Jersey hero honoured by his great-great nephew

Wednesday 15 July 2020

The great-great nephew of a Jersey hero has been honouring the memory of one of his ancestors by recreating his military uniform.

Karl Laugeard’s great-great uncle, Sergeant Charles Isidore Laugeard D.C.M, was a St. Helier policeman who served in World War I as part of the Jersey Militia.

Karl has been working on a living history project to reproduce his ancestor’s uniform from his time serving as part of the 'Jersey Company'.

Speaking about his interest in living history, Karl told Express: “It probably comes from my Dad – he’s always been into history, and he liked collecting the uniforms. So growing up I’ve always been fascinated with military history.”

“It is one thing to read about how uncomfortable or heavy certain uniforms or equipment were, however being able to wear this equipment really helps put things into perspective and furthers my understanding and appreciation of what these men went through.”

Pictured: Karl Laugeard has been honouring his great-great uncle by recreating his military uniform.

After previously having dressed in uniform with Force 135 as part of Liberation Day celebrations, Karl said that “he had always wanted to put something together” for his Great-Great Uncle and hero “to try and commemorate his sacrifice.”

Charles Isidore Laugeard joined the Jersey Militia in 1915, before being shipped off to Ireland to train as part of a Jersey contingent of the Royal Irish Rifles. The company he was part of was called D Company, 7th (Service) Battalion, 16th (Irish) Division, Royal Irish Rifles, nicknamed the ‘Jersey Company’. 

In 1916, Corporal Laugeard was stationed in France with the Company, where he served at the frontline and led many trench raids across No Man’s Land, as well as fronting a bombing party to knock out a German machine gun position. 

Pictured: Sergeant Charles Isidore Laugeard D.C.M.

Later promoted to Sergeant that year, he was given the Divisional Parchment for gallantry. He went on to earn the Distinguished Conduct Medal (second only to the Victoria Cross) following an attack on the village of Ginchy, where he was wounded in the shoulder. 

In the citation for the award, he was described as “displaying great courage which, under the terrific conditions of the moment, was an almost superhuman task.” Karl expressed his pride at this, pointing out how special it was for a St. Helier Policeman to be named in the London Gazette. 

To source the items for the uniform, Karl had to look across a variety of online outlets. These ranged from easier tasks, such as getting a Royal Irish Rifles cap badge from eBay, to the finer details, like specifying the uniform’s buttons, as the Royal Irish Rifles had black buttons as opposed to standard British gold buttons. 

Indeed, his search ended up going as far as Holland, where he had to contact someone to make him the shoulder titles, which read ‘Jersey’.  

Karl was particularly pleased with one find: a deactivated Short, Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) Rifle, as it was dated at the same time Sergeant Laugeard served - 1916.

Pictured: Sergeant Laugeard's grave in Belgium. 

Sergeant Laugeard was killed in action on 2 October 1918, and is buried in Ypres, Belgium. He is memorialised on a plaque in St. Helier Town Hall, which can still be seen today.

Karl said that although he visited the grave in 2015, he would love to visit it again with his completed reproduction.

Talking about his great-great uncle’s legacy, he concluded: “It was not until the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that I realised that now more than ever how important it is to preserve our history and heritage, and hope that this gesture helps to preserve the legacy of the gallant young men of the ‘Jersey Company’ who marched away to war in 1915.”