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Portraits of Commandos

The Free French commandos constituted a community of volunteers whose often little-known stories reflected the diversity of France at war.

Sailors, soldiers, rich or poor, French or foreign, career military or committed civilians, all joined the unit created by Philippe Kieffer to liberate their country in the way they deemed most effective.

Their individual trajectories — sometimes brief, sometimes long and complex — shed irreplaceable light on the history of the 1st BFMC.

This section brings together their biographical notes, in order to restore each one to their place in the unit and to give full human depth to the collective history of the Commando.

First initial of the last name

Landing

Campaign

Normandy

Flushing

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in Dover Cemetery - Kent - United Kingdom

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Normandy

-

Département

Normandy

-

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried on January 17, 1955, at Rosny-sous-Bois. On December 4, 1976, the body was exhumed and transferred to Waben cemetery (62 – Pas-de-Calais).

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-

-

Département

-

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire, QC, Canada – Plot S-38

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Normandy

Flushing

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Hardtrack 7

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the cemetery on Rue de Larmor in Pleubian (22 - Côtes-d'Armor) - East wall, Plot No. 55–56

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Normandy

Flushing

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried at the Avenue du 11 Novembre 1918 cemetery in Bandol (83 – Var) – Concession 1040 or 1140.

SEE MORE

-

-

Département

-

-

Campagnes
Raids

Dieppe - Group 3

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in Widney Manor Cemetery in Solihull - West Midlands - United Kingdom – Lawn Grave 835

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Normandy

Flushing

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Hardtrack 13

Lieu de séputlure

Ashes scattered off the coast of Colleville-Montgomery (14 - Calvados)

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Normandy

Flushing

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in Sablon Cemetery in La Tronche (38 - Isère) - Section 16, Row 3, Grave No. 16102

SEE MORE

Normandy

-

Département

Normandy

-

Campagnes
Raids

Hardtack 14
Hardtack 26

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the cemetery of Useldange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

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Normandy

-

Département

Normandy

-

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried at Hermanville-sur-Mer British Military Cemetery (14 – Calvados).

SEE MORE

Name

Landing

Campaign

Raids

Burial place

  • Page 34
Normandy
Flushing
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in Dover Cemetery - Kent - United Kingdom

SEE MORE
Normandy
-
Landing
Normandy
-
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried on January 17, 1955, at Rosny-sous-Bois. On December 4, 1976, the body was exhumed and transferred to Waben cemetery (62 – Pas-de-Calais).

SEE MORE
-
-
Landing
-
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in the National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire, QC, Canada – Plot S-38

SEE MORE
Normandy
Flushing
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Hardtrack 7
Burial place

Buried in the cemetery on Rue de Larmor in Pleubian (22 - Côtes-d'Armor) - East wall, Plot No. 55–56

SEE MORE
Normandy
Flushing
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried at the Avenue du 11 Novembre 1918 cemetery in Bandol (83 – Var) – Concession 1040 or 1140.

SEE MORE
-
-
Landing
-
-
Campaign
Raids
Dieppe - Group 3
Burial place

Buried in Widney Manor Cemetery in Solihull - West Midlands - United Kingdom – Lawn Grave 835

SEE MORE
Normandy
Flushing
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Hardtrack 13
Burial place

Ashes scattered off the coast of Colleville-Montgomery (14 - Calvados)

SEE MORE
Normandy
Flushing
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in Sablon Cemetery in La Tronche (38 - Isère) - Section 16, Row 3, Grave No. 16102

SEE MORE
Normandy
-
Landing
Normandy
-
Campaign
Raids
Hardtack 14
Hardtack 26
Burial place

Buried in the cemetery of Useldange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

SEE MORE
Normandy
-
Landing
Normandy
-
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried at Hermanville-sur-Mer British Military Cemetery (14 – Calvados).

SEE MORE
  • Page 34

Call for Testimonies

The Association des Familles de Commandos de la France Libre works to restore the full history of these men, beyond just June 6, 1944. Testimonies and family archives help keep alive the memory of all the men who served in the unit between 1942 and 1945.

If you have stories, documents, or memories to share, please contact us. Your contribution is invaluable in preserving their legacy.

June 6, 1964 - Ouistreham

Family Kieffer Collection ©

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