First published in Great Britain in 2016 by
Pen & Sword Military
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Copyright Pen & Sword Books Ltd 2016
ISBN 978 1 47382 379 2
The right of Charles Delvert to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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Translators Introduction
Your book will give future generations a faithful portrayal of the war, one neither too massaged nor too dark each fault as dangerous as the other when the extremes of militarism and pacifism are on the rise. So wrote Jean Norton Cru, reviewing Charles Delverts compelling first-hand account of French front-line infantrymen in the First World War. The diary kept by Delvert throughout the conflict first appeared in 1918 as Histoire dune compagnie: Main de Massiges Verdun: novembre 1915juin 1916: journal de marche (Paris: Berger-Levrault). The revised and extended edition presented here was first published as Carnets dun fantassin (Paris: Albin Michel, 1935). This also recounts Delverts experience at the battles of the Frontiers (August 1914), the battle of the Marne (September 1914) and the Main de Massiges (July and August 1916). The immediate appeal of the book is evident from its initial print run of 3,000 to 5,000 copies, extraordinary by modern standards; its enduring interest is revealed by the five subsequent editions published in 1966, 1981, 2003, 2008 and 2013. Now, for the first time, the Carnets are made available in translation to English-speaking readers.
Charles Laurent Delvert was born in Pariss 3e arrondissement, on 27 April 1879, the son of shoemaker Antoine Delvert and his wife Anna Servant, a jewellery polisher. A talented student, he was awarded a bursary to attend the elite Lyce Charlemagne, before proceeding to the cole Normale Suprieure, where he graduated in history in 1901. He later became a schoolteacher.
Like all his male contemporaries, Delvert saw service in the army, volunteering in advance of the call-up to reduce his time on active service. He was posted to 46th Infantry on 10 November 1899, promoted to corporal on 26 May 1900, discharged from active service on 26 September 1900, and promoted to sergeant in the reserve on 1 May 1901. Moving around the country in 190610, he was on the books of regiments in Lille, Narbonne, Bziers and Lyon, receiving his commission as a sous-lieutenant on 16 December 1908. By January 1911, Delvert was back in the Paris area, posted as a reservist to 101st Infantry, which maintained its principal depot at Dreux (Eure-et-Loir) and a detachment at Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine). He was promoted to lieutenant on 16 December 1912. During his time in the reserve, he also received at least two substantial periods of training, participating in the annual autumn manoeuvres in 1902 and 1912.
Recalled to the colours on the outbreak of war, on 1 August 1914, Delvert was given command of 2nd Platoon, 4th Company, 101st Infantry (part of 7th Division). The regiment soon saw action, suffering a heavy defeat in a small encounter battle around Ethe (Belgium) on 22 August 1914. Delvert was wounded during the long retreat from the frontier at Marville (Meuse) on 25 August but refused to be evacuated. On 3 September 1914, his division travelled north-east of Paris to reinforce Sixth Army on the Marne (69 September 1914), 101st Infantry arriving just in time to participate in the final actions of the battle. Throughout September, the regiment followed the Germans through the Aisne and the Somme in what became known as the Race to the Sea. Delvert was evacuated after suffering a serious thigh wound at Champien (Somme) on 23 September. He was later mentioned in divisional orders for his leadership during these actions: Remained alone with his platoon in their assigned position, although the rest of the battalion had withdrawn behind the village [of Ethe]. Wounded at Marville on 25 August, but refused to be evacuated. Wounded again on 23 September at the head of his company.
After a long period of convalescence, Delvert eventually returned to his regiment in November 1915. During his absence, 101st Infantry had served with 7th Division around Roye (Somme), and in Champagne, before transferring in June 1915 to the newly formed 124th Division, where it took part in the autumn offensive in Champagne, serving in the Aubrive-sur-Suippe sector (Marne). The regiment suffered heavy losses in the opening attack on 25 September and was withdrawn from the front line the following month.
Delvert rejoined the 101st on 11 November, now in command of 8th Company. In early December the regiment returned to the front at the Main de Massiges, in Champagne, where it remained until April 1916. Delvert was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on 19 December 1915. In May 1916, the 101st moved to Verdun, where Delverts company suffered very heavy losses in defending Retranchement R.1, one of a line of four small redoubts covering the north-western approaches to Fort Vaux. Thanks to Delverts spirited defence, Retranchement R.1 was the last to fall to the German attack of June 1916, enfiladed on both sides.
Delvert was appointed a chevalier of the Lgion dHonneur for his leadership during the battle. Army orders of 20 June 1916 read: twice wounded at the start of the conflict, returned to the front before he was completely recovered, played his part in checking violent German attacks on an adjoining sector, strongly attacked in his turn, placed himself at the head of his bombers, determined at all costs not to cede an inch of ground. Inflicted very heavy losses on the enemy and maintained his position intact.
On 3 July 1916, 101st Infantry returned to the front line in Champagne, again in the Main de Massiges sector. On 4 July Delvert was confirmed in his rank of captain, but five days later he was wounded by a German grenade, then again on 16 August by a Minenwerfer. Unfit for further front-line service, he saw out the war in a variety of staff posts: from 14 September with Fifth Army, where he served in April 1917 during the Chemin des Dames offensive; from 20 July 1917 with First Army, where he was on hand for the Flanders offensive; and from 4 August 1918 with the French army in Italy.
