8117 Cpl Jules Andre Peugeot, 6e Compagnie, 2e Bataillon, 44e RI.
and
Lt Albert Mayer, Jäger-zu-Pferd-Regt Nr 5
Cpl Peugeot was born at Etupes on 11 June 1893 (Class of 1913). He did his military service in Lons-le-Saunier and was mobilized as a corporal in 44 RI, 6th Company, 2nd Battalion. On 2 August 1914, Peugeot's squad was on duty in Jonchery and arrested and dispersed the first patrol to violate French territory. He was killed by a bullet near Docourt Farm when the German patrol commander (20 year old Lt Albert Mayer) opened fire with his revolver at 10.00 am. The French returned fire and Mayer also died.
Peugeot was hit by the fourth round fired during the war and Mayer by the fifth or sixth. Its also possible (though this is disputed in some circles) that the first two casualties of the war actually killed each other. Cpl Peugeot is now buried in his family plot in the communal churchyard at Etupes and Lt Mayer is buried in the Soldatenfriedhof at Illfurth in a specially marked grave commemorating the ‘1st German Casualty of the World War 1914-18'.
2 August 1914.
Please look out for a forthcoming article on these two men and the events of 2 August 1914 on the WFA website in the near future.
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
