Joseph Billot-Calment

### Birth

Joseph Billot was born on March 7th, 1891 to Paul Billot and Jeanne-Marie Jouve in Arles at “Place du Sauvage”.

### School

In 1903, Joseph got a certificate in the private congregational school: rue d'amphitheatre.

### Marriage

Joseph Billot married Yvonne Calment on February 3rd, 1926. The two listed witnesses were François Calment and insurance agent Louis Ginoux. Ginoux also belonged to the velo club which gathered in 1914 at the same cafe "Puech" as the hunting society in which Fernand Calment (who was known to ride bicycle and thus probably also attended this velo club) was vice president from 1907.

Joseph's sister later recounts that at the 'magnificent' wedding of Yvonne and Joseph, upon first meeting with his son's future parents-in-law, Joseph's father mistakenly takes Jeanne for Yvonne. This confirms that Jeanne looked both very young for her age (51 at the time) and very similar to her daughter.

These pictures from the wedding of Joseph and Yvonne were taken by the photographer Em. Barral who had also taken many of the costume festival pictures above. They were provided by Robert Billot. Curiously, the description of Jeanne's unusual wedding dress provided in the biography by Cavalie perfectly matches Yvonne's dress.

### Military Career

    Draftsman at the railroad company Paris-Lyon-Marseille,

Hair and eyes: dark chestnut brown; Forehead: average angle, height and breadth; Nose: straight back; horizontal base; average height, projecting and breadth; Face: long; Height: 1,73 meter; Educational level: 3 (primary education more developed than “able to read and write”)

#### Wounds, Mentions, Medals

Mention on Oct. 4, 1916: "As a forward observer, he provided very estimated services, by not hesitating to set his observation post inside upside down trenches, that were subject to intense bombing. Seriously wounded by a shrapnel near the enemy lines, he didn't want to interrupt his duty, thus setting a great example of courage and toughness."

Mention on Sept. 21, 1917: "On Sept. 3, 1917, during the preparation of an attack, after a part of his battery had exploded, killing 3 men and injuring 4, he vigorously kept the fire of the other parts and ensured the evacuation of the injured, showing the greatest self-control."

War Cross; Colonial medal with "Morocco" campaign clasp; Orient campaign medal.

His career during WW2 is not clear and absent from military dossier. He got the title of Officer of Legion of Honour in 1942. Vichy general Dentz was in charge of title ditribution and stayed in Arles in 1941.

#### Military Dossier

##### **1910s**

July 25, 1912: Fit for military service

Oct. 8, 1912: Recruited

April 1, 1913: 4th Dismounted Artillery Regiment

April 25, 1913: Corporal

Sept. 27, 1913: Sergeant

July 27, 1914: Drill sergeant

Aug. 2, 1914: Mobilized against Germany (4th Heavy Artillery Regiment)

Nov. 1, 1915: 110th Heavy Artillery Regiment

Nov. 8, 1916: Second lieutenant

Nov. 19, 1916: Sent to East Asia (106th Heavy Artillery Regiment)

Dec. 8, 1917: Lieutenant
March 1, 1918: 343rd Heavy Artillery Regiment

June 1, 1919: Back from East Asia (81st Heavy Artillery Regiment)

June 30, 1919: 115th Heavy Artillery Regiment

Oct. 24, 1919: Sent to Rhein country (130th Heavy Artillery Regiment)

##### **1920s**

        Jan. 1, 1920: 221st Field Artillery Regiment

Nov. 25, 1921: Sent to the Army of the Levant in Syria (Field Artillery)

Dec. 28, 1922: Leave in Arles

Jan. 19, 1923: Sent to Morocco (at his request)

Apr. 1, 1924: Captain (63rd Artillery Regiment)

June 16, 1925: Chief warrant officer

July 11, 1925: Leave (142 days)

Dec. 1, 1925 - July 31, 1926: Training course in car mechanics in Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne department)

Aug. 9, 1926: Private staff in the automotive equipment depot in Toul (Meurthe-et-Moselle department)

Oct. 7, 1927: Private staff in the Smithies Inspection in Paris (Seine department)

June 7, 1928: 105th Artillery Regiment in Bourges (Cher department)

June 10, 1928: 5-year leave. According to a letter shown on France 2 in 2019, the reasons he gave to his superiors were health of his wife and his interests.

##### **1930s**

        March 17 - April 20, 1930: Drill in the 105th Heavy Artillery Regiment

April 18 - May 22, 1932: Drill in the 105th Heavy Artillery Regiment

June 10, 1933: Another 5-year leave

April 30 - June 3, 1934: Drill in the 105th Heavy Artillery Regiment

April 6 - May 10, 1936: Drill in the 105th Heavy Artillery Regiment

    April 1, 1938: Back to active service (105th Heavy Artillery Regiment)

May 16, 1938: Assume command of the 4th group of the 105th Heavy Artillery Regiment

April 13, 1939: 41st Artillery Regiment

May 21, 1939: Assume command of the 4th group of the 105th Heavy Artillery Regiment again

June 25, 1939: Major

August 23, 1939: 41st Artillery Regiment, commander of squadron

##### **1940s**

        June 22, 1940: 112 Artillery Regiment, commander of squadron (as published in December 1942). According to lieutenant Martin, Commander the of the 4th group of the 112th R.A.L. Joseph Billot arrived to the fort Longchamps by car June 18th 1940 and gave orders for the installation of his batteries, one of which will be installed about 300 meters west of the fort. All will be oriented south-west towards Epinal. Lieutenant Martin expressed his astonishment to the commander. The latter told him that the enemy is expected in this direction. Joseph is listed (with an incorrect birth year of 1907) as a prisoner of war in the official list of prisoners.

Oct. 10, 1944: Major of the Ammunition General Stock Warehouse in Miramas (Bouches-du-Rhône department).

General Dentz was in Syria in 1941. His residence was located in Arles during WW2. He was also a commander in the 112 RAL where Joseph served in 1940. General Dentz distributed the legion of honour titles during WW2 but then was sentenced to lifetime in prison where he died in 1945.

### Death

Colonel Billot suffered from diabetes. He died on January 25th, 1963.

For more pictures of Joseph, see his wife Yvonne Calment, Madame Calment, his son Frédéric Billot-Calment, or visit the Gallery.