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a bunch of old papers with handwriting on them
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Estimate €4,000 - €5,000
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MERMOZ Jean 31 L.A.S. ‘Jean’ (3 ‘JMermoz’), Aurillac, January–September 1917, to his ‘dearest little mum’; approximately 120 pages in-8 and in-12; a few letters in faded ink. Letters from the secondary school in Aurillac. He is in Aurillac with his grandparents (who feature in 5 letters), attending secondary school. He finds it hard to cope with being separated from his mother (who initially remained in the occupied zone in the North, then was sent to work as a nurse at the hospital in Nice) and lives in anticipation of her letters and their reunions; he nevertheless follows the events of the war, particularly in the North, and reflects on his future. He often writes to his ‘dearest mum’, and suffers from knowing she has ‘stayed back there with the Krauts’; he draws up a list of soldiers from Mainbressy with their postings… ‘You know I’m almost a soldier too. I’ve started military training because I’m fifteen’ (18 January). Being away from his mother takes its toll on him and he begs her to come and join him, a request supported by his grandparents, who write to her in turn. He had not been successful in the scholarship exam, and reassured his mother about his military training: “We are preparing for a career as soldiers, it is true, but the war would have to last another two full years for that to happen, which I hope will not be the case. We have made good progress these past few days. Folembray will no doubt be liberated soon’ (28 March). ‘Folembray has now been liberated. It is merely another ruin to add to the rest. What a cursed race the Germans are! But mark my words, we shall make them pay dearly’ (2 April). He is worried about his mother’s health and reassures her about his own: ‘When you see me, I reckon you won’t recognise me, not even by my voice alone. I’ve done several years of gymnastics and have toughened up my body and limbs ” (29 April). He thinks about his future and considers the École des Arts et Métiers: “I’ll have to enrol in a practical—that is to say, vocational—school before next year. I rather think I’ll choose this trade” (4 May). He counts the dead: “especially from the school during the attack on Reims. Two more yesterday whom I knew well. I was in the same class as them at school for two years. They were 17 and 17 and a half. Two more to add to the others! Eight teachers have already been killed, along with 43 pupils and former pupils’. He recounts how the gendarmerie commander, who was unpleasant and a ‘show-off’, was ‘beaten up’ (20 May).  The holidays are approaching, and those over 16 will be mobilised for work behind the lines; ‘But it’s highly likely that I’ll enlist and we’ll be sent out in teams. Because this is no time to sit around doing nothing when you see the situation France is in’ (24 June). He questioned those returning from the North: ‘This is no time to falter in France, for the Germans are on their last legs. […] What is certain is that many soldiers are refusing to march. It seems that the 17th Corps refused to attack and killed all its officers. My aunt wrote to us saying that the soldiers had revolted at Château-Thierry and smashed everything at the station’… (24 June). The prize-giving ceremony is approaching: ‘I think I’ll get five honourable mentions and first prize for French essay’; but he doesn’t want to carry on at secondary school: ‘When I see strong lads who are going to sit the baccalaureate and who are hunched over, it puts me off. I’d rather stay healthy than do those office jobs’… (1 July). He isn’t particularly keen on his studies and is determined not to continue at secondary school; ‘Being a practical engineer was my dream’; he regrets not having enrolled in a technical college: ‘I’m quite skilful; first of all, I really enjoy it, and I have the aptitude, as my teachers at Hirson told me’ (8 July). He spends his holidays cycling and swimming in the Jordanne, and looks after refugees at the Prefecture: “As I’m resourceful, they send me to lead the convoys” (22 July)… Etc. Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family
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About the sale Historical Memories
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Auction time 11/03/2026 at 11:00 AM
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