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This collection of photographs shows elements of Paul
Tirel's life. In the first, Paul (Middle, kneeling), who
was born in Bretteville sur Ay, Manche on the 25th January,
1886, was trained to be a carpenter before the Great War.
This picture was probably taken between 1901 and 1903,
and he is recorded as being an Apprentice Carpenter in
Jersey's 1901 Census.
The French law required that all Frenchmen
undertook two years compulsory service as from the year
in which those men attained the age of 20. Thus, in early
1906, he reported to Saint-Lô, the Prefecture for
the Manche departement, and where the 13e Regiment d'Infanterie
was based. This photograph was most likely taken towards
the end of his conscription period in late 1907 and shows
a smart young man, a world away from the carpenter's dress.
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Soldat, 2nd Class Paul Joseph Tirel
136th Regiment, French Infantry
04/09/1916
Born at Bretteville sur Ay, Manche 25
Jan 1886. Reported killed at Chilly, Somme, aged 30 years
With mobilisation, Paul Tirel would
have left Jersey and returned to Saint-Lô to rejoin
the 13e Regiment. He would have been fitted out in that
uniform had not changed since his earlier time as a
young recruit. However, the uniform would soon prove
deadly, the pantaloons rouge providing good aiming marks
for German machine gunners. During 1915 the bleu horizon
uniform began appearing along with the casque Adrian.
This photograph, of Paul now wearing the new style dress
in the trenches, was probably taken on the Somme in
1916, just a few weeks or months before he was killed.
As with the previous photograph, his regiment's number
is discernible on the collar.
Sadly, the Great War left many women widowed, and children
fatherless.
This was the case for Paul's wife, Ann Marie and his
newly born daughter, Alice Marie, whom he never had
the pleasure to see, before his life was cut short.
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