Rachet d'Everard: Difference between revisions

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Knight-Baron '''Rachet Maria Gottart d'Everard''' (June 4, 1903 – June 13, 1997) was a [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] Marshal, nobleman and Ambassador to [[Burgundie]]. He is noted for his long and succesful military career in both the [[Yonderian Defence Force]] and the [[Burgoignesc Foreign Legion]] and as a recipient of both the [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] Knight's Cross and the [[Burgundie|Burgoignesc]] Ordre d'Distintiu, the highest order for gallantry awarded by either country. As Chief of the General Staff d'Everard was instrumental in the 1948 New Army agreement that modernized the [[Yonderian Defence Force]] greatly from an army relying doctrinally on static defence to one of rapid maneuver warfare. d'Everard would go on to become Chief of Defence of the [[Yonderian Defence Force]] in 1956, a position he held until his retirement in 1970. Following his retirement from the YDF d'Everard was posted to [[Burgundie]] as Ambassador, serving with distinction for ten years in this capacity.

d'Everard joined the [[Yonderian Defence Force]] in 1924 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant before seeking furlough and joining the [[Burgoignesc Foreign Legion]] in 1929. He fought in numerous campaigns for the Burgoignesc and was awarded, amongst other orders, the Crotx della Valor, Escut della Sang and finally the Ordre d'Distintiu, [[Burgundie]]'s highest order for gallantry. He was wounded in combat several times and ultimately sent home to [[Yonderre]] in 1935 for medical reasons. After attending a higher officer candidate school d'Everard held a regimental command in the Guard Dragoon Division before being sent as a military observer to [[Burgundie]] in 1939 in time for the [[New Burgundie Secession War]].

d'Everard was the cause of a diplomatic incident when photos surfaced of him leading a charge of Yonderian volunteers dressed in [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] uniform, for which he was ultimately recalled to Yonderre. Under pressure from [[Kiravia]] d'Everard was tried for treason, using a poorly worded paragraph of Yonderian military legal code to interpret that his actions in the [[New Burgundie Secession War]] constituted illegally fighting for another country. In what was widely considered a pre-determined show trial, d'Everard was found not guilty and instead of jail was posted to the Yonderian General Staff. He was made Chief of the General Staff in 1948 and oversaw the modernisation of the [[Yonderian Defence Force]] via the 1948 New Army agreement for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Joanus. d'Everard was made Chief of Defence in 1956 and served in this role until his voluntary retirement at the end of 1970, aged 67. After three months of idleness he was posted to [[Burgundie]] as Ambassador, serving with distinction for ten years in this capacity until his ultimate retirement in 1980.

A lifelong soldier and statesman, d'Everard's legacy was a totally changed [[Yonderian Defence Force]], from a conscript-based static defensive force to a professional mechanized army. His ambassadorship to [[Burgundie]] was a highly popular one that reinforced the strong bond between the two nations, but in turn the incident he caused during the [[New Burgundie Secession War]] soured Kiro-Yonderian relations temporarily.

== Early life ==

Rachet Maria Gottart d'Everard was born in Sainte-Catherine, Kubagne, on June 3 1903, son of the famous paleontologist Phillipe d'Everard (1865-1938) and his wife Hedvig (1876-1962). The d'Everards were descended from a line of Barons leading back to the Conquest of Joanusterre, living in the ancestral d'Everard Bourg in Sainte-Catherine. Rachet attended a private catholic boys' school operated by the [[Prokopites|Order of St. Prokop]] until his graduation in 1919. He went on to technical school studying mechanics from which he graduated in 1922. He then spent a year and a half with his father on a paleontological expedition as an assistant digger in the rocky deserts of Iulia, Caphirian [[Valcenia]], before returning to [[Yonderre]] in March of 1924.

== Military career ==

d'Everard enlisted in the [[Yonderian Defence Force]] in 1924 and received his basic training in Sainte-Catherine before being posted as a [[Ranks and insignia of the Yonderian Defence Force#Enlisted|Conestable]] to the 3rd Regiment of the [[Guard Cuirassier Division]], at the time a cavalry unit whose soldiers still rode horses, wore steel cuirasses and wielded sabres as their primary weapons. d'Everard performed well as a cavalryman and attended the Vallonbourg Cavalry School from 1926-1928. While in Vallonbourg he met Rachel de Renne, the daughter of a local industrialist. The two married in the Summer of 1927.

Graduating from Vallonbourg Cavalry School as a Lieutenant, d'Everard returned to the 3rd Guard Cuirassier Regiment in 1928 and became a member of the equestrian training board, with the added responsibility of buying steeds for the regiment. d'Everard grew discontent however when it became apparent [[Yonderre]] would not enter the [[Great War]]. Feeling a personal responsibility to fight for his ancestral homeland, d'Everard was granted furlough in early 1929 and travelled to [[Burgundie]].

