Message in French

[CMF]

Hi,

I'm trying to understand the correct sense of the following, written on the back of a photograph of a French infantryman ('Souvenir for Jynaçe and Augustine of my beloved Marçeau' is straightforward enough, as is 'Eternally missed').

Thanks,

Chris

Souvenir pour Jynaçe
èt Augustine de mon
bien-aimée Marçeau
lué le 9 Octobre 1914
par çes Maudit fait le 24 Mai 1915

Regrette eternellement

[Mori]

Rememberance for Jynaçe and Austine from my beloved Marceau
Kiled on 9 October 1914 by these Damned
Done on 24 May 1915

Eternally missed

***

There are a few typos in what you wrote, either spelling mistakes in the original or too difficult a hand writing to recognize:

"Marçeau" => "Marceau"
"lué" => "tué"
"çes Maudit" => "ces Maudits"

If Jynace is a first name, as it seems to be, it's a very unique one, I had never heard it before.

[Prosper Vandenbroucke]

Hi Chris,
Maybe it's written by the widow of the soldier named Marceau and the photograph was destinated to the children (their daughters) named Jynace (or Janice) and Augustine.
The translation of the text is as follow:
Remembrance for Jynace (or Janice) and Augustine from my beloved Marceau
Killed on the 9th of october 1914 by those damned
Done on the 24th of of may 1915
Eternal regrets
Kindly regards
Prosper
N.B. Never heard about the name Jynace in French language!!!
N.B. I also think that there are several words mispelled or wrong retranscipted into the french text. If it's possible, put a scan of the texte into this topic.

[CMF]

Hi Mori and Prosper,

Many thanks for your assistance!

I transcribed the message as faithfully as was possible, including the c-cedilla where it appeared. I noticed the lack of a crossed 't' in fait, so added that, but missed the fact that what appeared to be lué should in fact have been tué!

On looking again at what at first glance appears to be Jynaçe, could it in fact be Ignaçe? (properly Ignace?)

I've attached a scan of the original below.

Regards,

Chris

[Prosper Vandenbroucke]

Many thanks for scanning the texte.
It's not a female name, but it's a boy's name: IGNACE or Ignace.
That mean's that the children of Marceau where a girl (Augustine) and a boy (Ignace). (If I am right when I think that it was his widow who wrote the text)
Sorry for my poor English, it's my schoolenglish and it's far away.
Kindly regards and spent a good evening.
Prosper
NB. Ignace is a old name even like mine

[CMF]

Thanks Prosper!!

Have no worries about your English . . . it's a damned sight better than my French or Flemish!! :roll:

Best wishes,

Chris

[Prosper Vandenbroucke]

Many thanks Chris,
I try do to my best and I have a good memory
Kindly regards
Prosper

[DavidFrankenberg]

Reverse.jpg

I give you a translation of my own :

"In memory for Ignace and Augustine (a couple of relatives imo) of my beloved Marceau
killed (in action) the 9 October 1914 by this Damneds (Germans)
made the 24 may 1915

forever regretted"

The mother sent a photo of the killed in action Marceau, his son, killed the 9 october 1914 in combat? Certainly in the demand of Ignace or Augustine, the moterhr sent them the item "in memory of", i guess it's a photo.
Maybe ignace and Augustine was just a couple of friends... or Augustine was his sister, or Ignace his older brother.
I dont know why but i guess it was made on the demand of Augustine, i guess she was his sister. Do you have any info about that ?

You notice some mistakes in the letter : "October" and not "october", "Maudits" instead of "maudits", "bien aimée" instead of "bien aimé". This was surely a poor family.

[Prosper Vandenbroucke]

Yes David can be right also.
Augustine and Ignace were relatives of Marceau and the author of the text was his mother. Its possible!!!!!!!
Several words in french are indeed mispelled.
Kindly regards
Prosper

[CMF]

Hi Prosper and David!

Many thanks, David, for your translation and comments!!

Unortunately, I have no further information about the individuals mentioned on the back of the photograph. The photo itself was taken at the 'Drouin' photographic studio, Avenue Carnot, Belfort.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Prosper Vandenbroucke]

Hi Chris,
Yes indeed The Photografic Studio "Drouin" exist during WWI and after 14-18 in the Avenue Carnot at Belfort. But for which reason this letter or postcard was photografied??