Researching French soldiers

[Danrowley2601]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anybody can help me to help a friend. His ancestors fought in the war in the French army. Is there anywhere that people could recommend as a starting point to help him do some research? I've taken a look online but am struggling to find anything so far. I know that Ancestry has some records for French and German soldiers who were listed as KIA, but are there any records available that are easy to access on those who survived?

Many thanks

Dan

[CROONAERT]

If he's lucky, your friend's relative may have been from a department that has some of its records online. Below, with thanks to Jerome Charreaud from 'Forum Pages 14-18' , is a listing of current online records. This is always my first port of call when researching French soldiers who survived the war...

Dave.

Aisne (02)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives.aisne.fr/regis [...] 36774.html
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives.aisne.fr/archi [...] flop / n: 123 (Class 1921)
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.aisne.fr/archive/r [...] flop / n: 123 (Class 1911)

Allier (03)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.allier.fr/1050-licence.htm

Alpes de Haute-Provence (04)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //archivesenligne.archives04. [...] /index.php

Hautes-Alpes (05)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives05.fr/arkothequ [...] /index.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives05.fr/arkothequ [...] /index.php

Alpes-Maritimes (06)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //www.basesdocumentaires-cg06 [...] ndexEC.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http: //www.basesdocumentaires-cg06 [...] ndexRM.php (Class 1928)

Ardèche (07)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.ardeche.fr/Culture/arch [...] nal-state
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.ardeche.fr/Accueil [...] _militaire (Class 1932)
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.ardeche.fr/Accueil [...] _militaire (1881 Class)

Ardennes (08)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.cg08.fr/arkotheque [...] /index.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.cg08.fr/arkotheque [...] /index.php (1890)
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.cg08.fr/arkotheque [...] /index.php (Class 1890)

Ariege (09) Aube(10)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archives-aube.fr/arkotheque/genealogie.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives-aube.com/arkot [...] /index.php (Class 1935)

Aude (11)

• Acts of Civil Status http://audealaculture.fr/

Aveyron (12)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.aveyron.fr/archive [...] = 1 ne_Liste

Bouches-du-Rhône (13)

• Civil Status Acts http://doris.archives13.fr/dorisue [...] n_main.jsp
• IR Records Matricules http://doris.archives13.fr/dorisun [...] n_main.jsp (1921)

Calvados (14)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //archives.numerisees.calvado [...] gistre.php

Note: Pay Benefit Cantal (15)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.cantal.fr/?id=rech [...] etat_civil
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.cantal.fr/?id=rech [...] 201878.xml (Class 1935)

Charente (16)

• Notebooks teachers http://www1.arkhenum.fr/ad16_cahiers/

Charente-Maritime (17)

• Acts of Civil Status http://charente-maritime.fr/archinoe/registre.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http://charente-maritime.fr/archinoe/matricule.php (Class 1929)
• IR Records Matricules http://charente-maritime.fr/archinoe/matricule.php (Class 1900-1914)

Cher (18)

• State-Civil tables http://www.archives18.fr/arkothequ [...] = 1 ef_fonds
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives18.fr/arkothequ [...] ef_fonds = 6 (Menu created, but only consultation in the reading room )

Corrèze (19)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archinoe.fr/cg19/registre.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archinoe.fr/cg19/recrutement.php (1940)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archinoe.fr/cg19/recrutement.php (Class 1909)

Corse-du-Sud (2A-20)

• Tables Registers Matricules http://www1.arkhenum.fr/ad_corsedu [...] /index.php (Class 1912)

Haute-Corse (2B-20)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.cg2b.fr/cg2b/cgi-bin/pa [...] 07 & lang = en

Côte-d'Or (21)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archinoe.net/console/ir [...] 1440 & h = 870
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archinoe.net/console/ir [...] 1440 & h = 870 (Class 1938)

Note: Application for reproduction of detail available Côtes d'Armor (22)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.cotesdarmor.fr/asp/registres.asp

Creuse (23)

• Acts of Civil Status http://archives.creuse.fr/arkotheq [...] ef_fonds = 2 (1902)
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.creuse.fr/arkotheq [...] ef_fonds = 4 (Class 1911)

Dordogne (24)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives-num.cg24.fr/pleade [...] state-civil

Doubs (25)

• Civil Status Acts http://recherche-archives.doubs.fr/?id=login (ten tables)
• Tables Registers Matricules http://recherche-archives.doubs.fr/?id=login (Class 1930)

Note: Creating an account playing Drôme (26)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.ladrome.fr/?id=rec [...] etat_civil

