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Remembered Today:

French War Diaries


JulianR

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Does anyone know if French units were required to keep the equivalent of War Diaries and if so are they accessible?

 

In particular I am after the War Diaries of any French railway unit in Salonika

 

Thanks

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hello from the Somme : in order to use the site Glen has given, you must know which regiment - and, of course, when !

If this can help, I can ask questions in 'my' French forum, do feel free to ask !

kind regards, martine

Edited by mva
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I have found out that it was a company of 5eme regt du genie, but no more.  They arrived on 19th October, 1915, so how do I proceed from there.

 

Thanks

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  That would be 6e compagnie. Unfortunately their war diary stops at May 1915.

 http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ark:/40699/e005298eb74615bd/5298eb746733f

 

The historique of 5e RG has a paragraph or so about them (p.20-21; says they arrived on 10.10, but the JMO of the AO confirms your date of 19.10):

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6239072s

 

The railway construction/operating units I have at Salonika were:
6e and 10e compagnies of 5e régiment du génie.
A detachment of 7e section de chemins de fer de campagne of 5e régiment du génie (from January '16).
2 batteries of (what on 1.8.17 became) 68e régiment d'artillerie à pied (for narrow gauge, Decauville) ... but I haven't found out which two batteries these were, or what their designations were prior to 1.8.17.

Unfortunately, again, none of their JMOs survive.

The diaries of the commandement du génie de l'AO

http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ark:/40699/e00528935ef53b73/528935ef59f01

don't say much about railways.

 

You might try wading through the transcriptions of the comptes-rendus bimensuels of the AO/AFO/CAA in the annexes of the official history, Les Armées françaises dans la Grande Guerre, Tome VIII, vols. 1, 2 & 3.

http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/arkotheque/inventaires/ead_ir_consult.php?fam=11&ref=FRSHD_AFGG_ead

These often provide a summary of railway construction in the last 15 days, but rarely mention the units involved, I'm afraid.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Adrian

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Adrian,

 

Many thanks for all that.  I was reading the War Diary of 19 Railway Operating Coy, Royal Engineers and it mentioned that soon after their formation they finished off erecting the last of the Great Western Railway locos that had been sent to Salonika, and was wondering why the French had been erecting them.

 

I will go through all the references eventually.

 

Thanks again

 

Julian

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Mark,

 

Yes thanks

 

Julian

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