Man finds grave of soldier grandfather, 102 years on
A man from Bourgogne-Franche-Comt茅 has finally discovered his grandfather鈥檚 grave, 102 years after the latter was confirmed as having died in the First World War.
Jean-Pierre Wymann - who lives in Belfort (Territoire de Belfort) - this month discovered that his grandfather Alo茂se Wyman is buried in tomb number 259 in the Chattancourt war cemetery in Meuse (Grand Est).
The discovery, made with the help of a local historian, comes after a century of research and mystery.
Alo茂se Wymann鈥檚 family had been looking for his grave unsuccessfully since 1916, but, despite many visits to the area and much research, no resting place had ever been found.
The consensus was that 鈥淎lo茂se Wymann has never been identified [but] must be buried somewhere nearby鈥�.
Yet, in the course of his own research into unidentified French-Comt茅 soldiers who were killed in combat, local historian Christophe Grudler called Alo茂se鈥檚 grandson, Jean-Pierre Wymann, with more information.
The historian believed he had found Alo茂se Wymann鈥檚 then-anonymous grave, thanks to the soldier鈥檚 old army matriculation number.
Upon further research, this was confirmed this month (July).
Now, the memorial cross "WYMANN Alo茂se Emile", instead of "Unknown soldier", and the entire family has travelled to the cemetery to honour their fallen ancestor.
The mystery began after a letter was sent to the family by the captain of Alo茂se Wymann鈥檚 regiment in 1916.
The letter, which was sent with a package of the soldier鈥檚 last belongings, explained that Alo茂se Wymann had died when a bomb had exploded near the Fort de Bois Bourrus, north-west of Verdun.
Several other soldiers were also killed in the incident, the letter , with their remains buried in 鈥渁 little cemetery a few kilometres away鈥�.
The letter : 鈥淲e will give you the name of the cemetery after the fighting has finished, if you wish.鈥� But no more letters ever arrived.
Alo茂se Wymann鈥檚 son - who was just three years old when his father died - then spent his life searching the area for his father鈥檚 grave; a mission that was later taken up by his own son, Jean-Pierre.
No clue to the identity of the grave had ever been confirmed, until now.
Jean-Pierre Wymann : "One night at 21h, I received this phone call. I know exactly what it was about because I had also been searching, in vain. So had my own father. I am infinitely grateful because now the link has been closed. I know where he is, and that is very important."
Historian Mr Gudler : 鈥淭he past is still present. If, as a historian, I can bring some comfort, and allow families to grieve properly, then it鈥檚 significant. Especially on a national level, given the homage that must be paid to these missing soldiers.鈥�
