Sept-Saulx French national war cemetery

After many successful colonial campaigns, in particular in Tonkin, General Henri Van Waertmeulen led, throughout the summer of 1914, commanded a colonial regiment. Brigadier General in 1917, he commanded the 165th Infantry Division. Seriously wounded by shrapnel, he died on 16 July 1918 at the 13/20 ambulance stationed at Sept-Saulx.  Without any other distinction, and thus respecting the quality of grades when faced with mass deaths, his body is buried here next to those of his men (grave 2478). Commander of the Legion of Honour, he is one of 41 Generals who died for France during the First World War and the last general officer to have been killed in 1914-1918. His name features on the war memorial erected in the church of the soldiers of Saint-Louis des Invalides (Paris).