Eure (27)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.cg27.fr/pleade/etatcivil
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.cg27.fr/pleade/regmat (Class 1932)
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.cg27.fr/pleade/regmat (Class 1932)

Eure-et-Loir (28)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archives28.fr/ec/index.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives28.fr/arkothequ [...] ef_fonds = 4 (Class 1912)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives28.fr/arkothequ [...] ef_fonds = 4 (Class 1891)

Finistère (29)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archives-finistere.fr/m [...] etat_civil
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives-finistere.fr/m [...] _militaire

Gard (30)

Haute-Garonne (31)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.cg31.fr/archives_e [...] civil.html
• Tables and Records Records Matricules http://archivesenligne.cg31.fr/Frm [...] he = 0882225

Toulouse: http: //basededonnees.archives.toul [...] ILUMP21197

Gers (32)

Gironde (33)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.gironde.fr/lecture/ec.asp
• Tables and Records Records Matricules http://gael.gironde.fr/ead.html?id [...] ontent 22%: (Class 1913) Click on the + to pop the files.

Hérault (34)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //archives-pierresvives.herau [...] / etatcivil
• Tables Registers Matricules http: //archives-pierresvives.herau [...] / military (Class 1929)
• IR Records Matricules http: //archives-pierresvives.herau [...] / military (Class 1923)

Ille-et-Vilaine (35)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //archives-en-ligne.ille-et-v [...] eFrame.asp
• Tables Registers Matricules http: //archives-en-ligne.ille-et-v [...] eFrame.asp (registration numbers put in field "object" registry)
• Acts of Civil Status Rennes http://www.archives.rennes.fr/inde [...] _fonds.php

Indre (36)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives36.cg36.fr/siterech [...] cueil.aspx

Indre-et-Loire (37)

• Civil Status Acts (ten tables) http://cg37.oxyd.net/mdr/index.php [...] / 1/1 / R / 0/0
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.cg37.fr/Chercher/R [...] -ABCK.html (Class 1929)

Isère (38)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives-isere.fr/2369- [...] -isere.htm
• Tables and Records Records Matricules http://www.archives-isere.fr/1425- [...] m # par44919 (Class 1912)

Jura (39)

Landes (40)

• Civil Status Acts http://archivesenligne.landes.org/ [...] ef_fonds = 3
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archivesenligne.landes.org/ [...] + the license Mont-de-Marsan (1867-1940) and Bayonne (1901-1929)
• IR Records Matricules http://archivesenligne.landes.org/ [...] the license +

Loir-et-Cher (41)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.culture41.fr/archi [...] / etatcivil
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.culture41.fr/archi [...] personnel numbers (Class 1928)

Loire (42)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archinoe.net/cg42/index [...] / 2/1 / R / 0/0
• Tables and Records Records Matricules http://www.archinoe.net/cg42/index [...] / 7/1 / R / 0/0

Haute-Loire (43)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archives43.fr/article.p [...] igh-Loire
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives43.fr/arkothequ [...] f_fonds = 29 (Class 1913)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives43.fr/arkothequ [...] f_fonds = 26 (Class 1913)

Loire-Atlantique (44)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.loire-atlantique.fr/jcm [...] -numerises
• Tables and Records Records Matricules http://www.loire-atlantique.fr/jcm [...] l = cg_11058 (Class 1920)
• maritime registered http://www.loire-atlantique.fr/jcm [...] -maritimes
• Nantes (Municipal Archives) Civil Status: http://www.archives.nantes.fr/PAGES/ENLIGNE/page1.htm

Loiret (45)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives-loiret.com/rec [...] -65333.htm

Lot (46)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.lot.fr/arkotheque/etat_civil/index.php

Lot-et-Garonne (47)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archinoe.fr/cg47/registre.php

Lozère (48)

• Acts of Civil Status http://culture.lozere.fr/preparerecherchemultibase.do

Maine-et-Loire (49)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives49.fr/recherche [...] State-civil /
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives49.fr/recherche [...] ilitary / (Angers and Cholet Class 1940 Class 1934)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives49.fr/recherche [...] ilitary / (Class 1920)

Manche (50)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //recherche.archives.manche.f [...] etat_civil
• Tables Registers Matricules http://recherche.archives.manche.fr/ (put "Aircraft Register" in the search) (Class 1929)
• IR Records Matricules http: //recherche.archives.manche.f [...] = 1887 TDate 5classe 1887)

Marne (51)

• Acts of Civil Status http://archives.marne.fr/

Haute-Marne (52)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.haute-marne.fr/adh [...] state-civil
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.haute-marne.fr/subset.html?name=milit (Class 1910)

