6 replies to this topic

[marksixman]

Might anyone be able to point me in the correct direction to find any WW2 service records or details for French driver Philippe Entacelin ?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

[Sterzo]

Philippe Étancelin?  (The first "n" is in a different position.... might make searching easier).

[ensign14]

Given he was in his early forties when war broke out, and France did not exactly last very long, I doubt he served.  WW1 more likely.

[Vitesse2]

French military records are very hard to obtain, but he doesn't seem to have been involved in WW2. French Wikipedia says he served as a volunteer in the 39th régiment d'infanterie between 1916 and 1919. The regiment was on the Western Front for much of that time: https://fr.wikipedia...nt_d'infanterie

 

According to l'Auto, October 10th 1940, he was occupying himself with affairs of business and enjoying family life.

 

https://gallica.bnf....=etancelin.zoom

 

By May 1942 he was described as a 'gentleman farmer':

 

https://gallica.bnf....=etancelin.zoom

 

And in July 1942 he was one of several French racing drivers pictured with Hans Stuck in Paris:

 

https://gallica.bnf....=etancelin.zoom

 

Again with Stuck, September 1942:

 

https://gallica.bnf....=etancelin.zoom

 

A 1943 mention, saying nothing much:

 

https://gallica.bnf....=etancelin.zoom

 

And in 1944 he took part in the rather bizarre commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Paris-Rouen:

 

https://gallica.bnf....=etancelin.zoom

[a_tifoosi]

You can find Étancelin's matricule militaire in the Archives of Seine-Maritime:

 

https://www.archives...5b46/daogrp/0/1

 

Edited by a_tifoosi, 27 June 2024 - 12:13.

[Vitesse2]

So if I'm reading that right he was still in the reserves in 1939, called up to the reformed 36th régiment d'infanterie (previously disbanded 1924), but exempted? Age? Health?

 

As the regiment was heavily involved in the Battle of France 1940, perhaps he was lucky. https://fr.wikipedia...nterie_(France)

[marksixman]

Thanks 'Vitesse2' and 'a_tifoosi' , that information is a great help.