, the Rougier in Cancon 1939-40

"...the next garrison was Dijon. In Sept. 39, when the declaration of war was made, it was decided that the furniture would be in storage and that we children would go "refugee" with Aunt Cecile who lived in the Cannon (Lots and Garonne) (see map of 5 September 39, by Marguerite Maillet, written by Cancon, and addressed to Suzanne to tell her that she can come to Cancon with Fanny and Claude) - Uncle Marcel was an engineer for a company that used to set up power lines - it was a world of women - since my mother's grandmother was also there - Tandrea mobilized as a nurse, and the atmosphere was often full of nervousness...After the strange war (between May 10 and June 25, 40) my father returned desperate by this disaster where the soldiers fled and deserted in mass.

Memories of Marguerite MAILLET, Claude's grandmother:

" late August 1939 -
Just back from Dampierre where we spent the family holidays: Etienne and her children, Suzanne and Maurice, Fanny and Claude, all very cheerfully, but the storm went up and Maurice went to join his regiment.
The war threatens and despite this Marcel arrives at Seals with his wife and little Colette. He does not believe it, of course. But I hear echoes from TSF and in the church square in particular, a speech by DALADIER which leaves little hope.
It's decided that I'm going with them to CannonAndree is called a nurse and I don't feel the courage to live alone here in a moment like this.
We are on a very tiring journey, crowded train and left at 9 a.m. in Paris, we are not in the Villeneuve than the next night around 7 a.m. The CERENOZs offer us dinner, I can't...
I'm worried, I'm worried. Marcel leaves after a few days and here we are, Cécile and I, for a long time.
The good little Colette is the sun's ray, her child's charm consoles me many times.
I'm thinking of Andrée, who was lost alone in a hospital. SuzanneOnly one comes to meet us with his two daughters. What a moving moment this arrival. She put her furniture in storage and gave leave of absence from her apartment, her husband exposed...
Time passes, however: the three little girls go to the village school and we take care of the house, kitchen, knitting, letters to the absent ones.
I've learned that my house is occupied by officers and a poppie, but it's indifference, there are so many other matters of grief."
  "On Monday, June 17, 1940, we had lunch in the large Cancon hall, with 21 people, since the family of Cécile had arrived on the previous Saturday, 14 people, and André de Lille We had fallen from the sky on Sundays - when we hear the TSF at our neighbors - Suzanne and Ray. MALET will listen and we stay in our places. But they return the upset figure, telling us that Marshal Pétain asks for armistice?. We did not believe it so unexpected. We were told so many times that the victory was ours!.
In the evening, unfortunately, we had confirmation of this terrible news and the anguish began. The days followed without news of ours, the posts and trains being stopped, and the German advance continued. We had La Petite Gironde as a newspaper and the TSF broadcasts several times a day.
What a sadness and an irritating expectation with all the false noises that are circulating, it rains, it rains on the horizon and nothing comforting, for one expects the worst.
The refugees continue and the army is added to it. What a jerk in this poor Cancon, so quiet...

25 June - It is announced that the conditions of peace will be known in 48 hours - always wait - But at the Post Office, I have two maps of Andrée, one of which last of 20 June, and it is Casters - so she's saved - and she says she's healthy, and at noon, Maurice comes to us as a surprise. He's close to here and spends 2 hours with us!. He's fine, but he's unhappy about this failure... Sedan, The Oise, Amiens and the Loire, and we didn't know...
Marcel's news arrives, he has gone over 600 km. in retreat, and a few days later he arrives as a surprise, very bruni and weightless. So here they are all saved and I thank the Good Lord, but our dear France! What a profound sadness and how to get up from it.
September - We left Cancon, Suzanne, the girls and I to Valencia - But what a journey! TarasconWe find a hotel where we rest - and we arrive in Valencia in the afternoon. How emotional to see the children and the parents again! . We will spend a month with them, because we don't know when we will see each other again. The demarcation line is above Lyon and we only pass with complicated visas. The letters do not pass and I can't warn my sister who is in Seals, nor receive anything from her.

October 40 - We are enjoying a return of refugees who will take us back to Paris for free - but what a journey! Left at 8 am from Etienne, the departure takes place only at 11 am; Chalon-sur-Saône At night, and we are kept waiting until the next day. By a huge detour, Troyes and the suite, we arrive at the East station at 9 o'clock; I can't do it anymore! Andree fortunately finds us a room, which we share with a lady who has travelled with us, and the next day we finally arrive at Seals!. What an emotion we believed our busy house, but the good ladies Philippeau preserved us by opening our windows and here we are!. The provisions are rare, we don't find much... I don't know how we lived that winter. After about a dozen, we can use the cards where we barely put a few words.""