French WW1 Water Bottle

**douglas2496** · 05-21-2019, 11:36 AM

Hi everyone, just got this French 1877 pattern 2 litre water bottle, made c.1915 (in early dark blue cloth). I have replaced the missing cork so that the cup can be correctly mounted. Any comments welcome.

**BlackCat1982** · 05-21-2019, 11:45 AM

Have you been able to find out anything about the owner of the canteen?

**douglas2496** · 05-21-2019, 11:52 AM

No, this has only just come in the post. Do you know how French soldiers can be researched?

**BlackCat1982** · 05-21-2019, 01:21 PM

There were 14 Gaston Mailhe that I located, but only one that fitted the timeframe. I think this may be him;

and his casualty card:

**douglas2496** · 05-21-2019, 01:27 PM

Thats very helpful, thanks very much for taking the trouble to look that up. I dont speak French, but am I right in thinking he was killed in 1917?

**BlackCat1982** · 05-21-2019, 02:21 PM

He was born in Algeria and served as a Number 2 Gunner in 108th RÉGIMENT D'ARTILLERIE LOURDE and was listed as killed on 11th May 1917 on the ship called Merjerda which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean!

**douglas2496** · 05-21-2019, 02:40 PM

Most interesting, thank you very much for your help.

I cant find any reference to Medjerda (or Merjerda) in France, only a river of that name in North Africa.

Also, Google translate makes 'genre de mort; naufrage de la Medjerda' into 'circumstances of death, shipwrecked on the Medjerda'. I know of course that Google translate is very unreliable.