De Gaulle appeals (18/06/1940)
After the surrender of France in June 1940, de Gaulle
broadcast via the BBC for French men to come to London to
continue the fight for freedom.
London (29/09/1940-15/05/1941) Participants
General de Gaulle supported by Churchill, became the focus
for those who refused to accept the surrender of France. The
HQ of the Free French was established at St Stephens House in
London, this was the destination for those Frenchmen and women
arriving at London who wanted to continue the fight. Among
these was Capitain George Berge. Wounded during the defence of
France he found himself recuperating at home in Gascony when
Petain surrendered. By the 24th June 1940 he had reported for
duty to Stephen House. Having briefy been a member of a
parachute company in 1937 he saw the value of parachutists in
the eventual liberation of France and lobbied de Gaulle for
permission to create a parachute company. On 29 September 1940
the 1 Companie Infanterie de l air was established with Berge
in command.
Savanah (14/03/1941-05/04/1941) Participants
The first mission after training of the 1 CIA was to be
dropped into Britanny near Vannes. The intention was to attack
a bus carrying German aircrew who were harrassing Allied
shipping in the Channel. Unfortunately the crews were
relocated to the base and the daily trip no longer took place.
Berge and Forman returned by submarine on the 5th April. Le
Tac remaining in France.
Josephine/B (11/05/1941-07/1941) Participants
The target of the second mission was to destroy a power
station at Pressac supplying a submarine base near Bordeaux.
Le Tac was to join the stick when they were dropped in France
on the night of the 11th May. The operation, supported by a
group of resistance who had been set up by Berge during the
Savanah operation, when he took time to visit his family home
near Bordeaux, was a success and the power station was
destroyed. The stick returned to the UK via Spain in July
1941.
Exbury (15/05/1941) Participants
The 1st CIA was established at Exbury from where they were
sent on parachute and commando training at Preswick near
Manchester. They were renamed the 1 Compagnie Parachutiste and
comprised 9 officers, 19 NCOs and 70 men. A photo of the
company was taken in July 1941.
Cameronian (21/07/1941-25/09/1941) Participants
In July 1941 De Gaulle was eager to establish a French
military presence in the Near East. As well the wish to show
Free France playing an active role in the war there was also a
desire to ensure that as ex French territories became
liberated they did not become annexed by Britain. To this end
he asked for the newly formed Parachute Company to be moved
out to Lebanon. At this time a plan to attack Lebanon and to
liberate it from it Vichy govenment was underway. Most of the
1st CIA were sent to Glasgow where they joined the Cameronian
on 21st July. Then followed a long sea voyage arround the Cape
with a change of ship at Durban. The Company arrived in
Beiruit in September after its surrender to arried forces and
the replacement of the Vichy administration by a Gaullist one.
Remained in UK (21/07/1941-01/1943) Participants
When the bulk of the 1st CIA left for the near east a small
number of officers were left behind to work with special
operations (SOE). They remained in England at Old Dean Camp
Camberley under the leadership of Captain Weil and later
Capitain Francois Coulet, awaiting the return of the (now) SAS
in January 1943.
Levant (25/09/1941-31/12/1941)
The 1CIA arrived in the Levant on 25th September 1941. The
Syrian war was over and the bulk of the Army of the Levant had
returned to occupied France. There were however many Free
French from the Colonial troups who were waiting to join the
emerging Free French Forces. As the main encounters with the
enemy were currently in North Africa there was no plans to
move these forces to other theatres of war. There were
airforce squadrons, Foreign Legion battalions and other land
forces groups recruiting and training in the region. Berge was
activily trying to recruit into his young Company, as well as
to find training facilities and, of course, a mission to
enable them to engage with the enemy. Training facilities for
parachuting were non existent, learning to roll off moving
lorries was one improvisation. During this period there were
losses from parachute and explosives training. Gaultier died
on Christmas eve as a result of an acident with explosives.
The Company was based at Meze the airfield of Damascus.
