Henri Vanwaetermeulen

Henri Alexis Joseph Vanwaetermeulen (14 July 1862 – 16 July 1918) was a French general of the First World War who began his career as a private soldier. Enlisting into a line regiment in 1883 Vanwaetermeulen was promoted to sergeant major within two years and received his commission within five. He transferred to the Troupes de marine and saw service in several French colonies. In Tonkin Vanwaetermeulen was mentioned in dispatches for leading assaults on two forts and received the Colonial Medal. He saw further service in Madagascar, Senegal and Mauritania, much of it under the command of Joseph Gallieni, and by the outbreak of the First World War was a lieutenant-colonel.

Soon after the start of the war Vanwaetermeulen was promoted to colonel and received command of a colonial regiment. He saw action in all the major French operations of 1914–16, was mentioned in dispatches at the Second Battle of Champagne and the Battle of the Somme and received the Croix de Guerre. Promoted to général de brigade by 1917 he was mortally wounded during French counter-attacks following the German spring offensive. He was posthumously appointed a commander of the Legion of Honour.

Non-commissioned career Vanwaetermeulen was born at 10:00 on 14 July 1862 at Merris, Bailleul, Nord. His father was Achille Francois Joseph Vanwaetermeulen and his mother was Zoe Lydie Loridan. He was promoted to lieutenant on 15 April 1891 and transferred to the 6th Marine Infantry Regiment on 10 August. He married Madeleine Charlotte Jean Joseph Traisnel on 29 October 1896 and established a house at Merville in Nord. He was posted back to the 5th Marine Infantry Regiment on 5 September 1900 and returned to France on 24 November. He notably spent much of his career under the command of Colonel Joseph Gallieni, who was later to posthumously become a Marshal of France.

First World War

Vanwaetermeulen was promoted to colonel in 1914 for good conduct under fire and given command of the 24th Colonial Infantry Regiment. During this period he commanded a training camp near to Fréjus, south-east France. He was given command of the 5th Colonial Infantry Brigade on 2 July 1916 and fought at the Battle of the Somme where he was wounded on 15 July and received a further mention in dispatches for his refusal to be evacuated. He was posthumously appointed a commander of the Legion of Honour 8 October 1918.