Mayenne (53)

• Acts of Civil Status

Records (before 1882) http://www.lamayenne.fr/front.aspx?SectionId=397
The decennial tables (before 1902) http://www.lamayenne.fr/?SectionId=398

• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.lamayenne.fr/fr/Archive [...] military (Class 1928)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.lamayenne.fr/fr/Archive [...] military (Class 1900)

Note 1: Search by name Meurthe-et-Moselle (54)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives.cg54.fr/fr/arc [...] civil.html

Meuse (55)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.meuse.fr/?id=reche [...] etat_civil
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.meuse.fr/?id=reche [...] military (Class 1932)

Morbihan (56)

• Civil Status Acts http://scecp.cg56.fr/etat-civil/
• Tables and Records listings Matricules http: //recherche.archives.morbihan [...] ly / n: 11 (Class 1912)

Quimper (who volunteered) http://mnesys-archives.quimper.fr/ [...] 18 # node141

Moselle (57)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archivesnumerisees57.com/mdr/index.html

Nièvre (58)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.cg58.fr/?id=recher [...] icence = yes
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.cg58.fr/?go_thesau [...] icence = yes (Class 1911)

North (59)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archivesdepartementales.cg59.fr/?id=531
• Tables Registers Matricules http: //www.archivesdepartementales [...] military (Class 1930)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archivesdepartementales.lenord.fr/?id=535 (Class 1921)

Oise (60)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.oise.fr/culture-et-vie- [...] State-civil /
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.oise.fr/archives-e [...] atricules / (Class 1921)

Note: Creating an account playing Orne (61)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.orne.fr/consultez/consultez2.html
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.orne.fr/consultez/consultez2.html (Class 1938)
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.orne.fr/consultez/consultez2.html (Class 1938)

Pas-de-Calais (62)

• Civil Status Acts (ten tables) http://www.archivespasdecalais.fr/ [...] decennial
• Civil Status Acts http://www.archivespasdecalais.fr/ [...] ivil / Acts
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archivespasdecalais.fr/ [...] -militaire (Class 1930)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archivespasdecalais.fr/ [...] -militaire (Class 1921)

Puy-de-Dôme (63)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //www.archivesdepartementales [...] l-126.html
• Tables Registers Matricules http: //www.archivesdepartementales [...] IEW = 388 388 (Class 1911)
• IR Records Matricules http: //www.archivesdepartementales [...] IEW = 388388

Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64)

• Civil Status Acts http://earchives.cg64.fr/etat-civil-search-form.html (ten tables)
• IR Records Matricules http://consultarchives.cg64.fr/registre_militaires (research class and / or name) Class 1916

Hautes Pyrénées (65)

• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archivesenligne65.fr/co [...] 0militaire
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archivesenligne65.fr/co [...] 0militaire

Pyrénées-Orientales (66)

Bas-Rhin (67)

• Acts of Civil Status http://etat-civil.bas-rhin.fr/adeloch/index.php

Haut-Rhin (68)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archives.cg68.fr/Servic [...] = & anneeFin

Rhône (69)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.rhone.fr/#recherche_etat_civil
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.rhone.fr/#recherche_militaire
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.rhone.fr/#recherche_militaire (Class 1878-1890)

For Civil Status of Lyon, see municipal archives: http://www.archives-lyon.fr/archiv [...] aroissiau /
funeral convoys Lyon: http://www.archives-lyon.fr/ archived [...] nvois4321 /

Haute-Saône (70)

• Acts of Civil Status http://archives.cg70.fr/4DCGI/Web_ [...] ILUMP17788
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.cg70.fr/4DCGI/Web_ [...] ILUMP17788

Saône-et-Loire (71)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archives71.fr/archives/arkotheque/index.php
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives71.fr/arkothequ [...] f_fonds = 18 (Class 1913)

Sarthe (72)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archives.sarthe.com/RegistreNumerise.asp
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives.sarthe.com/Mat [...] taires.asp (Class 1898)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives.sarthe.com/Mat [...] taires.asp

Savoie (73)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.savoie-archives.fr/index.php?id=1380
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.savoie-archives.fr/5351 [...] ricule.htm (Class 1938)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.savoie-archives.fr/5351 [...] ricule.htm (Class 1910)

Haute-Savoie (74)

• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.cg74.fr/?id=recher [...] personnel numbers
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.cg74.fr/?id=recher [...] personnel numbers

Paris (75)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //canadp-archivesenligne.pari [...] /index.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http: //canadp-archivesenligne.pari [...] /index.php

Seine-Maritime (76)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //recherche.archivesdeparteme [...] etat_civil