Eventually the french forces were authorised to colaborate
with British forces and a consolidation took place with many
soldiers moving from the Levant to Egypt. Berge obtained
pernission to integrate his company with the SAS battalion
being formed by Stirling at Kabret on the Suex canal.
Training Flight in Syria (10/1941) Participants
Three of the company were killed during a training flight
together with the pilot Newman.
Explosives training (24/12/1941) Participants
On Christmas eve 1941 Gaultier was killed during an
explosives training session.
Kabrit (01/01/1942-30/02/1943) Participants
On arrival in Egypt the Company was sent to Kabrit on the
Suez canal where the British SAS Brigade under Stirling had
their base. Over the next year many voluntiers were to arrive
at Kabrit from various parts of the French Empire.
Malta Convoy protection (12/06/1942-20/06/1942)
The aim of the mission was to impede enemy airfields from
attacking supply convoys trying to reach Malta. Seven
airfields behind the enemy front at Tobruk were to be targeted
by the SAS supported by the LRDG at the same time a group
would attack the enemy base of Herakilion on the island of
Crete. This SAS group was to be carried to Crete by submarine
from Alexandria.
Airfield of Barce (12/06/1942-03/06/1942) Participants
Airfield of Berka 3 (12/06/1942-03/06/1942) Participants
Airfields of Derna (12/06/1942-13/06/1942)
This mission was betrayed and all participants caprtured
except Jordan. Many of the prisoners were to die when the
boat, the Nino Bixio which was transfering them to Italy,
was sunk.
Airfield of Derna East Participants
Airfields of Derna West Participants
Airfields at Martuba 3 and 5 (12/06/1942) Participants
Crete (13/06/1942-19/06/1942) Participants
A French SAS team, accompanied by Lord Jellico (BR) and
Lt Petrakis (Greek). was tranfered by submarine leaving
Alexandria on the 7 th June 1942. The objective of the
mission was to attack the airfield of Heraklion, to sabotage
planes, installations, munitions and fuel. Having achieved
the sabotage the SAS were found by the enemy. Leostic was
killed the other French SAS captured.. Thery were transfered
to prison camps in Germany.
Defence of El Alamein (03/07/1942-11/08/1942)
Operating in Libya behind the Axis front at El Alamein, the
objectives were to destroy enemy planes on the ground,
harrasing enemy convoys and destroying lines of
communications.
Airfield of Fuka 19 (06/07/1942-07/1942) Participants
Derna Coast (07/07/1942-07/1942) Participants
Airfield of Fuka 16 (12/07/1942-03/07/1942) Participants
Airfields of El Daba (12/07/1942-03/07/1942) Participants
Sidi Hamesh (26/07/1942-07/07/1942) Participants
Behind the Front (28/07/1942-08/1942) Participants
Benghasi (15/08/1942-20/08/1942) Participants
Operation Snowdrop was launched to gain control of the port
of Benghasi and destroy ememny shipping in the in the port.
Leaving Kabrit on 15th August 1942 the SAS esatblished a base
at Koufra from which an attach on Benghasi was launched. The
LRDG was simultaneaously attaking Barce and Tobruk. The force
was detected and came under air attack. The mission was
aborted, many SAS wounded and killed, much equipment
destroyed.
Allied Invasion (08/11/1942)
On the 8th November the Allies, American and British,
launched an invasion from the west with landings in Algeria
and Marocco. Rommel*s days in North Africa were numbered,
however he was under orders to resist at all cost.
Libya (20/11/1942-05/01/1943)
The operation was to attack the road and rail links between
Aghelia and Tripoli. The operation was carried out with mainly
new troups and resulted in heavy losses to B Squadron. We do
not have details of the French Squadron complement to B
Squadrons actions apart from it being led by Lt Martin so all
remaining FF have been allocated here.
