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1er Bataillon
Fusiliers Marins Commando
"Commando Kieffer"
France
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At 0731 hrs of June 6, 1944, LCIs 523 and 527 captained by
Jack Berry and Charles Craven land on Sword Beach the n°1 and n°8 troops
of the 4 Commando. These two troops are made of 177 frenchmen of the 1er
Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commando under Commander Philippe Kieffer.
Their mission is to clear the Riva-Bella coastal sector and then, marching through
enemy territory, link-up with the paratroopers of the 6th Airborne holding the
Orne bridgehead.
As soon as they set foot on the soil of France, the commandos
are facing a fierce german defense and taken under a vicious crossfire from
the bunkers. The beach has to be crossed at all cost to regroup near the ruin
of an holiday camp where they lay down their rucksacks before going on with
their mission. The first men are killed in the water or on the beach.
From 0800 to 1100 hrs, men of 4 Commando are fighting in
the steets of Riva Bella to silence the german trenches, bunkers and snipers.
The Casino pillbox fell at 0930 hrs with help from a Sherman commandeered by
Philip Kieffer. After the capture of the Casino the fightings subside, the beaches
are cleared and the commandos return to the holiday camp to pick up their equipment
and carry on with their next mission.
After a brief respite, men of 4 Commando take the Colleville
road around 1300 hrs and head for the east side of the Orne. They cross the
Canal and the Orne at Bénouville and at the end of the day they dig in
at Le Plein where they are supposed to be relieved within 8 days but will remain
there for 8 weeks.
At the end of the day, the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers
Marins Commando has suffered 41 killed or wounded.
The 177 frenchmen of the 1er BFMC :
| L/Cpl. A. Allain |
Cpl. J.Gautier (Zivohlava) |
Sgt. G. Messanot |
| Lieut. P. Amaury |
Cpl. L.Gautier
|
L/Cpl. Y. Meudal |
| Pvt. F. Andriot |
Pvt. R.Gersel
|
L/Sgt. J. Moal |
| L/Cpl. A. Archieri |
Pvt. M.Gery |
Pvt. R. Moguerou |
| Cpl. A. Autin |
L/Cpl. H.Gicquel |
L/Cpl. J. Monceaux |
| 2/Lieut. A. Bagot |
L/Cpl. L.Godard |
L/Cpl. J. Montean |
| L/Cpl. N. Ballaro |
Pvt. R.Goujon |
Sgt. G. de Montlaur |
| Sgt. M. Barbe |
Cpl. O.Gouriou |
Cpl. J. Morel |
| L/Cpl. L. Bégot |
L/Cpl. A.Grail |
Sgt. H. Nassau de Warigny |
| Cpl. A. Bernard |
L/Cpl. F.Grinspin (Grispin) |
Captain R. de Naurois |
| L/Cpl. B. Beux |
Pvt. F.Guezennec |
L/Cpl. A. Neven |
| Cpl. J. Biestro |
Pvt. P.Guidicelli |
Pvt. J. Neven |
| Sgt. P. Boccador |
Cpl. J.Guilcher |
L/Cpl. J. Nicot |
| L/Cpl. G. Bollinger(Bollore) |
L/Cpl. G.Guillou |
