Memory

This is one commando’s story, where the documented record is complemented by personal testimony, which has allowed a light to be shone briefly on the intimate and personal forces which helped to determine the direction of one commando’s wartime journey.

The little seaside town of Criccieth in North Wales has a special place in the history of the Free French commandos. Whilst it would never be mentioned in the commando’s État des Services, in the period between July 1942 and the end of May 1943 all of the Free French commandos were stationed there; at its peak nearly 100 commandos lived in billets provided by the local residents, whose population during the Second World War was about 2000, inflated by evacuees.

Many of you will be familiar with the commando biographies written by Jean-Christophe Rouxel in his Parcours des Vies dans La Royale. Or you many have original commando war service documents. In many cases these refer to the “Maison de Santé - Beaconsfield”. This article describes the Maison de Santé to give you a better understanding of your commando’s wartime journey.

Dans de nombreux dossiers et témoignages, il est fréquemment fait mention de la Caserne Bir Hacheim, souvent abrégée en CBH. Cette appellation revient régulièrement dans les états de service, les correspondances administratives ou les récits de carrière.