Agehla to Tripoli (20/11/1942-30/12/1943) Participants
Return of the 1 CCP (10/12/1942-1943)
On 10th December 1942 the 1 CIA under the command of
Captain Fouchet embarked at Suez for Britain. However, Jordan
obtained permission to remain with Stirling to the end of the
North African war. With him remained some of the experienced
men from recent operations and a number of new recruits
recently having completed their training and hopeful of seeing
some action before being posted to England, this group became
the 2CIA.
Tunisia (15/01/1943-07/02/1943) Participants
A small group led by Jordan and Martin remained to see the
completion of the war in North Africa. The Battlion members
who remained in North Africa continued their sabotage and
harrasment of the enemy comunication lines from Sousse to
Gabes. Four French patrols were operating together with
patrols form the British SAS Three patrols led by Jordan were
to operate on the east of the Tunisia coast. The fourth patrol
led by Martin under Striling was to reach ourt westwards
towards the approaching American 1st army. The result was
rather bad for the SAS with 15 of th 40 men being captured,
including Stirling and Jordan. Those not captured were
eventually reunited in Constantine 7/2/1943
Patrol S/L Martin Participants
Having lost thier 2 jeeps the patrol finished the mission
on foot arriving at Zennouch station on 30/1/1943 to be met
by the 1st US army.
Patrol Cne Jordan (27/12/1942-08/01/1943) Participants
The Jordan patrol was captured on the 28/1/1943 at Djedel
Bou-Hedma.
Patrol s/l Harent (27/12/1942-02/1943) Participants
The patrol arrived at Constantine 7/2/1943.
Patrol S/l Legrand (14/01/1943-01/1943) Participants
The patrol had two jeeps Made contact with the 1st US
army 30/1/1943 at the Djebel Orbata
4SAS (06/06/1944-24/12/1944) Participants
The intention was to drop 4 SAS into Brittany on the night
before D-day. The first two groups were to set up operational
centres and then receive and distribute arms to the resistance
or FFI (Force Française Intérieur). The SAS and FFI were to
jointly harass the German troops in Brittany and impede them
from joining the Normandy front. In the short term there was
also a possibility that the Germans would be mislead into
thinking than another invasion front was being opened up in
Brittany. Two other initiatives involved parachutists. The
Jedburgh teams which consisted of radio operators an allied
officer (British or American ) and soldiers from the region
were to link the advancing allied forces with resistance
groups and hence co-ordinate the advance through occupied
Europe. Cooney parties were sabotage teams dropped into
occupied territory to disrupt the means of communication.
After carrying out their missions they were due to rendezvous
with one of the two main centres being established under the
code names of Samwest and Dingson. FFL SAS provided personnel
for all these activities.
Wash Participants
Squadon Leader Smith together with Jedburg Frederick had
the task of contacting the groups on the ground and
reporting back to London.
Dingson (05/06/1944-17/06/1944) Participants
The more southerly base Dingson was established near St
Marcel by Déplante and Marienne together with 15 officers
and men after landing on the 5th June. The base was
reinforced on the 9th, 10th, 11th 12th, and 17th with 17
officers and 178 NCOs and men. Puech-Samson arrived on the
night of the 9th at St. Marcel and Bourgoin the next night.
They were welcomed by Marienne and a large number of FFI.
The English had provided Bourgoin with a tricolour
parachute. At this stage Between 1500 and 2000 FFI had
assembled at St Marcel, Bourgoin called it a kermes and was
concerned that the enemy could not ignore such an assembly.
In the same drop arrived Cyr an american observer. Again
Germans troops became aware of the base, they received some
of the parachuted supplies and attacked in force on the 18th
June. The FFL and FFI could not hold out against heavily
armed German troops and disbanded. Déplante moved north to
establish the base codenamed Grog.
Dingson phase one (05/06/1944-08/06/1944)
Pierre 1 Participants
Pierre 2 Participants
Dingson second wave (09/06/1944-17/06/1944) Participants
The Dingson base was reinforced by drops on the
9,10,11,12,13, and 17 June.
