Marcel Caux
Encyclopedia
Marcel Caux, born Harold Katte (1 March 1899 – 22 August 2004), was an Australia
n First World War
veteran and the last known survivor of the Battle of Pozières
.
Lying about his age, he enlisted on 6 September 1915, aged 16, and on 20 January 1916 embarked for France
aboard HMAT Runic with the 9th Reinforcements of the 17th Battalion, Australian 2nd Division. He was transferred to the 20th Battalion with which he fought in the Battle of the Somme
. He was wounded in the left ankle during the Battle of Pozières in 1916. He was wounded twice more, eventually being hurt so badly in 1918 that he was unable to bend his left leg for the rest of his life. He returned to Australia on 16 March 1919.
After the war he was refused an invalid
pension
, because the physician
insisted that if he could stand up, he did not need one. Disillusioned with the army over this experience, he tore up all of his army photographs, moved into the Australian bush
and became a carpenter
. He claimed for the next 80 years that he had been wounded in World War II
, refusing to acknowledge his service during World War I. He married Doris and they had one son named Marcus, but never told them about his past.
His secret was discovered in 1998, when he was made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'Honneur
by the French
government. After this he was able to come to terms with his past and began attending Anzac Day
ceremonies.
The centenarian
Caux spent his final days in a nursing home in Chatswood, a suburb of Sydney
. He remained opposed until he died to Australian involvement in foreign wars, in particular the 2003 invasion of Iraq
. He died peacefully in his sleep.
In 2007 it was revealed that Marcel had led a complex and deceptive life and allegations were made that he was a deserter and bigamist.
Following Marcel Caux's death there were only four surviving Australian veterans of the First World War.
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Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veteran and the last known survivor of the Battle of Pozières
Battle of Pozières
The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Though British divisions were involved in most phases of the fighting, Pozières is primarily remembered as an Australian battle...
.
Lying about his age, he enlisted on 6 September 1915, aged 16, and on 20 January 1916 embarked for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
aboard HMAT Runic with the 9th Reinforcements of the 17th Battalion, Australian 2nd Division. He was transferred to the 20th Battalion with which he fought in the Battle of the Somme
Battle of the Somme (1916)
The Battle of the Somme , also known as the Somme Offensive, took place during the First World War between 1 July and 14 November 1916 in the Somme department of France, on both banks of the river of the same name...
. He was wounded in the left ankle during the Battle of Pozières in 1916. He was wounded twice more, eventually being hurt so badly in 1918 that he was unable to bend his left leg for the rest of his life. He returned to Australia on 16 March 1919.
After the war he was refused an invalid
Invalid
Invalid may refer to:* Patient, a sick person* A person with a disability* .invalid, a top-level Internet domain not intended for real useAs the opposite of valid:* Validity, in logic, true premises cannot lead to a false conclusion...
pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
, because the physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
insisted that if he could stand up, he did not need one. Disillusioned with the army over this experience, he tore up all of his army photographs, moved into the Australian bush
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
and became a carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
. He claimed for the next 80 years that he had been wounded in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, refusing to acknowledge his service during World War I. He married Doris and they had one son named Marcus, but never told them about his past.
His secret was discovered in 1998, when he was made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
government. After this he was able to come to terms with his past and began attending Anzac Day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
ceremonies.
The centenarian
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
Caux spent his final days in a nursing home in Chatswood, a suburb of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He remained opposed until he died to Australian involvement in foreign wars, in particular the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. He died peacefully in his sleep.
In 2007 it was revealed that Marcel had led a complex and deceptive life and allegations were made that he was a deserter and bigamist.
Following Marcel Caux's death there were only four surviving Australian veterans of the First World War.
Honours and awards
- British War MedalBritish War MedalThe British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918...
- Victory Medal
- 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance MedalThe 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal was a commemorative medal made to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armistice marking the end of World War I...
(awarded on 21 April 1999) - Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
(awarded on 1 January 2002) - Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(awarded on 4 July 1998)
External links
- AIF Project entry for Caux/Katte
- National Archives of Australia Service records for Pvt H. Katte (aka M. Caux) Regt Number 3863
- Australian Light Horse Studies Centre His Majesty's Australian Transports HMAT Ships, Transporting the 1st AIF.
See also
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2004Veterans of the First World War who died in 2004The following is a list of known veterans of the First World War who died in 2004.-Australia :-Belgium :-Canada :-France :-Germany :-Italy :...