Yvon_Calmus_and_the_2nd_Field_Artillery_Brigade_Australian_Imperial_Force-2.jpg

Yvon Calmus and the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade Australian Imperial Force

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Date: 1918
Surname/tag: Calmus
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Yvon Auguste Calmus : Born 19 May 1902 Franvillers, France - Died 26 Apr 1972 Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France. [1]

Yvon Calmus was the son of a French soldier killed at Verdun. He had been separated from his mother and sister when his village, Franvillers, was evacuated in March 1918. He was discovered in the ruins of his home by gunners of the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force. Once learned of his circumstances, the Brigade 'adopted' Yvon, giving him an AIF uniform.

Yvon Calmus wearing AIF uniform

With permission of the Commanding Officer, Yvon was unofficially put on the strength of the Brigade, and spent the remainder of their time in France helping at the wagon lines, and working as an artillery digger. With the Brigade heading for a major battle in Aug 1918, Yvon was sent back to Franvillers, as that was no place for a boy of his years. Months later, with the armistice a few weeks off, the Brigade were back on the road to Franvillers, heading for a well deserved rest, when waiting for them, watching the seemingly endless lines of troops for the men that he knew, was Yvon, dressed in his uniform.

Following the armistice, the Brigade was demobilised and travelled back to England. Yvon was smuggled on the boat wrapped in a bundle of army blankets. He was still with the Brigade in mid 1919 when he was again smuggled onto the troopship to Australia, with the assistance of Y.M.C.A. representative Lieutenant Frank Grose and Sergeant John Thomas Conn.

Group portrait of members of the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade aboard a ship en route to Australia. Centre front row is Yvon Calmus, with Lt Frank Grose (left), and Sgt John Thomas 'Jack' Conn (right).
The French orphan boy, Yvon Calmus, who was brought to Boolaroo by Private J. Conn, on his return from the front, and who has been living in Boolaroo since, left on Tuesday last for Victoria, where his future home will be. He has been adopted by Staff-captain Patte, who was connected with the battalion in France that rescued Yvon, and who was also mainly responsible for the boy being brought to Australia. Private Conn accompanied him to Sydney, and saw him safely handed over to his future guardian, and gives an assurance that the boy is passing into good hands. While resident of the town the boy became a great favourite, and residents join in wishing him happiness in his new home. [2]

He was boarding at Ivanhoe Grammar School in Melbourne when the French Consul learned of his story. Yvon was sent back to France to commence his compulsory military service with the French Army. Although he remained in France, Yvon kept in contact with the friends and families he had known in Australia. In his retirement, Yvon ran a café at Notre Dame de Bondeville, near Rouen, where he received several visits from old battery mates and the daughters of Sgt Conn during the 1960's.

NEWS FROM FRANCE
Yvon Calmus, the French orphan, who for some time lived with Mr. and Mrs. Conn, at Boolaroo, and was recalled to France for military service, has now completed his duties, and hopes soon to visit Australia. When writing he was employed as a waiter on a train, and found his knowledge of English a considerable benefit to him. [3]


Sources

  1. "France, Indice de décès de la sécurité sociale de l'Insee, 1970-2019", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CPR3-1Q2M : 13 July 2020), Yvon Auguste Calmus, 1972.
  2. "BOOLAROO." Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) 12 December 1919: 5. Web. 18 Dec 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140065476>.
  3. "Social Circle" The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) 22 May 1924: 7. Web. 18 Dec 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165277413>.
  • 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Division Artillery, AIF (Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au : accessed 18 Dec 2022)
  • Australian War Memorial. Portrait of Yvon Calmus, the young French war refugee 'souvenired' by members of the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (2nd FAB) and brought back to Australia to live. He is wearing the AIF uniform given to him in France when he was unofficially adopted by the brigade. (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1105293 : accessed 18 Dec 2022)
  • Australian War Memorial. Informal portrait of Yvon Calmus, a young French war refugee 'souvenired' by members of the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (2nd FAB) and brought back to Australia to live. (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1105291?image=1 : accessed 18 Dec 2022)
  • Australian War Memorial. Group portrait of members of the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (2nd FAB) aboard a ship en route to Australia, possibly the Montreal (ex-German liner Koenig Friederich August). Identified in the centre of the front row is the young French war refugee Yvon Calmus, with YMCA representative Lieutenant (Lt) Frank Grose (left), and Sergeant (Sgt) John Thomas 'Jack' Conn (right). (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1105288?image=1 : accessed 18 Dec 2022)
  • Australian War Memorial. Informal portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Frank Grose, YMCA Representative (left), 33931 Sergeant (Sgt) John Thomas (Jack) Conn (right), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, and Yvon Calmus, a young French war refugee the two Australians 'souvenired' whilst serving in France during the First World War. (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1105289 : accessed 18 Dec 2022)
  • Australian War Memorial. Informal portrait of Jack Williams and Yvon Calmus, a young French war refugee 'souvenired' by members of the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (2nd FAB) and brought back to Australia to live. (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1105292 : accessed 18 Dec 2022)
  • "DIGGERS' MASCOT" The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) 6 December 1919: 1. Web. 18 Dec 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162592486>.




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