Rene Le Vaillant
Jersey's Great War heroes:
Rene Le Vaillant
Rene Le Vaillant, whose job was to transport supplies to the front with a horse and cart
This is one of a number of articles published by the Jersey Evening Post on 10 November 2018, the day before the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War. They tell the stories of a number of Jerseymen and Jerseywomen who were distinguished by their bravery during the war. Some survived to recount their own experiences, others perished in the conflict and never saw their native island again.
See full list of articles
Jerseyman Rene Le Vaillant played his part in the Great War by being among those who transported goods to the front line by horse and cart.
Farm worker
As he had worked on a farm in the island before the war he was used to being with horses and was very fond of animals. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers in 1910 and, as he was already in the Army when war broke out, he was one of the first to be sent to France.
During the conflict he worked with a team of men who continually kept the front-line troops supplied with whatever they needed, including munitions and food.
After the war he returned to the island, married and had three children. He worked for the Gas Company, for whom he continued to drive a horse and cart.
