Louis de Champsavin

Louis Marie Joseph Le Beschu de Champsavin (24 November 1867 – 20 December 1916) was a French military officer and horse rider.

Louis de Champsavin
Personal details
Born
Louis Marie Joseph Le Beschu de Champsavin

(1867-11-24)24 November 1867
Assérac, France
Died20 December 1916(1916-12-20) (aged 49)
Nantes, France
Spouse
Amelie Clemence
​
(after 1894)​
Civilian awardsChevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Order of Agricultural Merit
Military service
AllegianceFrance
RankChef d'escadron
Unit24th Dragoon Regiment;
20th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/warsWorld War I (Battle of Verdun)
Military awardsCroix de guerre 1914–1918
Sports career
NationalityFrench
SportEquestrian
Medal record
Bronze medal – third place 1900 Paris Jumping event

Personal life

Champsavin was born in Assérac on 24 November 1867. In 1894, he married Amelie Clemence.[1]

Champsavin was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur and Chevalier of the Order of Agricultural Merit.[1][2]

Military career

Champsavin began his military education at École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1887. From there he went to École de cavalerie, Saumur. On graduating he joined the 24th Dragoon Regiment in 1891 as sub-lieutenant. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1892.

Between 1899 and 1903, he was a riding instructor at Saint-Cyr. He was promoted to captain in 1903, and chef d'escadron in 1913.

During World War I Champsavin led the 20th Cavalry Regiment and came to command Fort Tavannes during the Battle of Verdun. The many gas shells that fell on the fort during this time caused his health to deteriorate, and he died in hospital in Nantes on 20 December 1916.[3] He was awarded the Croix de Guerre.[1][2]

Equestrian

Champsavin competed in the 1900 Olympic Games, held in Paris. Aboard his horse, Terpsichore, he won the bronze medal in the jumping event, and was not placed in the hacks and hunter event.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. McCrery, Nigel (2016). The Extinguished Flame: Olympians Killed in The Great War. Pen & Sword Books. pp. 1860–1861. ISBN 9781473878006. Retrieved 17 February 2022 – via Google Books.
  2. "Champsavin Beschu". Base Léonore (in French). France: Archives Nationales. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  3. "Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  4. "Louis de Champsavin". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  5. "Louis de Champsavin". Olympedia. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
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