Obituary: Gaston de Bonneval

IN OCTOBER 1945 General Charles de Gaulle, head of the French Provisional Government, decided that he should have an aide-de-camp, or more correctly, officier-d'ordonnance, who was a soldier and who had fought in the Resistance. He chose the Commandant Gaston de Bonneval, a regular army soldier who had joined the Resistance after the Armistice, been captured by the Germans and sent to the concentration camp at Mauthausen. He had been liberated from there by the Americans in May 1945. Two of his brothers had been killed in the war.

From October 1945 until December 1964 Bonneval was with the General and to many, it seemed that he never left his side. But the circumstances of their association changed considerably. During the first months he was serving the acting Head of State, arranging his appointments, organising his movements, carrying out his instructions. But in January 1946 the General abruptly resigned and Bonneval became ADC to a private individual.

Then the General founded his political party, the Rally of the French people (RPF) and Bonneval was serving a political leader who travelled around the country, addressing meetings with very large audiences, and a politician who was engaged in many discussions and in the issue of many communiques. Bonneval had to spend much of his time with journalists, with strong arm men who protected the General from violence, and with those who could provide travel and accommodation facilities.

Then this activity ceased. The General wrote his memoirs. He travelled in Africa and the Pacific, he visited places in France which he had never seen, such as the Mont St Michel. But everything changed fundamentally as the political situation deteriorated in France and as the Algerian crisis worsened. Endless people wanted to see the General, whereas a few months earlier his appointment book had been noticeably empty and during his occasional visits to Paris Bonneval had telephoned particular individuals suggesting that they should request a meeting with de Gaulle in order to prevent him from becoming too bored or too depressed. But from the fall of the government led by Guy Mollet in May 1957, people turned increasingly to de Gaulle.

He did not want to see everyone. He did not want his ideas to be made public. Bonneval had the task of putting off certain would-be visitors and of avoiding all discussions which could be associated with the General's views. Sometimes Bonneval would say, apparently in a confidential tone, "the General is always pleased to see you". The individual to whom this remark was addressed felt encouraged to meet the General again but still had no idea what the General thought. This was what de Gaulle wanted.

Historians now believe that during the final days of May 1958, when civil war seemed imminent, the role of Rene Coty, President of the Republic, was vital. In the concluding negotiation between de Gaulle and Coty it was Bonneval who acted as intermediary. His devotion and discretion were invaluable.

Thus in 1958 Bonneval worked for the General in Matignon, when he was Prime Minister, and with the rank of Colonel, he served de Gaulle, President of the Fifth Republic, in the Elysee. His first task was to help organise the General's visit to Algiers in June 1958 and to accompany him on that particularly difficult journey, when two ministers had their movements blocked by hostile French settlers.

For the next seven years he collected information for the General. He heard many comments uttered with de Gaulle's caustic wit concerning his visitors and his assistants. And when the General took to plunging into the middle of enthusiastic crowds, Bonneval, with his red kepi, was never far behind. De Gaulle like to spend his weekends at Colombey-les-deux- eglises and Bonneval always accompanied him. If there was no room for him at La Boisserie, he would go to an hotel at Bar-sur-Aube, always within call.

On one occasion, de Gaulle gave a grand reception at the Elysee. Bonneval stood by him, giving information when necessary about the guests as they were announced. When the film-maker Jacques Tati appeared, de Gaulle asked about him. Bonneval whispered a few words, adding that Tati's latest film was Mon Oncle. The General then thanked Tati for all his contributions to French culture, adding, that he was particularly pleased to make the acquaintance of de Bonneval's uncle. Fortunately Tati bowed solemnly and showed no sign of his bewilderment.

Bonneval retired in 1965 and went to his family chateau at Thaumiers. There he faced severe financial problems, since his family, like many of the nobility, had sold their most valuable lands in the 19th century. With a family of eight children it was necessary to work hard and he endeavoured to raise bison, and later calves for veal, but being situated in the Cher department near to an aerodrome where fighter aircraft were frequently breaking the sound barrier, this was difficult. He had more success in local politics, being elected Mayor of Thaumiers and a regional councillor.

A deeply religious man, he never forgot his imprisonment in Mauthausen, which was also an extermination camp. De Bonneval's number was 64.104. In 1996 he published a book of poems, prayers and reflections on those who had been killed. It was entitled Deportation. He believed that the memory of these tragedies should never be lost. He often quoted the African saying, "When an old man dies, a whole history disappears".

Gaston de Bonneval, soldier: born Paris 26 November 1911; Officier d'ordonnance to General de Gaulle 1945-65; married Yvonne de Saunhac (six sons, two daughters); died Saint-Mande, France 2 October 1998.