CONFÉRENCE SUR CLÉMENT DARBON, JEUNE SOLDAT FRANCONAIS ET PLUS LARGEMENT SUR LA VIE PENDANT LA PREMIÈRE GUERRE MONDIALE.

Born in Francon, Clément Darbon (1892–1982) lived a long life. Yet he left few traces of himself in his home village. Ultimately, it is thanks to the discovery of the letters and postcards he sent to his parents between 1913 and 1918 that we know of him. After fighting in Lorraine and Belgium in 1914, this man forgotten by history spent 1,525 days in captivity in Germany. For more than four years, he drew the strength to carry on from the love of his family and from his determination to become a schoolteacher – he, the son of farmers from the Comminges region.

To mark the commemoration of the 1918 Armistice, we invite you to a talk with Jean-Paul Ferré, author of the book on Clément DARBON, *Rue de la Paix-tant-Désirée: The Journey of a Prisoner of the Great War*, a teacher of Occitan, History and Geography at Aurignac Secondary School, on WEDNESDAY 11 NOVEMBER at 4.00 pm, AT THE FRANCON VILLAGE HALL.

This will be an opportunity to learn about Clément DARBON and to talk with Jean-Paul FERRE about life in Francon at that time.
During the commemoration ceremony at the war memorial on Sunday 25 October at 11.30 am, a letter from Clément DARBON will be read by Jean-Paul FERRE.