 

Towards the end of the Matavista Campaign, d'Everard was awarded with the Crotx della Valor and the Escut della Sang, the former for valorous action in face of the enemy and the latter for the wounds he sustained in combat. d'Everard was wounded in combat several times, first in 1930 when he was shot in the torso twice at close range with a pistol. d'Everard had carried on fighting regardless, stopping only to bandage himself before continuing the battle. In a later campaign in 1931 he received a slight wound to the head when a bullet grazed his neck, an incident d'Everard later would refer to as his "combat shave". d'Everard recieved his promotion to Captain in 1934, thus becoming a company commander. It was because of an action later in 1934 that he was awarded the Ordre d'Distintiu, the highest order for gallantry awarded by [[Burgundie]], when he forced his way through enemy fire to take and hold a hilltop position, having to return for more ammunition five times and each time carrying a wounded comrade back to friendly lines.

=== Return to Yonderre and New Burgundie Secession War ===

d'Everard returned to active duty in [[Yonderre]] towards the end of 1935 after a remarkably speedy recovery. Finding that the [[Guard Cuirassier Division]] he had once served with had retrained as an armoured division, d'Everard sought and was granted a transfer to the still horse mounted Guard Dragoon Division. In 1937 d'Everard attended the one-year staff officer course at the [[Yonderian Command and Staff College]] in Willing, graduating as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1938 with a posting to the Divisional HQ of the Guard Dragoons. Given his past service in the [[Burgoignesc Foreign Legion]] he was offered a posting as a military attaché to [[Burgundie]] as an observer in the [[New Burgundie Secession War]], an offer d'Everard took gladly.

d'Everard arrived with Burgoignesc reinforcements to [[New Burgundie]] in the Summer of 1939. He kept extensive notes and filed weekly reports to the [[Yonderian Defence Force]]. On September 1st, 1939, he was informed by telegram of his promotion to Colonel. Two weeks later, d'Everard found himself at the center of an enemy surprise attack on the forward observation post manned by Yonderian volunteers he was presently visiting. Grabbing the rifle of a killed volunteer, d'Everard rallied his countrymen and led a counterattack on the seperatist forces. Another military observer present took pictures of the action, the publishing of which caused what became known as the d'Everard incident. Under pressure from [[Kiravia]] d'Everard was recalled from [[New Burgundie]] and upon his return to [[Yonderre]] was placed under house arrest pending a trial for treason.

=== Trial and posting to General Staff ===  

Under pressure from [[Kiravia]] amidst threats of cessation of all trade and diplomatic relations, the Yonderian state had little choice but to seek appeasement. Using a poorly worded paragraph of Yonderian military legal code, d'Everard stood accused of having fought illegally under another country's banner while in service to [[Yonderre]], constituting treason. Defending d'Everard were returned Yonderian volunteers present at the battle, who testified that d'Everard's actions on that day had saved their lives. Of greatest significance to the defence was the corroborating statements that d'Everard's action amounted to self defence, rather than treason, and that he had only returned fire once shot at. Ultimately, d'Everard was found innocent of the accusations in December of 1940 after a lengthy trial.

Given three weeks Christmas leave to recuperate, d'Everard returned to the Guard Dragoon Division as a regimental commander. At the behest of his divisional commander Erwin von Bromstadt, d'Everard once more attended the [[Yonderian Command and Staff College]] in June of 1943 for a two year General Staff course. Graduating in 1945, d'Everard was posted to the Yonderian General Staff headed by Benno de Caryale who quickly took a liking to d'Everard. Realizing the importance of d'Everard's understanding of military theory and his immense tactical combat experience, de Caryale put d'Everard in charge of the commission drawing up what would ultimately become the New Army agreement. Although the plans were ready by autumn of 1946 they were soon halted by bureaucracy, and it was not until December of 1947 that they were finally approved. With de Caryale's promotion to Chief of Defence, d'Everard was made Chief of the General Staff in 1948 and oversaw the implementation of the New Army agreement which was a near-total reorganization and modernisation of the [[Yonderian Defence Force]], for which he was ultimately awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Joanus.

d'Everard as Chief of Defence

Edmond, Rachet and Rachel d'Everard in 1949

Equestrian statue of d'Everard in Sainte-Catherine

* [[Yonderre]]  [[Distinguished Rider Award]] (1928)

* [[Yonderre]]  Dutiful Service Award for 12 years (1936), 25 years (1949), 35 years (1959), 45 years (1969)

* [[Yonderre]]  Cross of the Order of the Sentinel (1946), Grand Cross (1952), Grand Cross with Swords (1962)

* [[Yonderre]]  Knight's Cross of the Order of Joanus (1948)

* [[Yonderre]]  Cross of the Order of the Shield (1962), Grand Cross (1965), Grand Cross with Swords (1972)

* [[Yonderre]]  Cross of the Order of the Kestrel (1964), Grand Cross (1972), Grand Cross with Swords (1978)

* [[Burgundie]]  Crotx della Valor (1929)

* [[Burgundie]]  Matavista Campaign Medal (1930)

* [[Burgundie]]  Escut della Sang (1930)

* [[Burgundie]]  Ordre d'Distintiu (1934)

* [[Gibet]] Royal Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class (1978)

* [[Urcea]] Honorary Eptéi of the [[Life Guard (Urcea)|Royal Life Guard]] (1966)

* [[Urcea]] Imperial Knight of the [[Imperial Order of the Holy Cross]] (1979)