Jean Théveney General Jean Baptiste Philippe Théveney ( in some works spelt " Théveny " ) ( 5 November 1866 – 7 January 1960 ) was a French army officer . His father was a cavalry officer and Théveney was educated at the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Infanterie before being commissioned as an infantry officer . He served in a number of staff and regimental appointments in France before joining the 1st Foreign Regiment of the French Foreign Legion and seeing active service in Algeria . Théveney followed the regiment to Morocco where it was involved in the Zaian War against the Berbers . Théveney spent much of his military career in Morocco , fighting in many battles and being mentioned in dispatches several times . He served briefly against the German Army on the Western Front before returning to Morocco within a year . He led the operation that brought to an end the Zaian War in 1921 and remained in Morocco , participating in the Rif War in 1926 . Théveney was a grand - officer of the Legion of Honour and holder of the Croix de Guerre and the Spanish Moroccan Peace Medal . Early life . Théveney was born at 05 . 00 on 5 November 1866 in Tarascon , Bouches - du - Rhône in France . His father was the then 29 - year - old Ernest Théveney , a chevalier of the Legion of Honour and first lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Lancers and his mother was 34 - year - old Hyacinthe Léonille Allard , wife of Ernest . He was named after his maternal grandfather Jean Baptiste Allard . Jean Baptiste Théveney married Marie Thérése Berthe Coudere on 26 December 1887 , they had no children . Initial military career . On 30 October 1884 he volunteered for service in the French Army and was accepted as an officer - candidate at the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Infanterie . On 1 April 1885 he was promoted to 1st class officer - candidate , then corporal on 22 August and sergeant on 3 November . Théveney left the Ecole on 1 October 1886 and was commissioned as a sub - lieutenant in the 63rd Infantry Regiment . He was promoted to lieutenant in that regiment on 12 July 1890 and to first lieutenant on 5 October 1892 . Théveney was promoted to captain on 11 July 1896 and transferred to the 105th Infantry Regiment . He became a staff officer with the XIII Corps on 3 February 1897 and returned to the infantry on 9 April 1903 when he joined the 121st Infantry Regiment . From 11 July 1905 he was aide de camp of the 18th Brigade and then , from 25 December 1906 , that of the 10th Division . Théveney studied at the staff college from 16 November 1907 until posted to the 63nd Infantry Regiment on 24 October 1908 . Théveney was promoted to chef de bataillon ( roughly equivalent to major ) of the 50th Infantry Regiment on 25 December 1908 . He transferred to the 47th Infantry Regiment on 24 June 1909 ; the 9th Infantry Regiment on 25 September 1909 and the 24th Infantry Regiment on 25 January 1910 . On 29 December 1910 Théveney was appointed chevalier of the Legion of Honour . He returned to the 1st Infantry Division as a staff officer on 23 February 1912 and on 26 April 1913 was appointed chef du bataillon in the 1st Foreign Regiment of the French Foreign Legion , seeing active service in Algeria from 17 May 1913 . Zaian War . On 22 February 1915 Théveney was promoted to lieutenant - colonel and assumed command of the Foreign Legion ' s 1st Marching Regiment . The regiment was transferred to Morocco on 15 May and took part in the Zaian War against Berber tribesmen opposed to the French protectorate . Théveney was appointed commander of the Sultan of Morocco ' s Order of Ouissam Alaouite on 8 August 1915 . On 19 December 1915 he assumed command of the Fes groupe mobile ( a mobile combined arms unit unique to Morocco ) . He was mentioned in dispatches on 7 August 1916 for his bravery and endurance in this command , achieving " brilliant " results on campaign despite the poor terrain and heavy enemy fire . Théveney transferred to fight the Germans on the Western Front on 6 January 1917 , taking command of the 408th Infantry Regiment on 20 January . He was mentioned in dispatches again ( on 25 August 1917 ) for his effective leadership of that unit during French offensives made within days of his assumption of command . Théveney ' s work was recognised with his appointment as an officer of the Legion of Honour on 14 April 1917 . He returned to Morocco on 20 July 1917 . Resident - General Hubert Lyautey soon promoted Théveney to colonel and placed him in command of the Tadla - Zaian territory . He was soon commended again , mentioned in dispatches on 20 December 1917 for his defence of the Rhorm El Alem post , in which he repelled two fierce assaults with minimal losses and displayed calmness under fire . Théveney took command of the Meknes military subdivision on 28 January 1918 before taking control of the Fes subdivision on 13 April 1919 . He returned to the Tadla - Zaian command on 6 August and was again mentioned in dispatches ( on 30 November 1919 ) for operations from 5 to 7 October in which he commanded an " ad hoc " formation of troops attempting to resupply Khénifra and was opposed by numbers of the Ait Affi tribe which he defeated comprehensively . Théveney was mentioned in dispatches again in March 1921 for establishing effective French control of the front extending from Zafan to El Bordj during a 7 - month campaign in which he was said to exhibit superb military skill . Lyautey ascribed a large portion of the success on the Zafan front in 1920 to Théveney . He was promoted to général de brigade on 2 April 1921 and , returning to the Fes command on 15 July , subsequently led a French column which eliminated the last pocket of resistance in the Tadla - Zaian and brought about the end of the Zaian War . Subsequent career . Théveney was appointed commander of the Legion of Honour on 12 July 1923 . He was once more mentioned in dispatches on 28 July 1923 as commander of the Meknes subdivision for his work in the Spring offensive in the Moulouya Valley . He was praised for his men ' s fast marching , which enabled them to drive the enemy before them . He participated in the Rif War in northern Morocco as commander of a division and again was mentioned in dispatches , on 5 September 1926 , for his cool - headedness and expert knowledge of African warfare . Théveney was appointed grand - officer of the Legion of Honour on 25 December 1935 by recommendation of the Minister of War , at which point he had ceased active service and was in the army reserve . Théveney also held the Croix de Guerre and the Spanish Moroccan Peace Medal . He died on 7 January 1960 .