1 & 8 troops (French)

Phillipe Kieffer was granted permission to raise a commando unit from Free French Naval Forces based on the British Commando model. On completion of commando training, at Achnacarry, the men of 1er Compagnie de Fusiliers Marin commanded by Kieffer, were assigned to 1 (French) Troop, No10 (IA) Cdo. 

Later, a second troop, 8 (French) Troop, was raised and added to the Commando. Promoted to Capitaine de Corvette (Major) Kieffer was appointed Senior Officer French Troops. [Commandant du 1 er Batailion Fusilier Marin Commando].

For D-Day, a total of 177 men from 1 & 8 (French) Troops and the K-Gun Section were assigned to No4 Cdo; with 1 (French) troop being absorbed as 5 Troop and 8 (French) Troop being absorbed as 6 Troop.

Follow this link for the Nominal Roll for No 10 Commando

1/8 Troops French Roll of Honour

Capt.  C.  TREPEL
Capt.  R.  LION 
Lieut.  L.J.M.A.  HUBERT
WO1.  P.A.L.  WALLERAND
Sgt.  R.  DUMENOIR
Sgt.  J.  HAGNERE
LSgt.  R.  CROIZER
Cpl.  R.  BELLAMY
Cpl.  R.H.  CABANELLA
Cpl.  F.  DEVILLERS
Cpl.  L.  FOURER
Cpl.  R.  GUY
Cpl.  J.   LEMOIGNE
Cpl.  J.   LETANG
Cpl.  J.   MONTEAN
Cpl.  J.   RIVIERE
Cpl.  Y.  RUPPE
Cpl.  P.A.G.  VINAT
LCpl.  C.   ALLARD
LCpl.  R.   FLESCH
LCpl.  G.   GICQUEL
LCpl.  M.J.L.  GOURONG
LCpl.  P.M.  LABAS
LCpl.  G.J.A.  LAOT 
LCpl.  Y.  MONCEAU 
LCpl.  E.M.L.  RENAULT
LCpl.  P.J.G.  ROLLIN
Pte.  A.  DIGNAC
Pte.  R.A.  GERSEL
Pte.  L.S.  MOUTAILLIER
Pte.  J.  NEVEN
Pte.  F.F.  PETERS
Pte.  J.  ROUSSEAU
Sources: CVA website, Graham Cooper (CVA), commandokieffer.canalblog.com/ francaislibres.net/ , and this link: Marine Nationale document 24th May 1945 
 

Below is an A-Z view of the Roll of Honour with information about each of the Fallen. Displaying 1 - 33 of 33

ALLARD, Camille

Lance Corporal
914FN43
No 10 Commando
No 4 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Camille Allard, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations in the Netherlands.
 

BELLAMY, Robert

Cpl. Bellamy 10 Commando
Corporal
Mle 10033 FN40
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Robert Belllamy, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 194, was killed during Operation Hardtack 7 on the German occupied island of Sark.

CABANELLA, Roger Henri

Corporal
//339 FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Roger Cabanella, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no.199, missing presumed killed after a raid on the coast of Holland near a beach at Wassenaar.
 

CROIZER, Robert

Lance Sergeant
390FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Sergeant Robert Croizer, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 96, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

DEVILLERS, Fernand

Cpl Fernand Devillers 10 Commando
Corporal
Mle 540 FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Fernand Devillers, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no.197, missing presumed killed after a raid on the coast of Holland near a beach at Wassenaar.
 

DIGNAC, Andre

Pte Andre Dignac 10 Commando
Private
Mle 6286 FN41
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private Andre Dignac, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 26, died during Operation Hardtack 7 on the German occupied island of Sark.

DUMENOIR, Raymond

Sergeant
736FNHO
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Sergeant Raymond Dumenoir, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 7, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

FLESCH, Raymond

Lance Corporal
66FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Raymond Flesch, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 153, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

FOURER, Lucien

Corporal
10407FN42
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Lucien Fourer, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 99, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

GERSEL, Rene August

Private
900FN42
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private Rene Gersel (or Gesrel), badge no.175, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, was killed during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

GICQUEL, Georges

Lance Corporal
4822 FN40
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Executed
Lance Corporal Georges Gicquel, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no.163, was reported missing presumed killed after a patrol at Breville (Calvados).  On the 24th May 1945 a report recorded the present view on his death as follows " Taken prisoner, tortured by the Germans, and left

GUY, Rene

Corporal
Mle 10320 FN40
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Rene Guy, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no.196, missing presumed killed after a raid on the coast of Holland near a beach at Wassenaar.
 

HAGNERE, Jean

Sergeant
Mle 10425 FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Sergeant Jean Hagnere, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no.195, missing presumed killed after a raid on the coast of Holland near a beach at Wassenaar.
 

LABAS, Pierre Marcel

Pierrre Marcel Labas 10 Commando french
Lance Corporal
458FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Pierre Labas, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 170, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

LAOT, Guy Jean Andre

LCpl. Laot 10 Commando French
Lance Corporal
10899FN40
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Guy Laot, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 90, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

LEMOIGNE, Jean

Corporal
470FN42
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Jean LeMoigne, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 181, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

LETANG, Jean

Corporal
10870FN40
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Jean Letang, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 105, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

LION, Robert

Capt. Lion 10 Commando
Captain
55533
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Robert Lion, Medical Officer, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 193, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

MONCEAU, Yvan

Yvan Monceau 10 Commando French
Lance Corporal
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Yvan Monceau, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 173, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Flushing.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

MONTEAN, Jean

LCpl Jean Montean 10 Commando
Corporal
657FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Jean Montean, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 112, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Flushing.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

NEVEN, Jean

Private Jean Neven 10 Commando
Private
10025FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private Jean Neven, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 189, attached to No 4 Commando. died during operations at Flushing.
 
