Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts
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Flushing, 2nd November 1944
6 (French) Troop, No.4 Commando, on the march through the Coosjebuskenstraat, Vlissingen (Flushing), Walcheren, 2 November 1944, Zeeland province, The Netherlands.
Pat Churchill, identified by his RM cap badge and radio antennae, is 3rd left, behind Guy de Montlaur. On Pat's left is the Medic Hawkins.
1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos was a Fusiliers Marins commando unit of the Free French Navy, raised in 1942, which served during the Second World War. Its initial Commandant was then-Lieutenant de Vaisseau (Captain) Philippe Kieffer of the Free French Navy, under whose command they participated in the Normandy landings in 1944.
The 177 men of the "1er BFM Commando" under Philippe Kieffer were integrated into the British No. 4 Commando under Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson, part of the 1st Special Service Brigade under Brigadier Lord Lovat.
The French Commandos Marine fought in Normandy until 27 August 1944, when the battalion was returned to the United Kingdom for rest and to receive replacements. In November 1944, the 1er BFMC was landed on the island of Walcheren in Holland and took Vlissingen as part of an combined arms operation undertaken by the British and Allied commandos. By October 1944, the commando battalion had three companies.
At the end of the Second World War the unit returned to French control, and it currently serves as part of the Naval Commandos of the French Navy. The unit continues to wear the green beret and bronze shield badge.
In 1945, Philippe Kieffer was nominated for the Consultative Assembly, and started working in the Inter-Allied Forces Headquarters. He was promoted to capitaine de frégate (OF-4) in 1954.
Kieffer died in Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France on 20 November 1962 after a long illness, and was buried in Grandcamp, Calvados.
6 (French) Troop, No.4 Commando, on the march through the Coosjebuskenstraat, Vlissingen (Flushing), Walcheren, 2 November 1944, Zeeland province, The Netherlands.
Pat Churchill, identified by his RM cap badge and radio antennae, is 3rd left, behind Guy de Montlaur. On Pat's left is the Medic Hawkins.
1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos was a Fusiliers Marins commando unit of the Free French Navy, raised in 1942, which served during the Second World War. Its initial Commandant was then-Lieutenant de Vaisseau (Captain) Philippe Kieffer of the Free French Navy, under whose command they participated in the Normandy landings in 1944.
The 177 men of the "1er BFM Commando" under Philippe Kieffer were integrated into the British No. 4 Commando under Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson, part of the 1st Special Service Brigade under Brigadier Lord Lovat.
The French Commandos Marine fought in Normandy until 27 August 1944, when the battalion was returned to the United Kingdom for rest and to receive replacements. In November 1944, the 1er BFMC was landed on the island of Walcheren in Holland and took Vlissingen as part of an combined arms operation undertaken by the British and Allied commandos. By October 1944, the commando battalion had three companies.
At the end of the Second World War the unit returned to French control, and it currently serves as part of the Naval Commandos of the French Navy. The unit continues to wear the green beret and bronze shield badge.
In 1945, Philippe Kieffer was nominated for the Consultative Assembly, and started working in the Inter-Allied Forces Headquarters. He was promoted to capitaine de frégate (OF-4) in 1954.
Kieffer died in Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France on 20 November 1962 after a long illness, and was buried in Grandcamp, Calvados.
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A Daimler armoured car opens fire in the gloom of early morning at the start of the Battle for Tripoli, 18 January 1943. The car is likely of the famed 11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own), attached to the 7th Armoured Division’s “Desert Rats,” who both used them in North Africa and were present in the Tunis campaign
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