Paul Saint-Martin

Born in 1901 in Simorre, Gers, Saint-Martin worked as a teacher and served as the assistant treasurer for the Gers section of the National Teachers' Union in 1922.^[1] He campaigned in the 1920s for SFIO.^[1] Saint-Martin ran for the borough council of Lombez in 1928 and for the general council in 1931.^[1] In 1934, he became the leader of the socialist movement in Gers after the previous leader's dismissal.^[1] Under Saint-Martin's leadership, the SFIO gained wider influence in the area.^[1]

Saint-Martin was elected deputy for the 1st constituency of Gers on 3 May 1936 with 53% of the vote.^[2] In the assembly, he promoted two bills relating to the provisions of military recruitment and the organization of the army reserves.^[2] In February 1939, Saint-Martin defended producers during a debate on the price of wheat.^[2]

When the Second World War began, Saint-Martin was mobilized for the ballooning section of the French Air Force^[2] and given the rank of second lieutenant.^[3] He became an observer and was sent to train on bombers in Toulouse.^[2] On 15 June 1940, on his final training flight before deployment, Saint-Martin was killed in a crash.^[2][4] He was 38 years old.