Henri Marie Lebocq (1861–1946) was a French Général de Division of World War I. He commanded several regiments during the war and was notable for being the main French commander at the Fighting at Bois-le-Prêtre, leading the 73rd Infantry Division during the engagement. He was also a recipient of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
Henri Lebocq | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 29, 1861 Paris, Seine, France |
| Died | May 10, 1946 (aged 84) Paris, Seine, France |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Branch |  French Army |
| Years of service | 1883–1919 |
| Rank |  Général de Division |
| Commands | 168th Infantry Regiment 73rd Infantry Division 39th Infantry Division 7th Infantry Division[1] |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor |
Biography
editHenri Lebocq was born on December 29, 1861, in Paris within the 7th arrondissement.[2][3] In 1883, he graduated from the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr as a second lieutenant in the 11th Battalion of Alpine Chasseurs. In 1901, Lebocq was reported as a brevet captain of the 73rd Infantry Regiment.[4]
In 1903 he became battalion commander and was promoted to Colonel in 1913. During the start of World War I, he was given command of the 73rd Infantry Division with a temporary promotion to Général de brigade. In October 1914, he was confirmed to remain as a Général de brigade. On January 17, 1915, Lebocq lead the 73rd Division at the Bois-le-Prêtre fighting against the 121st Division.[5] Later on May 2, 1915, he is quoted at the order of the army but was wounded during the Second Battle of Ypres. Lebocq was named Commander of the Legion of Honor on August 1, 1917, and December 20, 1917, he was promoted to Général de division and commanded the 39th Infantry Division with which he paraded in 1919 before President Raymond Poincaré and other politicians during the celebrations of his return from Metz to Paris. Before his retirement, Lebocq was a recipient of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.[6]
Lebocq died on May 10, 1946, at the 16th arrondissement of Paris.
References
edit- ^ G. Ruffy, ed. (1924). Qui êtes-vous?: Annuaire des contemporains; notices biographiques (in French). Paris. p. 455. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Archives numérisées de l'état civil de Paris. 1880–81.
- ^ "Ministère de la culture - Base Léonore". Base Léonore. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ Bulletin des lois de la République franc̜aise (in French). Imprimerie Nationale. 1901. p. 425. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "17 January 1915 – Wolves Of Priest's Wood". The Great War Blog. 17 January 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Ministère de la culture - Base Léonore". Base Léonore. Retrieved October 4, 2022.