Franvillers : farm life for the soldiers.

Franvillers is a farming village, surrounded by fields. In 1916, although the village was some distance from the fighting, it was used to house British troops.The numerous farms provided accommodation (photo 1). This photo was taken in the courtyard of the farm on your right.

The fields were harvested by British troops during September 1916 whilst fighting continued further to the east. A welcome diversion for the soldiers, the army’s work in the fields also provided relief for a local population deprived of their men who had gone off to fight, and even stepped in to replace them when the villagers had been evacuated due to the fighting.

Yvon Calmus was born in 1902. He lived with his family on Rue de la Ferme. His father, Louis, was called up during the war. He was killed in the Marne on 21st October 1915.
When Franvillers was evacuated in the face of the German advance in March 1918, Yvon was left alone in the village. Australian soldiers found him in the ruins of his house and took him with them to Australia.
He eventually returned to France to do his military service, then settled in Rouen.