Naval History Homepage and Site Search

 

 World War 1 at Sea - in Memory of

 

FRENCH NAVY SAILORS WHO DIED IN AMERICAN WATERS

Commemorated in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York



Links to main World War 1 pages:
- Military & Naval Chronology
- Naval Operations
- Merchant Navy
- Royal Navy and Army Despatches
- RN Honours and Gallantry Awards
- Royal & Dominion Navy Casualties
- Warships & Auxiliaries of the RN
- Guide to Warship Locations
- Campaigns, Battles & Actions

Edgar Quinet, launched 1911, armoured cruiser, of the type these sailors served on (Maritime Quest, click to enlarge)

return to World War 1, 1914-1918

 

 



l
above - the memorial in Cypress Hills National Cemetery, and below, the plaque at its foot


Below - two of the plaques that are mounted on the individual graves
(Matelot Leroux's place of birth should read Brest - thanks to Daniel Bechennec)





Introduction

Joann E Montgomery of New York kindly sent me information about 25 French sailors who died in World War 1 and are commemorated in a New York cemetery. Although the main tablet refers to 25 sailors, only 21 are listed here with one grave unmarked and three bodies exhumed and carried back to France. As with so many US Navy deaths at this time, influenza/pneumonia accounted for all but one of the French sailors whose cause of death is known.

I am grateful to Joann for this information and for helping to throw a little light on the role of the French Navy in the Atlantic in the Great War and its links with the United States. My thanks also to Daniel Bechennec from Britanny, France for advice on ranks.

Left - a list of the twenty-one named sailors commemorated in the Cemetery (click to enlarge; a key and the list in alphabetical order follows)
 


Key

1. Information is in order - Last Name, First Name, Rank and Ship or Service, Date of Birth, Place of birth, Died for France and Date of Death

2. The French Hospital was located at 450 West 34th Street, Manhattan, New York (see list following)

3. Ranks listed are:
Premier-maitre - Chief Petty Officer
Second-maitre - Petty Officer
Quartier-maitre, 1st classe - Leading Seaman
Quartier-maitre, 2nd classe - Able Seaman
Matelot - Seaman
Quatre-maitre de Cannonier - Able or Leading Seaman Gunner
Chauffer brevete - certified Fireman or Stoker
Soldat d'Infantrie - Infantryman, possibly French Marines

4. Vessels and Services are:

L'A.M.B.C. - Armement Militaire des Bātiments de Commerce, merchant ship gunner (British DEMS or American Armed Guard)

Coloniale de Pacifique - Pacific Colonial Service

GLOIRE - Gloire-class armoured cruiser, launched 1900, 10,200 tons, spent war in Atlantic, finishing as convoy escort, collided with American liner City of Athens in May 1918, repaired in New York
Gloire

MARSEILLAISE - Gloire-class armoured cruiser, launched 1900, 9,500 tons, spent war in Atlantic, finishing as convoy escort
Marseillaise

MONTCALM - Gueydon-class armoured cruiser, launched 1900, 9,500 tons, completed refit in September 1916 and joined 4th Cruiser Squadron in West Indies, escorted Atlantic convoys from July to November 1918
Montcalm
...... a reminder of North Atlantic convoy conditions



The Casualty List in Alphabetical Order
with added information researched by Joann E Montgomery
 
ADAM, Francois M (parents - Yves Marie Adam & Marie Gonidec), Matelot de la Gloire, pneumonia, The French Hospital, died 19 October 1918
 
AUTRET, Francois M, Maitre de la Marseillaise, died 11 October 1918
 
BATARD, Eugene, Matelot de la Marseillaise, died 4 October 1918
 
CALIMACHE, Francois, Matelot de la Marseillaise, influenza, unknown hospital, Kings County, Brooklyn, died 22 November 1918
 
CONSEIL, Jean-Marie, Quatre-maitre Canonnier du Montcalm, died 18 October 1918
 
DUCTEIL, Pierre, (parents - Louis & Jean Clair), Chauffer brevete de la Gloire, influenza, The French Hospital, died 14 October 1918
 
GLEMAREC, F J M, Matelot de la Marseillaise, died 12 October 1918
 
GODEFROY, Pierre, Matelot de la Marseillaise, died 2 October 1918
 
GRIGNOUX, Jean, Second-maitre de la Marseillaise, died 11 October 1918
 
GUERMER, Francois T, Matelot de la Marseillaise, died 4 October 1918
 
KERDELHUE, Piette, Premier-maitre de la Marseillaise, died 4 October 1918
 
KERISIT, Henri, Matelot de la Marseillaise, (death certificate not found), died 10 October 1918
 
LANCIAUX, Abel, Matelot de la Marseillaise, died 24 October 1918
 
LECERF, Henri Badin, Soldat d'Infanterie, Coloniale du Pacifique, died 22 October 1918
LEROUX, Martial, Matelot de L'A.M.B.C., pneumonia, unknown hospital, Kings County, Brooklyn, died 16 December 1918
 
NOBLET, Ernest (parents - unknown), Matelot de la Montcalm, meningitis, The French Hospital, died 20 October 1918
 
QUINIO, Pierre Louis (parents - Pierre & Louise), Quartier-maitre de la Marseillaise, influenza/pneumonia, The French Hospital, died 9 October 1918
 
RAMPIN, Leon Eugene, Second-maitre de la Marseillaise, died 4 October 1918
 
RASSIN, Albert (father - Albert), Matelot de la Gloire, influenza, The French Hospital, died 12 October 1918
 
SIMON, Jean Francois, Matelot de la Marseillaise, (death certificate not found), died 3 October 1918
 
TEPHANY, August (father - Agustus Hippolyte), Matelot de la Marseillaise, influenza/pneumonia, The French Hospital, died 7 October 1918



Links to French Navy in World War 1

- The French Navy: Honneur, Patrie, Valeur, Discipline 1900-1922
- World War 1 and Major Warship Lists in Outline

- Flag Officers, 1914-1918


Those Who Served:
- Louis Bechennec, Fireman/Stoker, including Serbian Evacuation

- French Navy Sailors commemorated in a New York Cemetery
(here)
 
 

return to World War 1, 1914-1918

or to Naval-History.Net

 

revised 28/7/11