Theophilus Marie Brébant

Theophilus Marie Brébant (May 24th 1889 with Plésidy - February 20th 1965 with Guingamp, France) is a Officier French which took part in the Première and with the Second world war. It finished its career with the rank of Colonel.

Career

Engaged the July 23rd 1908 until the June 14th 1946. It was built-in during its career in the following units: 48 {{E}} IH · 1 {{er}} RE · 3 {{E}} REI · 41 {{E}} IH · 146 {{E}} IH · 117 {{E}} IH

The First World War

See also: First World War

Officer very vigorous, energetic, brave, having made all the countryside. Commander of company of high value , perpetually in contact with the enemy during eight days of battle to succeeded on several occasions under conditions difficult to break the combat without leaving an even wounded man to the hands of the enemy. He was characterized more recently by his spirit with the head from his company which made a hundred prisoners, a wound two quotations . This officer was wounded seriously the June 16th 1915 of a glare of shell, then burned by the Ypérite with the Wood of tilery the July 31st 1918 at the time of the attack of the Wood of Plessier. During operations of the May 30th to the June 15th 1918, did not cease being spent without counting. Always on the breach, of day like night communicating to all its energy, exciting the moral one of its men, doing itself the shot. It was an good example for its company which, in spite of hard tirednesses, provided an effort extraordinary and caused to the enemy of the high losses.

The Inter-war period

See also: War of Rif

Officer (Captain) for more than two years to the Morocco, it has shown of initiative and authority when to the construction and the organization of the stations. He pointed out himself the July 10th 1925 in the area of Fez with the 3rd company of the 3rd foreign regiment (RMLE) by ensuring the protection of the left side threatened by the unsubmissive people. He took down only at 6 p.m., thus giving the time necessary to the 2nd company to be installed on the new positions. He was present at Morocco of the March 15th 1923 with the August 25th 1928 affected with the 3rd foreigner notified (service), then reinstated in France in the 41e regiment of infantry (Rennes) starting from September 21st, 1929, where he takes the command of the 6th company until January 9th, 1934.

The January 13rd 1934, it takes the functions of captain major of fortification to the camp of Zimming to the 146e regiment of infantry of fortress.

Testimony of satisfaction of the General ordering the area strengthened of Metz

Charged with directing work of defensive organization on the Line Maginot on the position of cover, was given to this task with a devotion and heat worthy of praises; in the execution the best output obtained.

It was affected with the 117 {{E}} regiment of infantry (with the Mans) the October 29th 1937 ordering 2nd battalion until the June 6th 1940.

The Second world war

See also: Battle of France

The regiment enters the armed zone D the September 10th 1939. The commander knew to communicate to his frameworks and his men his will to hold June 5th and 6th 1940 and was spent to fulfill the mission which was entrusted to him: To hold the village of Berny-in-Santerre with the 2nd battalion of the 117e of Mans. Although having been reduced, by the attacks of the tanks (3 divisions of Panzer S plus one of reserve) and of the infantry enemy with a heroic defense, it continued to fight with some elements which had joined him and thus inflicted severe losses with the enemy. It was quoted with the order of the army. Senior officer which with fact the admiration of all during the combat which were held May 25th at June 1st 1940, it seized with the head its battalion a village held by the enemy, directly taking the command of some elements which hesitated in front of a counter-attack of the enemy and carried them ahead galvanizing them of his example. Four times quoted during the war 1914-1918. He is prisoner of the June 6th 1940 with the October 14th 1943 in Germany with Hoyerswerda, with the camp of Elsterhorst “Oflag IVD” in Silesia in extreme cases of the germano-Polish border. He was neat at the hospital of Val de Grâce the October 14th 1943. December 19th 1945 with the 1946, it ensures the command of the prison camp of German officers Mulsanne (the Sarthe). : 7000 captive officers of which several tens of general officers. Demobilized with the expiry of its contract, it is striped controls the June 16th 1946 and is withdrawn in Mans, 101 rue du Bourg Belé. It is then striped executives of reserves of the Army by decree of the September 30th 1947

Testimony

  • Search for testimony : by the commander Pocard old Michel of 117 R. I. president of friendly of the same regiment of (MANS) the
1937-1940. The Commander Brébant was a dry man, with the face engraved by time, the Great War and the campaigns of the Foreign legion, known for its severity, its requirements on the behavior, its need for action, its short word its precise orders, it imposed some on all. But it was fundamentally good, it had like nickname “old brave man” and so between oneself one allowed oneself to thus call it, it is by respectful feeling of friendship.
  • Writes by Lieutenant Jacques Eynaud De Faÿ
“This generation of officers to given to France more than their life, a nobility of soul.” Of the mouth of the commander Brébant to his battalion.
“We will fight, in front of the enemy if there is a deserter who causes the death of his comrade, I have a ball for him in my revolver, if you see that I flee or that I am not with the height in front of the enemy, kill me. ”
At the beginning its men hardly appreciated it, some said “as of the first fixings with the enemy the first ball would be for him” Seeing the courage of this officer, to each request for its share, concerning a volunteer for go from before with him, it was not one, but twenty, thirty, forty, fifty which went voluntary. The commander was upright it carried his eyes to his binoculars, the balls whistled to him above, we were lengthened with the captain “my commander you will be made kill. ” The commander retorted “my captain if I am made kill you will come to replace me.” Always in front of the acrobats to draw its transmission cables the Levêque soldier, located by a plane enemy informer, on the request of the commander the stations of transmissions were put in a well, because the shootings of the artillery brought closer enemy, more and more. The Soldat Levêque Robert fought with the heroism of old of the Great War, like all his/her comrades of the Bataillon being galvanized by the commander Brébant. “We lay so much low that we had our jackets striated with mark of balls. I have a comrade who replaced me at the place or I had drawn from the hundreds of balls, the casings were still all hot, it received between the two eyes a ball, it had married it did not have so a long time, poor there of him. I had certainly killed of the Germans? “If we could have had the same equipment that the enemy the data would have changed, the enemy was astonished to see the keen resistance of 117e IH.” After several days of combat, the commander Brébant then the remainder of its battalion went fault of ammunition, the enemy frightened by the audacity and the courage of this officer then of these some soldiers badly equipped. “currently me I think of Bazeilles the last cartouche 1870.” The enemy paid homage, with the battalion as if were one of their iron regiment (regiment of elite). The commander known as “you of your regiment, you are proud fought well, the head high, to attach your jackets, they will return the honors military to us.” “We felt invulnerable with our commander, it could and had to finish general.” honor and respect with our deaths

Family

His/her brother Albert Marie Brébant born in 1898 in Ploumagoar one of the youngest volunteers of the National marine , 16 years and half fought during all the First World War 1914/1918. With receipt the Military Cross with several quotations.
  • historical Service of the Navy

Homage

  • One finds today a street in the name of “Colonel Brébant” with Guingamp and Ploumagoar. It is planned to baptize a street or a public garden with its name with the Mans.

Decorations

* Knight on July 24th, 1918 * Officer on December 13rd, 1938 * commander on January 17th, 1952

diplomas of the Marne then of Verdun

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