Seine-et-Marne (77)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archinoe.fr/cg77/index. [...] 13/1 / R / 0/0
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archinoe.fr/cg77/index. [...] 20/1 / R / 0/0

Yvelines (78)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives.yvelines.fr/ar [...] /index.php
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives.yvelines.fr/de [...] /index.php
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives.yvelines.fr/de [...] /index.php

Note: Records registration numbers partially hidden
Creating an account playing for access to records personnel numbers Deux-Sèvres (79)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.deux-sevres.com/ar [...] fault.aspx
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.deux-sevres.com/ar [...] fault.aspx (Class 1921)

Somme (80)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.somme.fr/?id=reche [...] etat_civil
• Tables Registers Matricules

Three Offices Recruiting
- Abbeville http://archives.somme.fr/?form_sea [...] randpublic (Class 1929)
- Amiens: http://archives.somme.fr/?form_sea [...] randpublic (Class 1932)
- Peronne http://archives.somme.fr/?form_sea [...] randpublic (Class 1929) Tarn (81)

• Acts of Civil Status http://archives.tarn.fr/index.php?id=1016
• Tables Registers Matricules http://archives.tarn.fr/index.php?id=2707
• IR Records Matricules http://archives.tarn.fr/index.php?id=2707 (Class 1916)

Note: Creating an account playing Tarn-et-Garonne (82)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archivesdepartementales.cg82.fr/

Var (83)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives.var.fr/arkothe ​​[...] ef_fonds = 2
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives.var.fr/arkothe ​​[...] ef_fonds = 9 (Class 1935)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives.var.fr/arkothe ​​[...] ef_fonds = 9 (Class 1912)

Vaucluse (84)

• Acts of Civil Status http://e-archives.vaucluse.fr/paro [...] -form.html

Vendée (85)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archinoe.net/cg85v6/etatcivil.php
• Tables and Records Matricules Records - Records Conscription http: //recherche-archives.vendee.f [...] FRAD085_1R (Class 1909)

Vienne (86)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives-vienne.cg86.fr/numerique.php3
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives-vienne.cg86.fr [...] icule.php3 (Class 1920)
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives-vienne.cg86.fr [...] icule.php3 (Class 1920)
• Local newspapers http://www.archives-vienne.cg86.fr [...] resse.php3

Haute-Vienne (87)

Vosges (88)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.vosges-archives.com/source.html

Yonne (89)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //archivesenligne.yonne-archi [...] / etatcivil
• Tables and Records Records Matricules http: //archivesenligne.yonne-archi [...] personnel numbers (Class 1900/1918)

Territoire-de-Belfort (90)

• Civil Status Acts http://www.archives.cg90.fr/?id=etat_civil
• Tables Registers Matricules http://www.archives.cg90.fr/?id=matricules_militaires
• IR Records Matricules http://www.archives.cg90.fr/?id=matricules_militaires

Essonne (91)

• Acts of Civil Status http://www.archinoe.net/cg91/registre.php

Hauts-de-Seine (92)

• Acts of Civil Status http: //consultation.archives.hauts [...] / 3/1 / R / 0/0

(93) Seine-Saint-Denis

Val-de-Marne (94)

• Acts of Civil Status http://archives.cg94.fr/consultati [...] -form.html

Val-d'Oise (95)

• Civil Status Acts http://archives.valdoise.fr/archiv [...] civil / n: 42
• Tables and Records Records Matricules See AD78 http://www.archives.yvelines.fr/ar [...] /index.php

[Danrowley2601]

Absolutely great! Thanks so much, plenty to go from here. Much appreciated.

Dan

[CROONAERT]

If your friend's relative was a prisoner of war in Germany or interned in Switzerland, try also this site ... http://grandeguerre..../en/File/Search

Dave

[Keith_history_buff]

This portal is a good starting point, bringing together information from digitised matricules militaires, as well as information on the deceased from Mémoire des Hommes too.
http://www.culture.fr/eng/Genealogie/Grand-Memorial

[Keith_history_buff]

@ChrisB, I was wondering if you have any experience with the following. Owing to the COVID-19 lockdown, it is academic, but once the movement restrictions are released, it will become practicable to visit the various archives.

What is the process for viewing paper files for soldiers at the Château de Vincennes and the facilities of the Service historique de l'armée de terre?

To take the example of performing this very task for an officer of the British Army in WW1

The records for these men, who did not serve after 1920, are now in the custody of the UK National Archives, located at Kew in Greater London. The pre-requisite is that I have to apply for a reader's ticket. The ticket is valid for a number of years.

