Mort pour la France les Chennonais : DUPUIS Paul, DUPUIS Eugene, DUPUIS Armand

Paul joined the 307th Infantary Regiment at Angoulême in 1898 at the age of 21 years. He died of his wounds at a field hospital at Soissons in the department of Aisne on 13th July 1917. He had been engaged in the second battle known as the 'Chemin des Dames' in the department during an offensive ordered by General Nivelle which had commenced in April that year.
Photo: - a German Trench at Aisne.

Eugène Dupuis was a soldier in 94th Infantry Regiment which was dissolved in 1917.  The surviving members were then posted to other regiments.  In his case to the 102 then the 300^th Regiment territorial.  He is listed in local records as having been recruited at Angoulême. His name does not appear in central service records (Not suprisingly there are many missing). He was a farmer at Chenon married to Léontine Pallot. It may be a coincidence but the date of death, the 27^th October 1918 is the same as Lieutenant Armand Dupuis who died on active service at Piave, Italy.  (See below) It is not clear if they were related.  They are buried in separate family plots in the cemetery at Chenon. The surname Dupuis is common in France.

 DUPUIS Armand, Sous Lieutenant 107e Régiment d'Infanterie

Cité à l’ordre du régiment pour faits d’armes accomplis à Verdun. (Bois d’Handromont) le 21 avril 1916 – nommé Sous Lieutenant, a titre temporaire, pour la durée de la guerre, le 17 mai 1916.

Motif de la Citation :  Sous-Officier très énergique et très brave, a entrainé brillamment sa section à l’assaut des tranchées ennemies, le 21 avril 1916, ou été blessé. – Croix de Guerre »

Lieutenant Armand Léonide Dupuis was born at Chenon on the 24^th June 1892. He went to the local communal school and in 1912 he is recorded as a teacher at Chenon. He enlisted in the 107^th Regiment of Infantry, based at Angoulême on the first October 1913. He was promoted corporal on 14the February 1914 and Sergeant on the second August later the same year. The Regiment left for the front on the 6^th August 1914.  He was wounded in action at Reims (Bértherny) on the 24^th October - shell fragments in the left leg and shoulder. After recuperation he was again promoted to warrant officer (adjutant) in the the 63^rd Regiment of Infantry on the 27^th August 1915 before returning to the 107^th on 21^st January 1916.

He received a regimental citation bravery at the battle of Verdun (Bois d’Handromont) on the 29th April 1916 and made a temporary Second Lieutenant for the duration of the war on the 17^th May1916 – the citation reads  “ Under officer, very energetic and very brave who brilliantly led his section during an assault on enemy trenches on the 21^st April 1916 where he was also wounded. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre.” (Military cross)

In October 1917, after a disastrous action by the Italians at Caporetto,  he was part of an expeditionary force sent to seal a breach opened by an Austro-Hungarian Unit in the Italian front. It was during this campaign that the 107th made an audacious crossing of the Piave River to secure a bridgehead for allied, including American, forces. This action is famous within the Regiment when the bugler, Artagilas, was hit by a bullet whilst sounding the charge of the 2^nd Battalion.

Armand's death at the Piave river occured only two weeks before the end of the war.