Augustin Trébuchon
Augustin-Joseph Victorin Trébuchon (30 May 1878 – 11 November 1918) was the last French soldier killed in World War I. Born in Montchabrier, Lozère, he was a shepherd who played the accordion and volunteered for the army on 4 August 1914. He served as a messenger with the 415th Infantry Regiment and fought in major battles including the Marne, Verdun, Artois and the Somme. He was wounded twice, including a serious wound to his left arm, and in September 1918 he was promoted to Private First Class, described as a calm, capable soldier who set a good example for his comrades.
On 11 November 1918, near Vrigne-sur-Meuse in the Ardennes, French forces crossed the Meuse to attack German troops. Trébuchon, carrying a battlefield message, was shot at about 10:45 am, just 15 minutes before the armistice took effect. He died near the railway line with his message still in his hand. He was 40 years old. Official records later dated his death to 10 November 1918, a discrepancy linked to the armistice.
He is buried in grave 13 at the Vrigne-Meuse cemetery. A street in Vrigne-Meuse bears his name, and he is remembered as the last French soldier to die in World War I. On some village memorials his name appears as Victorin, his second given name.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:32 (CET).