Samwest (05/06/1944-20/09/1944)
The northerly base called Samwest was in the forsest of
Duault. Botella and Deschamps located a clearing in the
forest, which was suitable as a dropping zone. The night of
9th/10th Capitaine Leblond, Martin, Mouhot and 40 odd SAS
arrived at the base. Leblond takes over command of the base.
Squadron Leader Smith arrived at the same time, he was the
liaison officer for the SAS brigade. The first delivery of
weapons for the resistance also arrived. The night of
10/11th the second wave of SAS arrived, another 50 men under
Lassere arrived. Having been discovered by the enemy a set
piece battle ensured which the SAS could not win and so
Leblond decided to evacuate the base and the first groups to
leave made their way towards the Dingson base near Sérent.
One group of SAS (30) and Smith stayed near Peumerit Quintin
and the Jedburgh team Frederick. Another 30 odd stopped at
Pontivy where they met Déplante who was on his way to
establish the base Grog.
Samwest phase 1 (05/06/1944-08/06/1944)
Pierre 3 Participants
Pierre 4 Participants
Samwest phase 2 (09/06/1944-10/06/1944) Participants
The second phase of landings at Samwest included Cpt
Leblond who took command of the base.
June 9th (09/06/1944)
Stick Carville Participants
Stick Leblond Participants
Stick Martin Participants
Stick Willard Participants
June 10th (10/06/1944)
Stick Lageze Participants
Stick Lasserre Participants
Stick Metz Participants
Stick Servieres Participants
Cooney Parties (07/06/1944)
On the night of the 7/8 th June 1944 eighteen small
groups from 4 SAS were parachuted into Britany to carry out
specific sabotage missions. Dropped blind without a
welcoming committee they were expected to operate without
contacting local residents for 48 hours while they carried
out their principal mission, usually destruction of railway
lines. After this they were to remain active for 8 to 10
days with secondary missions, destruction of other
communications, depots, power lines etc, as well as impeding
the repair of the original target. The groups were then to
regroup on the northern or southern base Samwest or Dingson.
After the destruction of the Samwest base (12/13 June) ,
groups were alerted to report to Dingson. If the invasion
was abandoned, the message *les carrottes sont cuites* would
alert them to make for the coast where ferries would return
them to to Britain
Pierre 401 Participants
Pierre 402 Participants
Pierre 403 Participants
Pierre 404 Participants
Pierre 405 Participants
Pierre 406 Participants
Pierre 407 Participants
Pierre 408 Participants
Pierre 409 Participants
Pierre 410 Participants
Pierre 411 Participants
Pierre 412 Participants
Pierre 413 Participants
Pierre 414 Participants
Pierre 415 Participants
Pierre 416 Participants
Pierre 417 Participants
Pierre 418 Participants
Grog (17/06/1944-20/08/1944)
Deplante was charged by Bourgoin to set up a northern
base to replace the lost Dingson base. The was to recieve
redistribute and then co-ordinate the work of SAS and
resistance coming from the overrun Dingson base and the St
Marcel (Samwest) base.
2BR4
Stage 1 (14/07/1944) Participants
Stage 2 (25/07/1944) Participants
1FTP (20/06/1944) Participants
5FFI (20/06/1944) Participants
2FTP (25/06/1944) Participants
4FFI (25/06/1944) Participants
4FTP (25/07/1944) Participants
Lost (22/06/1944) Participants
As the situation in Brittany became complex a
reconnaissance mission was dispatched to contact Bourgoin
and Déplante and to ensure an officer returned to England to
report back. Major Cary-Elwes supported by a small team of
parachutists was sent to make contact and captain Leblond
reported back.
radio reinforcements (10/07/1944) Participants
Teams of radio operators were dropped near Pesquen as
reinforcements for those in the field.
