George de Villebois-Mareuil

George Henri Anne-Marie Victor count de Villebois-Mareuil or by his shortened name George de Villebois-Mareuil (22 March 1847, in Montaigu, Brittany, France – 6 April 1900, in Boshof, Orange Free State, South Africa) was a former colonel in the French infantry who fought and died on the side of the Boers during the Second Anglo-Boer War.

George Henri Anne-Marie Victor count de Villebois-Mareuil was born approximately 30 km South East of Nantes.

Shortly after his graduation he left for Cochinchina where he joined the Marine Infantry serving under his uncle Admiral René de Cornulier who was Governor of the Colony.

Villebois-Mareuil served in the Campaign of Tunisia, following which France imposed the status of protectorate on what had previously been a Turkish possession ruled by a regent.

To strengthen his chances of being selected for the expeditionary force, Villebois-Mareuil joined the 1st Regiment of the Foreign Legion based in Sidi Bel Abbes in 1895.

Between 1896 and 1899 Villebois-Mareuil founded the Union des Sociétés Régimentaires, published military essays and became a militant against the government for the national restoration of France as promoted by Charles Maurras.

Despite being massively outnumbered and enduring 3 hours of Maxim gun fire, Georges de Villebois-Mareuil was quoted as saying that he would never surrender, and would wait for the cover of darkness to escape.

In his memoirs Georges de Villebois-Mareuil recognized the courage and passion of the Boers but reflected on his frustrations with their lack of tactical competence.

A song was composed in his honour by Théodore Botrel which read: Un example à suivre Demain; Il meurt pour une belle Cause, La Gloire au front, l'Épée en main.

Nos vivats, grâce au Vent qui passe Trouveront son lointain cercueil; Saluons à travers l'Espace Le vaillant Villebois-Mareuil.

One week after his death the Boer Foreign Legion was disbanded and its members placed under General De la Rey to continue with the Guerilla Phase of the War.

Its heart and ceremonial trappings were buried on the village green in Latimer, Buckinghamshire, next to the memorial commemorating those from the locality who had served in South Africa.