Commemorations of the 82nd Anniversary of the D-Day June 2026

Introduction

I have just returned from the commemorations marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Ouistreham. I also attended the Annual General Meeting of the Free French Commandos Families Association (AFCFL) on 7 June. For those who have never taken part in these events, or who would like to learn more about them, here is a brief account.

Every year, numerous commemorative ceremonies are held across Normandy, on all the D-Day landing beaches. This report focuses on the events that pay tribute to the Free French Commandos—the Kieffer Commandos, known as "the 177"—who landed on Sword Beach alongside No. 4 Commando.

Of the 177 men of the Kieffer Commando, 17 were killed during the Normandy Campaign (6 June to 8 September 1944) (see the table at the end of this article). Only 20% completed the campaign without being wounded. It is to these men—our ancestors—that these commemorations are dedicated.

Geographic Overview

The map below shows the location of the main commemorative sites.

Main Commemorative Site – No. 4 Commando Memorial – The Kieffer Stele ("The Flame")

The Flame is a stainless-steel sculpture erected on top of a former German bunker that was part of strongpoint WN10, overlooking the eastern end of Sword Beach. The bunker stood about 100 metres from the site of the fortified casino, the primary objective of the 177 Free French Commandos on D-Day.

The memorial was inaugurated in 1984 to mark the 40th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

Its most striking feature is the stainless-steel sculpture, which has been variously interpreted as representing a flame, a breaking wave, or the bow of a ship. Engraved on it are the names of the 177 Free French Commandos who landed on 6 June 1944.

Surrounding the monument are ten memorial stones commemorating the commandos who were killed in action between Colleville-Montgomery and Ouistreham. To the left stands a statue of Philippe Kieffer, while to the right is a statue of Lord Lovat, commander of No. 4 Commando, alongside whom the 177 Free French Commandos fought. Personally, I prefer the statue of Lord Lovat; Kieffer's pose feels rather stiff, whereas Lovat's better conveys the character of a man of action.

Route Followed by the Commandos on 6 June 1944

After landing at Colleville-sur-Orne (renamed Colleville-Montgomery after the war), approximately 2 kilometres west of their objective—the casino—the three French troops split up.

No. 8 Troop (66 men) followed a route slightly inland from the beach, allowing them to approach the casino from the west. No. 1 Troop (67 men) and K-Gun Troop (23 men) advanced along the main road towards Ouistreham, a little farther inland.

K-Gun Troop was then supposed to turn towards the beach via Boulevard d'Angleterre (now Boulevard Winston Churchill) to link up with No. 8 Troop. However, they missed the junction and had to retrace their steps, eventually stopping on Boulevard d'Angleterre at the very spot where Marcel was killed.

Responsibility for neutralising the casino therefore fell to No. 1 Troop. They encountered anti-tank walls and ditches that had not been identified by Allied intelligence before the landings. Only with the support of a British tank were they finally able to reach and secure their objective.

Meanwhile, the remaining troops of No. 4 Commando continued their advance straight past the WN10 fortifications to capture their immediate objective: the harbour installations at Ouistreham.

Colleville-Montgomery – 6 June 2026

Colleville-Montgomery marks the exact location where the Free French Commandos came ashore on 6 June 1944 at 7:55 a.m., specifically at La Brèche. A memorial stands on the site, and on its seaward face are engraved the names of the 177 men who landed there.

On 6 June 2026, people began gathering before dawn for the commemorative ceremony, which started on the beach at 7:23 a.m.—the exact time when the first wave of the D-Day landings (the amphibious tanks) reached the shore. Their mission was to clear obstacles and secure the beach before the commandos landed.

The Free French Commandos crossed the English Channel in two Landing Craft Assault (LCA), numbered 523 and 527, accompanied by the other troops of No. 4 Commando in fourteen additional LCAs. Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson gave the order that has since become legendary:

" Messieurs les Français, passer les premiers."

As a result, the 177 Free French Commandos were the first Allied soldiers to set foot on French soil, landing at 7:55 a.m.

For the 2026 ceremony, pipers, serving commandos and other military personnel, together with representatives of the fire service and the National Gendarmerie, assembled on the beach. At precisely 7:55 a.m., the Philippe Kieffer lifeboat from Ouistreham sailed offshore and laid a wreath in the sea approximately 300 mètres from the beach, in tribute to those who landed there eighty-two years earlier.

Boulevard Winston Churchill

The memorial plaque on Boulevard Winston Churchill held particular significance this year. It marks the exact spot where Marcel Labas was killed on 6 June 1944. Marcel's English family only discovered his connection with the Free French Commandos earlier this year.

The plaque is located on the left-hand side of the boulevard, between Boulevard Commandant Kieffer and Avenue de Trouville.

