Marcel Santi (1897 – 1986) - French artist

With thanks to Dani Stopsel via Facebook whose post of a WW1 drawing by Marcel Santi led to my research

Marcel joined the French Army’s 2nd Infantry Regiment (42e régiment d’infanterie or 42e RI) during the First World War and was sent to the Western Front.  Marcel was a veteran of the Battle of Verdun* and he sketched the lives of his fellow soldiers in the Trenches during WW1.

The 2nd Infantry Regiment (42e régiment d’infanterie or 42e RI) was an infantry regiment of the French Army, raised in 1635 as the 'Régiment de Calvisson'. It was renamed the 1638 'Régiment de Montpezat' in 1638 and the 'Régiment du Limousin' in 1684, before first gaining its numeral of 42 in 1791. During the First World War it was nicknamed the 'As de Carreau' (Ace of Diamonds), since it was part of the 'Division des As' (a nickname for the 14th Infantry Division). The Regiment was disbanded in 1991.

Sources:

Original source  - with thanks to Dani Stopsel via Racebook who posted this image by Marcel Santi in remembrance of Verdun 

https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Marcel-Santi/ADDA5FD39C909A19/Biography

http://www.kaiserscross.com/136501/home.html

https://forum.pages14-18.com/viewtopic.php?t=54720

https://www.maison-heinrich-heine.org/culture/2018/novembre/marcel-santi-1897-1986-carnets-de-balles-et-de-voyage-1643?lang=fr

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Infantry_Regiment_(France)

*NOTE;  The Battle of Verdun (French: Bataille de Verdun;  German: Schlacht um Verdun) was fought from 21st February to 18th December 1916 on the Western Front in France. The Battle  of Verdun was the longest of the First World War and took place on the hills north of Verdun-sur-Meuse.