At the beginning of the year 1915, the 13th of Januari, a soldier of the French Foreign Legion W.W. MARCHANT wrote a letter to Monsieur LESOEUR, who most likely stayed at the adres of Monsieur BARCLAY, 4 Rue Meyerbeer Paris.
MARCHANT wrote in English:
F.M. 13-1-15
Dr Lesoeur
Should this find you.
Thrust that you are in the best of health
am better myself this place is quiet.
Many English have been here, now on the front.
Happy New Year also to [~] Barclay with kindes regards
[~] Warn.
W.W. MARCHANT, based on his adres served in the 9Cie of the 2me Etranger and was stationed in Orleans.
The postcard was stamped accordingly by:
Le VAGUEMESTRE du 2e Régiment Etranger.
As encountered earlier on several documents from this period, the name of the unit seems initally not complete.
At the beginning of World War One special units had been formed for the duration of the war, denoted as Regiment de Marche. Two of these were assigned to the 2RE, 1RM du 2RE and 2RM du RE.
Not specifying the RM, however, is encountered when it concerns documents and correspondence for Depot units.
As such most likely MARCHANT served with the 9Cie of the depot stationed in Orleans.
Unfortunately the family name MARCHANT is too common to find out more about this legionnaire.
Mr. E.G. Barclay
Using gallica.bnf.fr some information could be found about Mr. Barclay.
He was a lawyer “avocat”.
de Paris et du département de la Seine