Mort pour la France.
 
Image Source

PETERS, Felix Francois

Private Felix Peters 10 Commando
Private
10022FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private Felix Peters, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 179, was killed whilst attached to No 4 Commando during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France

RENAULT, Emile Marie Leon

Lance Corporal
203FN42
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds

Lance Corporal Emile Renault, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 55, was killed whilst attached to No 4 Commando during operations at Normandy.

Mort pour la France.
 

RIVIERE, Jacquelin

Corporal
Mle 10834 FN40
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Jacquelin Riviere, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no.198, missing presumed killed after a raid on the coast of Holland near a beach at Wassenaar.
 

ROLLIN, Paul Jean Gabriel

Lance Corporal
492FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Paul Rollin, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 120, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

ROUSSEAU, Jean

Graves of Pte Rousseau and others
Private
5857FN41
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private Jean Rousseau, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 186, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Normandy.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

RUPPE, Yvan

Corporal
1129FN43
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Yvan Ruppe, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 150, attached to No 4 Commando, died during operations at Flushing.
 
Mort pour la France.
 

TREPEL, Charles

Captain Charles Trepel 10 Commando
Captain
Mle 54454
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Charles Trepel, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 8, missing presumed killed after a raid on the coast of Holland near a beach at Wassenaar.
 

WALLERAND, Pierre Adonis Louis

Pierre Wallerand 10 Commando
Warrant Officer
Mle 267 FN43.
No 10 Commando
Free French Forces
Killed in action or died of wounds
Warrant Officer Pierre Wallerand, 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando, badge no. 47, missing presumed killed after a raid at Gravelines, France. Believed to have drowned whilst attempting to swim out to a waiting MTB after completing mission.
 

A document relating to French commandos who died

Translation of first page of letter dated 24th May 1945 (subsequent pages missing).

Original provided to the CVA as an image [VIEW].

Marine Nationale
Naval Forces in Great Britain,
Base of 1st Batallion Fusiliers Marins Commando
No. 124 FMC

MOST SECRET

24th May 1945

Enseigne de Vaisseau 1st Classe (UK equiv. Sub-Lieutenant) J. MAZEAS

Responsible for the Base of the 1st BFM Commandos

To

The head of the Central Service of the Etat Civil (Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths)
3 Avenue Octave Creard, PARIS
SUBJECT: Losses of the 1st BFM Commando

ATTACHMENTS:                My notes No.121 and 122 FMC of 24th May 1945

I have the honour to send to you the attached notes, cited in reference to the deaths of our men in the course of operations. I take advantage of this opportunity to send to you below the list of the losses and disappearances that we have had since the creation of our unit, the main reason being to safeguard the interests of our men, killed or disappeared.

1. MEN DISAPPEARED ON OPERATIONS

MOUTAILLER Serge, Second-Maitre canonnier (Petty Officer gunner) Mle 5822 FN41
Disappeared in the course of the raid on Dieppe on 18th August 1942, no news since that date.

BELLAMY Robert, Quartier-Maitre 2nd class fusilier (Leading Rating rifleman) Mle 10033 FN40
DIGNAC André, Matelot Brevete fusilier (Able Seaman rifleman) Mle 6286 FN41
Disappeared on 24th December 1943 in the course of a raid on SARK(Channel Islands), grievously injured by an anti-personnel mine, not possible to evacuate, presumed killed.

WALLERAND Pierre, Maitre fusilier (Petty Officer rifleman) Mle 267 FN43.
Diappeared in the course of a raid on GRAVELINE on 24th-25th December 1943.  Presumed drowned and buried at GRAVELINE

TREPEL Charles, Mle 54454 Lt. de Vaisseau (Lieutenant) detached from the Army to FNGB
HAGNERE Jean, Mle 10425 FN43 Second-Maitre fusilier (Petty Officer rifleman)
GUY Rene, Mle 10320 FN40 Quartier-Maitre 2nd classe fusilier (Leading Rating rifleman)
RIVIERE Jacquelin, Mle 10834 FN40 Quartier-Maitre 2nd classe fusilier (Leading Rating rifleman)
DEVILLERS Fernand, Mle 540 FN43 Quartier-Maitre 2nd classe fusilier (Leading Rating rifleman)
CABANELLA Roger, //339 FN43 Matelot Brevete (Leading Seaman)
Team which disappeared in its entirety during the night of 27th-28th February 1944 on the coast of Holland, without leaving any trace.  Research by the British authorities is without result up to the present time.
GICQUEL Georges, Mle 4822 FN40 Matelot sans Specialite (Ordinary Seaman)
Disappeared in the course of a patrol on 24th July 1944 at Breville (Calvados)

This letter obviously represents the state of knowledge of the disappearance of these men at the time.

The present view of these disappearances is as follows:

MOUTAILLER Serge.- (name is also spelt MOUTAILLIER in some sources)
The circumstances of his death are unclear.  It is believed he was summarily executed on being taken prisoner on 19th August 1942 at Yellow 1 beach (Berneval) on account of his wearing French insignia (“bachi” naval cap, “France” shoulder patches, etc.)

BELLAMY Robert, DIGNAC Andre:
Information in letter is correct.  Both were buried on Sark (DIGNAC later exhumed and reburied in France)

WALLERAND Pierre:
Information is correct.  Drowned whilst attempting to swim out to a MTB after completing mission.

TREPEL, HAGNERE, GUY, RIVIERE, DEVILLERS, CABANELLA: 
Their disappearance has never been fully elucidated.  May have been executed on being taken prisoner.

GICQUEL:
Taken prisoner, tortured by the Germans, and  left hanging from a tree.