Lettre dactylographiée, datée, signée du Général de Gaulle au Gouverneur Pierre Lami

Typed letter dated and signed by General De Gaulle, one page (10 lines) to Governor Pierre Lami regarding information he had transmitted relating to a mission in Chad.
A distinguished civil servant, Pierre Lami was appointed in 1968 to head the Administrative Reform Movement in Chad, independent since 1960 but plagued in 1968 by a revolt of the predominantly Muslim populations of the north of the country.
Central fold inherent to envelope insertion.
"September 4, 1969,
My dear Governor
I thank you for having communicated to me, regarding the present situation in Chad, the observations that your current mission has enabled you to gather.
They interested me, but, as you know, I no longer have any influence on these matters (sentence underlined in pencil).
Please believe, my dear Governor, in my most distinguished and best regards.
Charles de Gaulle".

Marius Julien Antonin Roque was born on September 24, 1893 in Toulon. At his birth, his father, François Jacques Roque, was 43 years old and worked as a first-class chief mechanic; his mother, Marie-Jeanne Burguès, 40 years old, did not work.

Marius Roque participated in the First World War and distinguished himself. His military record tells us that he was 1 meter 69 tall. He was enlisted on August 11, 1914. We find him in the 311 RI on January 21, 1917. He was corporal on May 18, 1915, sergeant on August 1, 1916, second lieutenant on April 13, 1917, lieutenant on August 13, 1918. He was in the 21 RT on March 27, 1919. He served in the 112 RI from September 22, 1919 to August 10, 1919 then retired to Toulon. On March 10, 1920, he enlisted for 5 years in the 141 RI. He was promoted to captain on June 22, 1931.

He is described, I quote, as a young aspirant full of dash and good humor, of exceptional courage and bravery. The anonymous author continues as follows: «On April 6, 1917, being leader of an elite group, charged with executing a raid, led his troops in an irresistible charge into enemy trenches and captured with this group 7 prisoners including 3 aspirants.» He continues: «From army corps number 124 of October 20, 1918: very brave officer having proven himself many times.» And finally: «On October 2, 1918, during a violent combat that preceded the forward march of his entire division, took 6 prisoners with his own hands. Also gave all the machine gunners an example of endurance and sangfroid that never faltered during the violent enemy reactions whose failure is largely attributable to the fire from his machine gun section.»

We learn that he received the Croix de Guerre, with a bronze palm and a vermillion star.

Taken prisoner in 1940, Marius Roque remained 5 years in Germany. This letter is a superb testimony to the fraternity between military resistants and prisoners