Jules-André Peugeot was a corporal in the French army, born in Étupes on June 11, 1893 and died in Joncherey in the Territoire de Belfort on August 2, 1914. He was the first French soldier to die in the First World War.
Coming from a modest background, born in Étupes, in the Doubs, he was destined for a career as a teacher after his military service.
Since June 28, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie Chotek, Duchess of Hohenberg, in Sarajevo, the interplay of alliances has led Europe to edge of war.
On August 1, Germany mobilizes, France responds by calling for mobilization for August 2. In the summer of 1914, Jules-André Peugeot did his military service and became a corporal (since April). He is preparing for the competition for reserve officers. His regiment being part of the cover troops, his mission is to monitor the Franco-German border, in the event of tension between the two countries.
Commanding a squad of the 6th company of the 2nd battalion of the 44th infantry regiment from Lons-le-Saunier, on 2 August 1914 he blocked a German reconnaissance detachment of eight men from the 5th Chasseurs à Cheval from Mulhouse, which was advancing towards Joncherey coming from Faverois after having violated the French border. A native of Alsace, Second Lieutenant Camille Mayer, commands the detachment. After having slashed without killing her, the French sentry posted in front of the Camille Mayer squad fires three times in the direction of Jules-André Peugeot. The latter replies and shoots the rider with a bullet in the stomach. The second German bullet mortally wounded Jules-André Peugeot, retracing his steps, he collapses in front of the Docourt house, and dies, it is 10:07 a.m. He is the first French soldier to die in a war that will only begin the next day, August 3, 1914, with Germany's declaration of war on France and which will kill 1,357,800 French people for 2,037,700 Germans.