Mort Pour La France : BOIREAU, Auguste le 16 mai 1917




About 200 people lived in Laffoux in the Department (No.2) of the Aisne before the first world war. On the 16th April 1917, it was on the German side of the front line. In January 1915 the remaining population, which had stayed after the German invasion, were evacuated to Avesnes-sur-Helpe (59). Laffoux village was heavily fortified particularly with virtually impregnable machine gun nests.
The French second Colonial Infantry Division seized the village on the 19th April mounting their attack from the West from Neuville-sur-Margival, but the fighting followed on to take the Mill close by and the zone was much disputed right up to the battle of Malmaison. The 'salient of Laffoux' became a synonyme for 'hell of earth' for the combatants of both sides and was the cause of several mutinies. The fighting was unrelenting until the end of May 1917 and then again especially in September 1918.

Other information
Auguste Boireau's regiment the 307th, based in Angoulême in the Charente (16), had been awarded the honours of the President of the Republic (of France) Monsieur R. Poincaré at Ham on the 24th March 1917. The regiment joined this battle of 'les Chemins des Dames' at Sornyin the Ainesin May that year. On the 15th May at Laffoux about 0430 hours a thick fog allowed the Germans to infiltrate the trenches of the first line of the 5th Batallion.  There then followed hand to hand fighting. The French counter attacked and retook the line but at the cost of 80 killed and 174 wounded and those simply 'disappeared'  - blown to pieces. Auguste Boireau, Soldier second class, was listed on the 16th as 'killed by the enemy'.

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