This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Conilh de Beyssac, Jean Jacques played for France Internationals: 5 : 1912 I- S- ; 1914 I- W- E- Jacques Conilh de Beyssac was born in either 1888 or on 12 June 1890 in Cauderan. Played as a Flanker/lock for: Stade Bordelais Université War service: Lieutenant, 81er Artillerie Lourde He died of wounds when on active service in the Oise sector of the Western Front on 11 June 1918
Do you know what he looks like Gareth ?.... he's probably on this photo ... thought you might like this piece !! http://rugby-pioneers.blogs.com/rugby/2006/12/equipe_de_franc.html Annie
Sub-lieutenant in 501st tank regiment, ( I read .... but different than what you said !! ) died of his injuries during the 1st war http://www.finalesrugby.com/joueur.asp?idJoueur=512
Heres another birth date Date of Birth: 12th Apr 1890 Birthplace: Cauderan http://sv1.sotic.net/scrum/players.php?player=23076&includeref=dynamic
One of them must be correct! I found 12 June 1890 at: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/ Gareth
Rather surprisingly, JJ Conilh de Beyssac was also a Rosslyn Park player! His name is in our minutes, although little to explain how and why! http://www.rugbyremembers.co.uk/9.html His University club Stade Bordelaise toured in 1908/9, and played Richmond although he is not on the team sheet in the reports in The Times. It is tempting to speculate that, frustrated by making the trip and not playing , he walked across to Rosslyn Park, also then in Old Deer Park, and picked up a game for them. No subs in those days, so what would you do if you were 16th man on tour?
Also worth mentioning that he played in a 'French Military XV' against the ANZACs at the la Cipale stadium at Vincennes, playing for a Coupe de la Somme. The French lost. rgds Stephen
Bonsoir, Jean-Jacques Conilh de Beyssac was tank commander in AS 15 tank Group. Sous-Lieutenant from the Reserve Army, he was Lieutenant "à titre temporaire" since October 24 th, 1917. He is dead as Lieutenant and not as Sous-Lieutenant. His tank was the Schneider M2 n° 61256. The AS 15 Groupe was under Cne Halguët orders. This tanks Group was one of the four Groups from "Groupement n° III" (Commander : Cne Lefebvre). Jean de Beyssac's tank was the first Schneider from 1th Battery (As de pique 1). This Battery was command by Lt du Halgoët. AS 15 was engaged for the first time in June 11th, 1918 during the Battle of Méry. 173 Schneider and Saint Chamond were used by General Mangin during this counter-attack on Courcelles-Epayelles, Méry, Belloy and Lataule. The 3th Groupement's attack begun from Montgerain wood (49° 32' 27 89" North - 2° 34'10 65" East) at 9h 40 in the direction of Méry. Lieutenant de Beyssac Schneider was destroyed at 14 h 20, 500 m North from Belloy (49° 32'27 96" North - 2° 39' 2 02" East) by 3 hits on Schneider's left side. 3 teams members were wounded (Lt de Beyssac, canonniers Julien et Bouchet). He is died in St Rémy en l'Eau (Military Ambulance 5/18) with a doubt about date. On the JMO (Journal de Marche et Opérations - Groupement N° III), the Lieutenant de Beyssac is only listed as wounded. There is, very often, a lot of mistakes on "Mémoire des Hommes" forms. The unit's names RCB (Régiment de Chars Blindés) and RCC (Régiment de Chars de Combat) were used only after the war (in March and July 1919). It was the new names given to the war RAS (Régiment d'Artillerie Spéciale). Arrived in the "Artillerie Spéciale" (AS) in 1917, Jean de Beyssac was first member of 81° RALT (Régiment d'Artillerie Lourd à Tracteur). This regiment was the support and training unit of all French combat tanks units. In May 1918 was created the new AS support and training unit : 500° RAS (Régiment d'Artillerie Spéciale). The "Mémoire des Hommes" form with 81° RAL is probably the good one, coming from AS 15. The second one is probably a post war copy, done on 500° RAS. The 501° RAS, create at the end of May 1918, was a Renault FT Regiment with 3 Battallions and Schneider tanks from Groupement n° I Groupement n° III belongs to 504° RAS, created at the end of June 1918. Jean de Beyssac was already dead. The last rugby trainings from Jean de Beyssac were probably done in Champlieu (South of Compiègne forest - 49° 19' 3 75" North - 2° 49' 22 44" East) in the main training center from the Artillerie Spéciale. Michel
Good evening Michel and welcome ! Can I ask you what else you know about Jean Conilh de Beyssac ? Are you just interested in his military record ? or do you know about his rugby record also ? Bonsoir Michel et bienvenue! Puis-je vous demander ce que vous en savez Jean Conilh de Beyssac ? Si vous etes simplement interesse dans son dossier militaire ? ou savez-vous sur sa fiche de rugby aussi ? Annie
Bonjour Annie, I am sorry, but I am just interested by French WW 1 tanks history (1916 - 1918). I have, for instance, not found informations about rugby in "Artillerie Spéciale" during the war. I know that in Champlieu's tanks center, tanks crews used to play football (and even tennis !) The football team worn Sport shirts with "A.S." logo. On more than 3000 men in Champlieu, Jean de Beyssac probably found some other rugby players. Michel
OK ! well its good to see you anyway !! You probably know all about Colonel Estienne ... but I thought this maybe of interest ! http://books.google.com/books?id=N4...resnum=4&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Bonjour, Not exactly all (about Général Estienne), but . . . . If you have some questions, I am also there : http://pages14-18.mesdiscussions.ne...rie-Speciale-chars-d-assaut/liste_sujet-1.htm Michel
Snippet * I just realised this is what Michel said ..... http://translate.googleusercontent....&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhivc_WiLpxk5MHG7fOXGwFdb7s4PA
Michel, this is fascinating detailed information. My original interest in Conilh de Beyssac is his rugby, but I am trying to build a complete picture of the man and his history. I would guess that he has an aristocratic family history and indeed a Napoleonic general shared the same name. As part of my project described in www.rugbyremembers.co.uk I took my young (14 years) rugby team to Compiegne. Only on my return did I discover that JJ C de B died in the amulance on the way to the hospital in Compiegne. Life is made of such coincidences. best wishes Stephen
