular with his confreres, and was the vice-chairman of the Sydney and Brisbane Wool Buyers' Association during the 1913-14 season. When the war broke out he left for France to join the colours almost immediately. His colleagues in the Buyers' Association forwarded a telegram, which he received at Fremantle, expressing their high appreciation of his work on the committee, and the hope that they would be permitted to welcome him safely back after the war. Later a photo, was received of a number of French buyers at the front, in which M. Wattel appeared in uniform, and this was published in these columns recently.
The deceased leaves a young widow and one son, for whom the deepest sympathy is felt. The following is a copy of the valedictory message wired to M. Wattel (referred to above), and of his reply to same:-.
"Paul Wattel, passenger per F.M.S. Sydney, Fremantle.-At . meeting committee held today' resolution passed expressing warm appreciation of your able services as vice-chairman. All wish you every success, and a safe and speedy return. Bon voyage. - McMalion, Woolbuyers' Association,
5/9/14."
"Clough, chairman Woolbuyers' Association, Royal Exchange, Sydney.-Thanks for wire. Am honoured by resolution passed. Au revoir.
Paul Wattel, 9/9/14.'
