French soldier in Battle of the Somme in WWI
Louis de Cazenave, 110, a World War I veteran who took part in the Battle of the Somme, died Sunday, leaving one known French survivor of the 1914-18 conflict.
De Cazenave died in his sleep at his home in Brioude in central France, said his son, also named Louis de Cazenave.
Born Oct. 16, 1897, De Cazenave was called up to fight in 1916 and served in different infantry regiments before joining an artillery unit in January 1918, according to a statement by the French president’s office.
De Cazenave took part in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, in which more than 1 million soldiers died, and in the liberation of France from German forces, the statement said.
The last known French veteran of World War I is Lazare Ponticelli, who also is 110.
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