| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Bray Proyart Area, Ribemont |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | E01947 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Maker |
Bean, Charles Edwin Woodrow (C E W) |
| Place made | France: Picardie, Somme, Bray Proyart Area, Ribemont |
| Date made | 30 March 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
A French veteran of the 1870 Franco-Prussian War who, on 29 March 1918, proudly refused to leave ...
Description
A French veteran of the 1870 Franco-Prussian War who, on 29 March 1918, proudly refused to leave his home in the village of Ribemont, although German shells were even then smashing the buildings. Note the barricade in rear, thrown together by the Australian troops two days previously, on their entry to the sector. Charles Bean recorded in his diary that, "As I was snapping [the barricade] an old chap with a bucket had come into the picture. He had a withered or amputated arm. I said: 'M'seiur vous êtes tres brave de rester ici dans ce bombardement.' He looked pleased. 'I have no reason to go,' he said - 'I was in the 1870 - I lost this arm there'. He said he was staying to look after the house of his 'patron'." (AWM38 3DRL 606/104 f.10, diary entry of 30 March 1918).