Welcome on this blog, dedicated to the last French Veteran from the Great War. I've created this web site to honor him. I was lucky to meet him thanks to the association which I belong to. I was dressed in WW1 uniform at his funeral, to honor him a last time. I was really gratified. The French President, Nicolas Sarkosy and all the Secretaries of State attended his funeral[/c].Lazare Ponticelli was born in Italy on Dec, 24th 1897. He emigrated in France when he was 9. A few days after WW1 burst out on Aug, 3rd 1914, he enrollied in Légion Etrangère. From 1914-1915, he fought in the battlefields in Argonne and in Meuse. He was demobed in 1915 as Italy just entered the war with the allies and he enrolled the Italian army because he was Italian. He fought the Austrians on these battlefields : Dolomites, Monte Cucco and Monte Grappa. In 1920, he created a great factory and during WW2, he became part of the French resistance in 1942. He retired in 1960. and passed away on March, 17th 2008.[g]I had the chance to show him WW1 stuff when I met him and he told me a story corresponding to each item (spike helmets, bayonets, dog tags, rifle, etc..).
Have a good reading.
AMBERG David, President of the Association " Les Francs-Tireurs Lorrains"
Have a good reading.
AMBERG David, President of the Association " Les Francs-Tireurs Lorrains"