L/Cpl. M. Niel |
| L/Sgt. O. Bouarfa |
L/Cpl. E.Guinebault |
Pvt. R. Ohuger |
| L/Cpl. G. Bouchard |
Pvt. E.Guy |
Pvt. J. Ollivier (Guivarch) |
| L/Cpl. E. Bougrain |
L/Cpl. J.Guyader |
L/Sgt. G. Paillet |
| Pvt. R. Boulanger |
Sgt. G.Hattu |
L/Cpl. J. Pérone |
| L/Cpl. J. BouiIIy |
Sgt. J.Horny |
Pvt. J. Peters |
| L/Cpl. A. Bourret |
Sgt. J.Hourcourigaray |
L/Cpl. R. Piauge |
| L/Cpl. G. Briand |
2/Lieut. A.Hubert |
L/Cpl. G. Picou |
| Sgt. P. Briat |
2/Lieut. L.Hulot |
Lieut. J. Pinelli |
| Sgt. R. Bucher |
L/Sgt. R.Jovenin |
Cpl. J. Piriou |
| Cpl. L. Cabellan |
L/Cpl. A. Jung |
L/Cpl. J. Plancher |
| L/Cpl. M. Caille |
Cpl. J. Kermarec |
L/Cpl. N. Poli |
| Sgt. A. Cartier |
Major Ph. Kieffer |
L/Cpl. L. Prévost |
| Cpl. L. Casalonga |
Sgt. Major F. Klopfenstein |
Pvt. J. Priez |
| Cpl. J. Cevoz-Mami |
L/Cpl. M. Labas |
L/Cpl. Y. Quentric |
| Sgt. Major P. Chausse |
Cpl. J. Laffont |
Cpl. P. Quere |
| Cpl. M. Chauvet |
Cpl. M. Lahouze |
L/Cpl. M. Raulin |
| Cpl. P. Chouteau |
Sgt. L. Lanternier |
Pvt. M. Ravel |
| L/Cpl. G. Coppin |
L/Cpl. G. Laot |
L/Cpl. J. Reiffers |
| Pvt. M. Corbin |
Sgt. Major A. Lardennois |
L/Cpl. E. Renault |
| L/Sgt. G. Coste |
Sgt. M. Laventure |
Cpl. H. Richemont |
| L/Cpl. J. Couturier |
Sgt. Major M. Lavezzi |
Cpl. P. Richen |
| L/Sgt. R. Croizer |
Cpl. J. Le Bris |
L/Cpl. M. Riveau |
| L/Cpl. L. Danson |
Cpl. H. Lechaponnier |
Sgt. R. Roelandt |
| L/Cpl. R. Dechambou |
L/Cpl. M. Le Floch |
L/Cpl. P. Roîlin |
| Cpl. P. Demonet |
Cpl. J. Le Goff |
Cpl. G. Ropert |
| L/Cpl. A. Denereaz |
L/Cpl. M. Legrand |
Pvt. R. Rossey |
| L/Cpl. M. Derrien |
Cpl. J.Lemoigne |
L/Cpl. M. Rougier |
| L/Cpl. F. Devager |
L/Cpl. R. Le Morvan |
Pvt. J. Rousseau |
| L/Sgt. H. Dorfsman |
L/Sgt. J. Le Naour |
Cpl. R. Roux |
| L/Cpl. R. Ducasse |
L/Cpl. R. Leostic |
Cpl. M. Rouxel |
| Sgt. R. Dumanoir |
L/Cpl. B. Le Reste |
Cpl. Y. Ruppé |
| L/Cpl. A. Dupont |
L/Cpl. A. Le Rigoleur |
Sgt. R. Saerens |
| Cpl. P. Ernault |
Pvt. R. Lesca |
Cpl. G. Scherer |
| L/Cpl. G. Fagou |
Cpl. J. Letang |
Sgt. J. Senée |
| W.O.1 H. Faure |
Captain R. Lion |
Cpl. J. Simon |
| L/Cpl. R. Flesch |
Lieut. A. Lofi |
L/Cpl. R. Strina |
| Cpl. A. Foliot |
Sgt. M. Logeais |
Cpl. P. Tanniou |
| L/Cpl. R. Fougere |
Cpl. R. Lossec |
Sgt. M. Thubé |
| Cpl. L. Fourer |
L/Cpl. R. Madrias |
L/Cpl. E. Troyard |
| L/Cpl. M. Fromager |
Cpl. F. Magy |
L/Cpl. C. Valentin |
| L/Cpl. R. Gabriel |
Pvt. A. Maler |
Cpl. P. Vinat |
| Cpl. R. Gadou |
Sgt. P. Mariaccia |
L/Cpl. M. Vincent |
| L/Cpl. J. Gallon |
L/Cpl. R. Massin |
Lieut. F. Vourch |
| Cpl. M. Gannat |
L/Cpl. J. Masson |
Lieut. G. Vourch |
| Cpl. F. Garrabos |
2/Lieut. J. Mazeas |
L/Cpl. H. Wallen |
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