Pierre GARDÉS was born on March 14, 1879 in Clairac. His birth certificate was drawn up by Arnaud-Édouard Dudon, mayor of Clairac. He is the son of Louis, Frédéric, Jean Gardès, notary, aged thirty-three, and his wife Marie-Élisabeth Delbrel, aged nineteen.
Private on 16 November 1900, he was made Corporal on 21 September 1901, Sergeant on 30 March 1903, Sergeant Major on 16 June 1908, Warrant Officer on 26 October 1914, Second Lieutenant on 6 April 1915 and Lieutenant on 15 February 1916. He was wounded on 8 March 1916 at Le Mort-Homme by shrapnel and on 3 September 1917 at the Skra de Leugen (slight contusion to the leg).
He is quoted in the divisional order of March 29, 1916, as saying: “Showed great energy and composure in organizing a position exposed to very heavy bombardment. Wounded on March 8, 1916, was not evacuated until after the regimental changeover.” He is a holder of the Croix de Guerre.
He got married in Paris (18th arrondissement) on September 27, 1919 with Anne, Marie, Louise Rollet. He was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur by decree of November 5, 1931 as a colonial infantry reserve lieutenant in French Equatorial Africa. His decoration was presented to him in Nérac, by Joseph Martin, Honorary Inspector of Primary Education, on March 4, 1932, while he was Metropolitan Controller of the P.T.T. on leave at Lavardac. He has served as controller of the P.T.T.'s in Brazzaville (at the time “Middle Congo”).
He died on October 22, 1960.