Jeeps deliveries (03/08/1944-04/08/1944) Participants
As the liberating forces gained a substantial foothold in
Normandy and the enemy forces in Britany were being
defeated, the SAS were being required to operate further
east. To supply adequate transport a major delivery of jeeps
was made, by parachute and by gliders under the noses of the
occupation forces in Vannes. Betbeze. Paoli, Itturia and the
reserve 4SAS arrived with the jeeps near Malkachappe. There
was a certain impatiance in these forces having missed the
first two months of the liberation, however the enemy were
far from defeated and much of France was still occupied so
there was still work to be done.
Paris (25/08/1944) Participants
Bourgoin was asked to provide a detachment of troups to
escort Intelligence officers into Paris as it was being
libnerated. Apart from protection they were requiered to
help liberate Getaopo prisons and to help in the arrest of
collaborators and spies. Beteze was assigned to the task and
took a nuber of jeeps and c20 men with him. Theye thus had
the honour of arriving with the liberating forces and
parading down the Champs Elysees. Itturia nad his jeep were
arssigned to the detachment but were ambushed immediately
before setting out from Vannes
Spencer (29/08/1944-14/09/1944)
A reconaissance mission by Lt Gabaudan on the 26th August
reported that the enemy were well, established in the region
around Pouiily sur Loire. On the 29th August Bourgoin sent
three companies to Briare where they were to establish a
base. A fourth company which had just been created was to
follow as a headquaters company which had first to repair
the remaining vehicles. The enemy forces appeared to be
guarding the bridges essential for any retreat from the
south west to the north east. The objective was to provide a
mobile unit harrasing the enemy retreating from the South
West to the North East of France. (the reports do not enable
a complete distriburtion of men across the four Squadrons.)
Thus 54 jeeps each with 4 SAS together with a number of
trailers and lorries left Vannes and set of for the Loire.
This comprised all 4 SAS and some resistants who had joined
them. Betbeze led the 4SAS to Briare where the HQ was
established. A tolal of 38 officers and 279 men were
involved
Squadron 1 Participants
Squadron 1 arrived at Briare on the 31st August and
immediately made contact with the enemy. Captain Larralde
requested reinforcements and the 3rd company arrived
however counter attacks by Varnier and Lesecq had already
remedied the situation. Squaron 1 reamined in the region
of Briare eliminating the enemy in the area nd helping in
the liberation of Bourges.
Squadron 2 Participants
The second squadron was sent to patrol the left bank of
the Loire in the direction of Nevers.
Squadron 3 Participants
The third squadron was sent across the Loire to patrol
en Solonge. The 12th September under Captain Puech -Samson
the squadron was patrolling over an extensive area,
finding exnecxpected liberated areas. Patrols traveled int
he directions of Bourdeaux, Cognac, Perigueux and Nantes
Le botinec, le Blond Puech Samson Taylor Llonde Faquet
Raufast Nicol Varnier Decrept
Squadron 4 Participants
Dirtection Nevers deplant, betbeze, de canmaraet,
Fernadez, cochin
Extras flown into Britanny (09/1944) Participants
Arrivals in July 1944 etc
Aloes (04/09/1944) Participants
A mission involving three parachutists being dropped at
Kerrien.
3SAS (07/06/1944)
From the 15th of June 3SAS started to arrive in France.
From the west coast to Lyon and the Rhone valley all the main
arteries which the enemy might use to retreat or consolidate
were the target of SAS activity.
Dickens (15/07/1944-07/10/1944)
Sabotage of railway lines in the South West from Nates to
La Rochelle. Harassment of the enemy, organisation of the
resistance and finally holding the nothern front of the
enemy pocket at La Rochelle.
Stick 5 Participants
Stick 6 Participants
Stick 7 Participants
Stick 8 Participants
Stick CDT Participants
Stick JED Participants
Stick RADIO Participants
Moses (02/08/1944-06/10/1944)
Took over from 1 SAS mission Bulbasket under Cpt Tonkin,
which had suffered heavy losses, of 55 parachuted 5:6:1944
only 20 surcvived. It was necessary to sucure a means of
evacuating the previous mision and to continue to interup
enemy communications between Montauban and Limoges. Some
were parachuted the others landed on a landing strip named
Bonbon.