Prior to making a visit, the Discovery catalogue is used. I would limit the search results to return only those with references WO 339 and WO 374, in addition to typing the family name in the "Find words" search box. If I live a significant distance from the archive, and I have only 1 or 2 files to view, as opposed to having a very large number, then I am likely to undertake this verification that they have the files before I pay a visit.

If it is the case that I have found the desired files, and I now have the references, I can pre-order the documents in advance, for consultation on a given date, on the condition that I have an existing reader research ticket.

Is there a similar setup for the Château de Vincennes

Best wishes

Keith 

[ChrisB]

Hello Keith,

Thanks for your reply

I contacted the Army Health Service and I received the grandfather's médical file but only for the french hospitals.

This Service has no archive concerning English hospital.

Good evening

Christine

 

[Keith_history_buff]

Hello Christine,

Thank you for the reply. 

I was in contact with someone who was trying to research the following French soldier:

DERRIEU, Paul, Maréchal des Logis, 10e Régiment d'Artillerie Lourde
War Office List Number 41 Dated 15 August 1919

To be awarded the Military Medal
 

Given that a corresponding <<matricule militaire>> could not be located by using the Grand Memorial URL (2 posts above), I was wondering if he had a file at the Château de Vincennes and whether this was an alternative avenue of research.

Thanks
Keith

[ChrisB]

I don’t know the answer, but to find a French soldier, you have to know his date and place of birth and you find his military record in the archives of his department

you have the same forum as this one in France and if you post this search there will surely be someone to answer you: : https://forum.pages14-18.com/

 

[Keith_history_buff]

Thank you for responding that you do not know how to order and consult paper files that are in the custody of the Service historique de l'armée de terre at the Château de Vincennes.

[MaureenE]

Perhaps there may be information in the following link

https://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/foire-aux-questions-0. French language

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&pto=aue&rurl=translate.google.com.au&sl=fr&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/foire-aux-questions-0&usg=ALkJrhjznKKqGrRpr7PYZggTe9-XFOnbtA  "Frequently Asked Questions" English by Google Translate

 

If you are looking for a service record, my understanding is that these records are at Pau, but I do not definitely know.

 

Cheers

Maureen

[ChrisB]

Hello Maureene

I contacted a frenchman who studied military hospitals in Limoges.

He confirmed to me that the archives of the french hospitals were in France, english in England and americans in United States.

He could verify it for the United States but not for England. He will look into his documents when he can return to his work after the deconfinement

Have a nice day

[Keith_history_buff]

Thanks Maureen, and I saw something I did not like the look of
 

Quote

Do you have my grandfather's file?

It is possible, we keep a total of millions of files and number boxes!
There is no general database or directory allowing instant knowledge of whether or not a person is the subject of a registration number or a serial number box.

C'est possible, nous conservons au total des millions de dossiers et de cases matricules !
Il n'existe pas de base de données ou de répertoire général permettant instantanément de savoir si une personne fait l'objet ou non d'un dossier ou d'une case matricule.

I had been hoping for a centralised portal.

[CEDRICtus]

On 19/11/2014 at 19:58, CROONAERT said:

If he's lucky, your friend's relative may have been from a department that has some of its records online. Below, with thanks to Jerome Charreaud from 'Forum Pages 14-18' , is a listing of current online records. This is always my first port of call when researching French soldiers who survived the war...

 

In terms of step by step:

• identify the "departement" of birth and their year of birth: birth year + 20 gives you their class,
• then you can explore the departement archives by class, and then alphabetical listing will give you their Matricule which is their unique identifier for that class. The Forum Pages 14-18 keeps an updated list of the online archives, as the various local authorities digitize them but the above list is already pretty complete.
• With this matricule in hand, you can then look for the individual Fiche Matriculaire, which will capture the army related history of the individual, from their national service to their dismissal. It should include the various corps they joined, the various campaigns, their injuries and awards... 

Most of it is handwritten in cursive and may prove hard to read, but... hey it is worth the efforts.

Edited 19 May , 2020 by CEDRICtus

[CEDRICtus]

Just stumbled upon a new site that consolidate the research across all the archives: http://www.culture.fr/Genealogie/Grand-Memorial (by the French Ministry of Culture). From there, should you know the name of a soldier you can find their Fiche Matriculaire (assuming that there aren't too many homonyms and that you may know their date and place of birth to identify the right person)

[Keith_history_buff]

I think it's existed for at least a year, being mentioned on this forum in Dec 2018 Jan 2019, and is mentioned in post 5 of this thread. It's a good way of seeing which <<matricule militaire>> sheets and <<mort pur la France>> cards have been digitised.