René Félix Louis Joseph Riffaud (December 19, 1898 – January 16, 2007) was one of the last four 'official' French veterans of the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
when he died at age 108 in
Tosny
Tosny () is a former commune in the Eure department in Normandy in northern France, some ten miles south of Rouen. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Les Trois Lacs.France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
.
Born in
Jendouba
Jendouba ( ; Formerly known as Souk El Arba until 30 April 1966) is a city in northwestern Tunisia, and capital of the Jendouba Governorate. It is an important crossroads with many road links to other towns such as El Kef, Tabarka, Ain Draham ...
,
Tunisia
Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...
, Riffaud was conscripted into the
Army of Africa in April 1917 as a 2nd class soldier (''Soldat de deuxième classe'') and served in various regiments. He was discharged in 1919 after a bout of
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
, but rejoined later that year, and served until 1924.
His wife, Lucie, whom he married in 1930, died in 1979. Their only son also pre-deceased him.
Decorations
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Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...
*
Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
1914–1918
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Combatant's Cross
The Combatant's Cross () is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France. The Poilus (French combat soldiers) of World War I worked toward recognition by the government, of a special status to t ...
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1914–1918 Commemorative war medal
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Medal of French Gratitude
The Medal of French Gratitude () was a French honour medal created on 13 July 1917 and solely awarded to civilians. The medal was created to express gratitude by the French government to all those who, without legal or military obligation, had ...
*
World War I Victory Medal
See also
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Tirailleurs
A tirailleur (), in the Napoleonic era, was a type of light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns. Later, the term "''tirailleur''" was used by the French Army as a designation for indigenous infantry recruited in the French c ...
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Riffaud, Rene
1898 births
2007 deaths
French men centenarians
French military personnel of World War I
People from Jendouba Governorate
Knights of the Legion of Honour
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Pieds-noirs