Stick 1 Participants
dropped 2/8/1944
Stick 2 Participants
landed at bonbon 6/8/1944
Stick 3 Participants
dropped 7/8/1944
Stick 4 Participants
landed at Bonbon 9/8/1944
Stick 5 Participants
dropped 14/8/44
Stick 6 Participants
landed by plane at Bonbon 27/8/44
Derry (05/08/1944-18/08/1944)
Open up the route for the 3rd division US infantry by
harrasing the enemy garrisions between Morlaix and Brest and
impeding the reinforment of the Brest garrison from the
east. Protect the viaducs of Morlaix and Plougastel and to
support the resistance.
Derry 1
Stick 1 Participants
Stick 2 Participants
Stick 3 Participants
Stick 4 Participants
Stick 5 Participants
Derry 2
Stick 1 Participants
Derry 3
Stick 1 Participants
Stick 2 Participants
Samson (10/08/1944-27/09/1944) Participants
To impede the retreat of the enemy by destroying railway
connections and bridges and harrassing the enemy along their
route. After 14th September they continued supporting the
mission Dickens in Loire Altlantic and then at La Rochelle.
Stick 1 Participants
Stick 2 Participants
Marshall and Snelgrove (11/08/1944-12/09/1944)
In these two zones the enemy were remaining in their
garisons and did not present particularly conventint targets
for SAS action. There was also no major objective to impede
movement nor the arrival of reinforcements. The two missions
supported by resistance attacked garrisons at Egleton
(Snelgrove) and Bourganeuf (Marshall). The 24 th August they
regrouped and turned thier attention to the retreating enemy
forces at Charteauroux. Operating from the forest of
Chataueroux supported by resistance and aviation they
harrased the retreating enemy who surrenderd at Issoudoun on
the 10th September. The 14th September the two missions
joined operation Moses at the enemy pocket of Saint Nazaire.
Operation Marshall Participants
Stick 1 Participants
Stick 2 Participants
Operation Snelgrove Participants
Stick 1 Participants
Stick 2 Participants
Harrod and Barker (12/08/1944-04/09/1944)
These missions were intended to inflict maximum losses on
the retrerating enemy along the main axes north the RN6 and
the RN74. The sticks were dropped near Sarlrney, Savigny and
Messey and established bases in the Maconais.
Commanding Company
Stick 1 Participants
Stick 2 Participants
Stick 3 Participants
Stick 4 Participants
Stick 5 Participants
Stick 6 Participants
Stick 7 Participants
Company 1
Stick 1 Participants
Stick 2 Participants
Stick 4 Participants
Stick 7 Participants
Stick Com Participants
Lt Rouan (12/08/1944) Participants
unassigned participants (13/08/1944) Participants
The landings in Provence occured on the 15th of August.
With a mission similar to that in Britanny, the SAS were
landed in the Rhone valley to impede the retreating enemy
and facilate the advance of the allied forces. Progress
was better than expected with Lyon being liberated on the
3rd of September, whereas the allies had expected this to
take until the 15th November. It was the 14th of September
that the southern liberating forces met up with those
coming from Normandy.
Jockworth (15/08/1944-30/09/1944) Participants
Harassing the enemy facilitating the progress of alied
forces arriving from the south.
