elysee

State funeral of Maurice Berteaux, French Minister of War, born 1852, died 1911. Minister of War between 2nd March 1911 and 21 May 1911. Biography : www.maisonslaffitte.net/MauriceBerteaux.htm (french)

The very strange circumstances of Berteaux's death can be found here: query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A01E6D81031E2... See also: query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B17F93B5517738...

The accident occurred on May 21, 1911. This photo of the funeral procession was taken on May 26, 1911. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9407EFD81031E233A...

Wystan: Thanks for the date. We'll add it to the description next time we update.

And here's yesterday's tour of Photo Detectives in full swing!

I wonder is that really a British military uniform... It could be the uniform of a particular office such as a Lord Lieutenant etc. Also, the medals are unusual in that each appears to have a circular rosette on the ribbon - Could they represent orders? The badge at his neck could be that of the French Légion d'honneur, but the star on his chest is different. Perhaps he is a diplomat?

A detailed pdf document at some library or other. Arthur Patrick O’Brien was born in London on 25 September 1872 ... In early 1919, partly on Collins’ suggestion, Ó Briain was appointed the envoy of Dáil Eireann in Britain ... In March 1923, however, Ó Briain and many others were arrested and deported to Ireland. ...From 1924 to 1932, Ó Briain was effectively absent from public life ... To the surprise of many, he was appointed Irish Minister to France and Belgium in June 1935; a position he held until September 1938 when he retired.

I'm guessing this is 1935-38, and the other guy is French or Belgian.

A blog entry also at the nli on his papers.