Jean Grelaud

Infobox Military Person
name= Jean Grelaud
lived= October 26, 1898 – February 25, 2007
placeofbirth= Paris VII^e, France
placeofdeath= Paris XIII^e, France


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=
serviceyears= 1917–1920
rank= Enlisted as First Class
commands=
battles= First World War
Second World War
awards= Knight of the Legion of Honor
World War I Victory Medal
laterwork=
portrayedby=

Jean Grelaud (October 26, 1898 – February 25, 2007) was one of the last three "poilus" or official French veterans of the First World War. He died at the age of 108 years and 122 days.

Life

Mobilized on March 10, 1917, he participated as a soldier a month later in the Second Battle of the Aisne on the Western Front. In July 1918, he had been captured by the German army during the Second Battle of the Marne, but he escaped, although he only came back to France on November 21, 1918, so after the Armistice. He was demobilised in 1920.

Jean Grelaud also took part in the Second World War as a fighter, and for this war he awarded the "Croix du combattant volontaire 1939-1945", but refused to give account to media of what he'd exactly done. His life was kept secretive as well. For example, his death was announced eight days later, on March 5, 2007, according to his last wishes.

Awards

* Knight of the Legion of Honor
* "Croix du Combattant Volontaire 1939-1945"
* "Croix du Combattant"
* "Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1914-1918"
* World War I Victory Medal (September 22, 1936)

ee also

* [http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/france/0,,3404919,00-trois-derniers-poilus-est-mort-.html French report on Jean Grelaud] fr icon
* [http://dersdesders.free.fr/bio_veterans/grelaud.html Jean Grelaud's biography] fr icon
* Veterans of the First World War who died in 2007