Engraved on the plaque are the names of four Free French Commandos. Three belonged to K-Gun Troop: Augustin Hubert, Jean Le Moigne, and Marcel Labas. The fourth, Jean Létang, served with No. 8 Troop.

A commemorative ceremony was held there at 3:30 p.m. on 5 June 2026, attended by the Mayor of Ouistreham Riva-Bella, other dignitaries from the Calvados department, and around sixty guests.

Official wreaths were laid by the Mayor and representatives of the Calvados departmental authorities. Additional wreaths were placed by representatives of No. 4 Commando, Marcel's English family, myself, and three other private parties.

You can read the full story of Marcel in the blog article "Dad, I Have Done My Duty" on the AFCFL website.

The Ceremony of Tradition

Held each year, alternating between Colleville-Montgomery and Ouistreham, the Ceremony of Tradition is one of the French Navy's most important commemorative events. It honours the 177 Free French Commandos of the Kieffer Commando, who landed at Ouistreham on 6 June 1944, and symbolises the passing of their legacy to new generations of Fusiliers Marins (Naval Riflemen) and Commandos Marine.

During the ceremony, newly qualified personnel are awarded the fourragère, a collective military distinction that commemorates the citations and battle honours earned by their unit. Training classes are also given the name of a distinguished veteran or emblematic figure, ensuring that the memory of those who served before them lives on. This year, one class of Fusiliers Marins was named "Laurent Casalonga", in tribute to the commando who served under Philippe Kieffer and took part in the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.

The ceremony also marks the official induction of these young sailors into the community of the Fusiliers Marins and Commandos Marine. It is during this occasion that newly qualified commandos receive the iconic Green Beret, the symbol of their achievement and of their membership in this elite force. Military decorations are also presented to recognise the courage, dedication, and exemplary service of a number of personnel.

Beyond its military significance, the Ceremony of Tradition embodies the enduring values of courage, commitment, discipline, comradeship, and fidelity to the legacy of those who came before.

The 2026 ceremony took place on a secured section of Ouistreham Beach, directly opposite The Flame memorial. Held under tight security, it was attended by the Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, and numerous senior civilian and military officials.

Amfreville

Another important site of commemoration is the village of Amfreville, on the eastern bank of the River Orne and the Caen Canal.

It was in Amfreville that the Kieffer Commando spent its first night on French soil after the D-Day landings. The commandos remained there until 29 June 1944, by which time their strength had been reduced by almost half through those killed or wounded in action. Their mission was to defend the eastern flank of the bridgehead by repelling any German counter-attacks launched from the east. The most significant of these took place on 10 June, when fierce fighting resulted in the deaths of six more Free French Commandos.

Lord Lovat established his headquarters at the Saulnier Farm, located on Le Plain at Amfreville. Known ever since as "The Commandos' Farm," it played an important role during the Normandy campaign. A campaign is currently underway to preserve the farm as a protected historic site, recognising its significance in the story of the Allied landings and the Free French Commandos.

Kieffer Commando Members "Mort pour la France" During the Normandy Campaign

Nom	Date	Lieu	Commentaire
Raymond DUMENOIR	6 June	Ouistreham	Killed on the beach.
Augustin HUBERT	6 June	Ouistreham
Marcel LABAS	6 June	Ouistreham
Jean LEMOIGNE	6 June	Ouistreham
Jean-Charles LÉTANG	6 June	Ouistreham
Robert LION	6 June	Ouistreham
Émile RENAULT	6 June	Ouistreham
Jean ROUSSEAU	6 June	Ouistreham	Killed on the beach.
Raymond FLESCH	8 June	England	Wounded on the beach and evacuated to England.
Robert CROIZER	10 June	Amfreville
Lucien FOURER	10 June	Amfreville
René GESREL	10 June	Amfreville
Pierre VINAT	11 June	Amfreville
Paul ROLLIN	12 June	England	Wounded in action and evacuated to England
Félix PETERS	17 June	Amfreville	Friendly fire
Guy LAOT	25 June	Amfreville	Friendly fire
Georges GICQUEL	24 July	Amfreville	Captured by the Germans and tortured

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed this account of at least some of the commemorations marking the 82nd anniversary.

I strongly encourage you to attend at least one of these commemorations and, if you have already taken part, to come back again next year! Now that the last remaining commando of the Free French Forces is no longer with us, it is all the more important that these events are supported by the commandos’ families. Otherwise, they risk being exploited for political purposes.

Whether your relative was one of the 177 commandos who took part in the D-Day landings or not, all commando families can be assured of a warm welcome.

The AFCFL’s annual general meeting is usually held during the D-Day commemorations. As a member of the association, this is, for me, the best opportunity to meet other commando families, with whom we all share a common bond.

I look forward to meeting you all at the 83rd anniversary commemorations in 2027.

Noël Rabouhans © – 18 June 2026

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