France Another family puzzle

[Michael Johnson]

This is another photograph from the family album. My late aunt has it labelled as "Alexandre Verzieux". Possibly he was a cousin.

I don't place the uniform. I have found a reference online to an Alexandre-Joseph Verzieux who was with the 2e Cuirassiers. But the 54 on the collar doesn't suggest cavalry to me. He is wearing spurs.

Edited May 25, 2009 by Michael Johnson

[Michael Johnson]

From information over at the French 1914-18 site it looks like he was Artillery. The 54th Field Artillery had several horse-drawn batteries in Lyon, which is where the family hails from.

[Michael Johnson]

As more and more documents come online, I've discovered Alexandre's story:

He was the son of Barthelemy Louis Verzieux, brother of my great-grandfather Barthelemy Claude Verzieux.  He served in the 11th Cuirasseurs in the First War, was wounded, and awarded the Croix de Guerre.  Although over 40, he served in the Second War with the 4th Cuirasseurs, eqipped with Somua and Hotchkisss tanks, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre 1939, being killed May 18, 1940.  In 1947 he was posthumously awarded the Medaille Militaire.

Edited March 6, 2022 by Michael Johnson