Stick Lambert Participants
Paracuted South of Lamure on 18/8/1944
Stick Barres (15/08/1944) Participants
Dropped between Saint Symporien and Sainte Catherine
Stick Gayard (15/08/1944) Participants
Dropped 15/8/1944 between Saint Symporien and Sainte
Catherine
Stick Hourst (15/08/1944) Participants
Dropped to the west of Villefranche-sur-Saone
Stick 8 (16/08/1944) Participants
dropped between Saint Symphorien and Sainte Catherine
Stick COM (18/08/1944) Participants
Dropped near Saint Martin la Plaine nord de Rive de
Gier
Newton (19/08/1944-20/09/1944)
Overland reinforcement of the Dickens, Moses and Harrod
missions
Combaud-Roquebrune
Patrol
Jeep 1 Participants
Jeep 2 Participants
Jeep 3 Participants
Jeep 4 Participants
De Sablet Patrol
Jeep 1 Participants
Jeep 2 Participants
Jeep 3 Participants
Jeep 4 Participants
Picard Patrol
Jeep 1 Participants
Jeep 2 Participants
Jeep 3 Participants
Jeep 4 Participants
Plowright Patrol
Jeep 1 Participants
Jeep 2 Participants
Jeep 3 Participants
Jeep 4 Participants
Valayer Patrol
Jeep 1 Participants
Jeep 2 Participants
Jeep 3 Participants
Abel (27/08/1944-22/09/1944) Participants
The 2nd Company 3 SAS were brought back to Britain on the
22 August 1944 and were then despatched in two waves to
undertake operations in the East of France. The objective
being to establish a base in the Doubs on the Suisse
frontier to support the local resistance in order to slow
down as much as possible the enemy retreat.
Stick 4 (26/08/1944) Participants
Stick 8 (26/08/1944) Participants
This stick seems to contain some 4sas members Gourcko
Clement etc
Stick 1 (27/08/1944) Participants
Stick 2 (27/08/1944) Participants
Stick 3 (27/08/1944) Participants
Stick 6 (31/08/1944) Participants
Stick 5 (05/09/1944) Participants
Stick 7 (05/09/1944) Participants
Jedburgh (09/06/1944)
Groups of radio and liaison officers including British and
American personel dropped into France to liaise with
resistance groups after the invasion.
frederick (09/06/1944) Participants
Jedburgh Frederick was assigned to the Dualt base and
later worked with Smith(Wash) and Deplant (Grog)
Dingson Jedburg (10/06/1944) Participants
This Jedburgh was droped with Bourgoin to St Marcel.
Other Actions (08/07/1944) Participants
Members of 3 and 4 SAS also participated in actions with 1
& 2 SAS and with sticks from the Belgium SAS (5SAS). Often
this was to provide support with local knowledge or of course
language skills.
Other Gaff (25/07/1944-05/08/1944) Participants
The stick, led by Captain Lee 2SAS was parachuted to the
South of Paris in July with the objective of capurturing
Rommel.
Dunhill (03/08/1944-04/08/1944) Participants
A standard SAS mission dropped to the SE of Vtre to
collect information on enmey movements and to harrass them.
Trueform (17/08/1944-06/08/1944) Participants
A classic SAS mission of harrasment and sabotage in
Normandy.
Benson (28/08/1944-09/1944) Participants
A reconnaisance mission in the Compiegne region led by Lt
Kirschen of the Belge SAS.
North Loyton (09/09/1944-08/09/1944) Participants
Led by Lt Rousseau of 2SAS this sabotage mission operated
in the Vosges.
Pistol (16/09/1944-10/1944) Participants
A sabotage mission, commanded by Captain Scott, against
communication routes between the Moselle and Rhin. Lt
Grumbach particiapated in one of the eight sticks dropped.
Armistice Day 1944 (11/11/1944) Participants
As the war in France drew to a close the SAS were gathered
at bases in the Champagne at Montmirail and Eperney. In free
Paris on Armistice day 1944 the SAS paraded down the Champs
Elysees. They were led by Lt/Col Bourgoin with Lt Legrand
carrying the SAS flag. In front of the Arc de Triomphe General
De Gaulle presented the 2nd RCP (4SAS) with the Croix de
Compagnon de la Liberation. This was the first time that the
regiment as a whole had worn the red beret. Following the end
of action in France a certain amount of change hit the SAS.
Many of the senior officers including Bourgoin were given
other responsibiliteis and Puech Samson took command of the 4
SAS and Conan the 3rd.
mis à jour / updated :
