Found something during my Vacation in France

During my 2 week vacation in France, I was surprised to find the statue of one of the French captains of the battle of the Nile in the city of Saumur.

The statue is placed in front of the post office.

The inscription:

Honneur et Patrie

a la memoire de
Aristide Aubert de Petite Thouars
Chef de division des armees navales
mort glorieusement
a la battaile navale d'Aboukir
en 1798

http://sailsofglory.org/attachment.p...9&d=1503040877

Here is an overview for the Battle of the Nile

http://sailsofglory.org/showthread.p...et-at-the-Nile

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bligh

Attachment 28380

Aristide Aubert Du Petit Thouars.


Born (31 August 1760, in Boumais – 2 August 1798, in Abukir; often written Dupetit-Thouars) was a French naval officer, and a hero of the Battle of Aboukir, where he died.

He was born on August 31, 1760, in the castle of Boumais, near Saumur. He studied at the Collège Royal de La Flèche, and entered the French Navy in 1778. He participated that same year in the Battle of Ouessant. In 1790, he participated in the conquest of Saint-Louis du Sénégal.

He then served in the Antilles, under Guichen against Rodney on the 80-gun Couronne. He was at the Battle of the Saintes.

He was promoted to Lieutenant (Lieutenant de Vaisseau) in 1792. He left that year on board the 12-gun brig Diligent, in search of Jean-François de La Pérouse. In Brazil, he was imprisoned by the Portuguese, but released in 1793. After that he lived for three years in the United States.

Back in France, he was reintegrated (he had become destitute as an aristocrat), and was promoted to Captain, commander of the Tonnant at the Battle of the Nile, where he died on August 2, 1798. During the battle, he forced HMS Majestic to break off combat, with 50 killed, including Captain Westcott, and 143 wounded.
After having lost both legs and an arm, he continued to command from a bucket filled with wheat, until he died.

His last order was allegedly to nail the flag of the Tonnant to her mizzen-mast and never to surrender the ship.
The Tonnant was eventually captured by the British.

Rob.

---

Nice find Sven.:clap:
That adds a bit more to our research on the Nile project.
Rob.:drinks:

It is good that he has been remembered. :salute:

Having lost both legs and an arm....

I wonder if that was the basis for the Black Knight at the bridge scene during Monty Pythons ~ The Holy Grail film?

"Come back it's only a flesh wound!":smack: