R M Tessier - Forces Françaises Libres - translation and assistance

Discussion in 'Allied Units - Others' started by AB64, Jan 20, 2023.

  1. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Just picked up this AB64 to a Free French soldier and hoping for some help with translation and also general help with his service as its not really an area I understand, from what I can see he served in the French Army around 1935-38, he then went on to serve in the Police in Shanghai (I assume in the French Concession) he then seemed to volunteer for the FFL ( Le Comité de la France Libre de Chine - Fondation de la France Libre (france-libre.net) gives some info on the Free French in China) and made his way to Africa - looks like he served with 14BM ( bataillons de marche no 14) who were part of 2nd Cameroon Marching Brigade who became part of Mixed brigade of Free French Africa then after the Brigade disbanded 14BM became part of the French Equatorial Africa and Somalia regiment. Looks like he went to France then Germany then on to French Indo-China. I could be miles out so if anyone has a better idea of his service please feel free to pitch in.

    IMG_20230120_0001.jpg IMG_20230120_0002.jpg IMG_20230120_0003.jpg IMG_20230120_0004.jpg IMG_20230120_0005.jpg IMG_20230120_0006.jpg IMG_20230120_0007.jpg IMG_20230120_0008.jpg IMG_20230120_0009.jpg IMG_20230120_0010.jpg IMG_20230120_0011.jpg IMG_20230120_0012.jpg IMG_20230120_0013.jpg IMG_20230120_0014.jpg
     
  2. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    According to the 09 jpeg above he was at Milford on 19th November 1940, and at Camberley on 30th November 1940. On the 07 jpeg it says that he had joined the Free French at Shanghai, China, on 22nd September 1940. He was promoted to "sergent chef" on 28th August 1941. In November 1941 he was at "Bangue" ( very hard to read ) { Africa ?} and served under the military commandant of Cameron from 25th February 1942. By 1st July 1944 he was an "Adjudant" or Warrant Officer.

    He left "FES" by train on 27th September 1944 and "passed the frontier" on 28th September 1944. He was at Oran, Algeria, by 29th September 1944. He was at Antibes, France, by 24th March 1945. He then took part in attacks at Pont de Gue{?}, St. Vivien de Palais, and Soulac between 15th and 21st April 1945.(see map ) He left the Medoc sector for La Rochelle by 29th April 1945. He participated in the occupation of the pocket of La Rochelle on 9th June 1945 ( note date: see screenshot.) He left the army on 1st July 1945.

    On the 014 jpeg there is a certificate date 7th April 1953 which states that for the previous 39 months he had been an "Inspecteur 1st Class" in the Security Service of the { French }High Commissioner in South Vietnam.

    Rochelle 9th June 1945.png

    Lesparre to Soulac April 1945.png
     
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  3. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Wiki refers to the Vichy French ruled French Concession lasting till July 1943, i.e. occupied fully by the Japanese, albeit with their "puppet" state being in charge. There was a French Consular Police too, although very little online readily found.
    See: The World at War - French Concessions in China 1842 - 1953 and Shanghai French Concession - Wikipedia

    Two of the places named by papiermache:
    That will be Bangui, now in the Central African Republic, an ex-French colony; Wiki indicates it was under Vichy and Free French control, minus when it became Free French.

    Second:
    That will be Fez, a city in Morocco and there was (and is) a railway connection into Algeria.
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2023
  4. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Thanks. I would be interested to know what M. Roger Marius Tessier thought of Vichy France, given he joined the Free French and had gone a long way from China to Surrey in late 1940 to register :

    "Forces Francaises Libres numéro de la Liste Matricule 258"

    { 005 jpeg } he was at Brazzaville on 7th October 1941.

    He was in the 2 Cie of B.M.14. This is how the typed text appears, apparently cut at the top, and glued as a continuation of his handwritten service record { 007 jpeg }:

    Screen Shot 2023-01-21 at 10.09.21.png
     
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  5. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    His list of campaigns shows him back in the Far East by November 1945:

    Screen Shot 2023-01-21 at 10.35.17.png
     
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  6. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Thank you both for your additional notes, I hadn't realised how bad the scans were, I normally do them much better but so I could fit them all in one post I turned it down a bit but looking back on them now I see they aren't making it easy, I'll have another go as it will make them easier
     
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  7. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    All top stuff folks, and agreed with wholeheartedly.

    Only thing to add currently is that card/photo 9 has Mr Tessier with/at/till/around the 2emé Bureau (January '41) after the Camberley entry.

    Vetted definitely; briefed probably. Subsequently, and given his later role in South Vietnam, a spookish side possibly. And tying in with papiermache and David's thoughts he likely fed back his feelings (and more?) on vichy at every/any opportunity.

    Finding evidence of such though is for me doubtful. France SIS is pretty tight on what reaches the public domain, especially from the dark days.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2023
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  8. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    The last typed section on card/photo 9 (above the handwritten bottom bit) has his scores obtained in his tests for prospective officer appointment (as an aspirant or sous-leuitenant - note; poor spelling all mine!)

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.

    P.S. out and about on the road. Typing on old (small!) phone a real faff for an old codger.

    N.b. I am not the driver!
     
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  9. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Scans moved up from 200dpi to 400dpi (I usually do 600dpi but then end up having to resize to upload) which hopefully makes the detail easier to read, looks like scan 7 is the main source of info

    IMG_20230121_0001.jpg IMG_20230121_0002.jpg IMG_20230121_0003.jpg IMG_20230121_0004.jpg IMG_20230121_0005.jpg IMG_20230121_0006.jpg IMG_20230121_0007.jpg IMG_20230121_0008.jpg IMG_20230121_0009.jpg IMG_20230121_0010.jpg IMG_20230121_0011.jpg IMG_20230121_0012.jpg IMG_20230121_0013.jpg
     
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  10. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    That doesn’t appear to have worked AB64 – the files are still about the same size (around 80kb) and the definition hasn’t improved. Are you using MS Picture Manager to compress the files by any chance? This might give this result. What is the size of the scanned files? Try using ‘resize’ if the files are too large as this will give you more control – just reduce the percentage until you are within the site’s parameters.

    Personally, I found your images fine except, frustratingly, that for 0007.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2023
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  11. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the new photos. The name "Tessier" brings up connections to Huguenot history and ancient events in La Rochelle, so I have digressed a little, but these are rough transcripts, minus accents. His time in the reserve in 1937 and 1938 is shown, plus his year's national service commencing October 1934.

    Ancient history:

    Screen Shot 2023-01-21 at 11.59.31.png

    001 jpeg
    Tessier Roger Marius
    15 September 1914
    Paris
    Seine
    fonctionnaire = official / civil servant
    Regular Army
    duree de la guerre plus 3 mois
    15-11-40
    1 metre 80 cm
    74 kilos
    Robuste complexion
    Eyes brunes - vert
    Hair Chatain foncee
    licatrice sur le nez
    assigy son engorgement digestif ( in his own hand?)
    Depot Central Des F.F.L.
    003 jpeg
    Father M. Tessier ( in his own hand?)
    Mother Mme Tessier
    3 Rue Agrippa d'Aubigne
    Paris
    1.d 0 11

    004 jpeg
    Etable d'apres le declarations de l'interne
    Classe 1940
    Designation des Corps B.M.14
    005 jpeg
    Recruitement de l'A.E.F operant pour les Forces Francaises Libres
    TESSIER
    Roger Marius
    Ne 16 September 1914
    Paris
    departement de la Seine
    residant a Brazzaville
    departement du Pool
    Profession Police Francaise Shanghai (Chine)
    Fils de Marius Gustave Leon {Tessier}
    et de Conderat Alphonsine Marthe {Tessier}
    domiciles a Paris 3 Rue Agrippa d'Aubigne (4e)
    departement d Seine
    Forces Francaises Libres
    numero de la Liste Matricule 258

    006 jpeg
    Cheveux: Chatain foncee
    Yeux: Bruns
    Front: droit
    Visage: Allonge
    1 metre 80 centimetres
    Engage volontaire a Shanghai le 22-9-40 au titre des Forces Francaises Libres
    A Brazzaville 7th October 1941

    007 jpeg
    Engage par devaneaument d'Appel de 17.10.34 a Paris au 6e Bureau pour 1 an au 20e B.C.A.
    Libere le 20-10-35
    A Periode effective du 7-11-37 au 21-11-37
    au ^6e R1
    A Periode effective du 9-9-38 au 7-10-38
    au ^6e R1
    Affecte le special durant la guerre a la disposition du Colonel Commandant les Forces Francaises en Chine
     
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  12. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Files range between 1 and 2.5 MB, after scanning I haven't done anything to manage - normally I scan then use Paint to resize so they work - I'll try redoing 7 in segments so they don't squash onto the post
     
  13. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

  14. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    From Post 2 by papiermache:
    I would expect the reference to Milford means the village of that name in Surrey:
    From: Milford: Surrey village life

    Given that Vichy France was the legal and de facto government in Shanghai, I would expect joining the Free French in Shanghai was a covert decision, especially for a police officer. There was also an advantage being a police officer in knowing how to leave quickly and escape the Vichy regime there. It is also possible Vichy authorities preferred disloyal people to leave.

    So it took him fifty eight days to travel from Shanghai to Milford, England. I would rule out returning to France, in part by then the Mediterranean was a war zone (with Italy). So, travelling via Canada / USA and then taking a ship to the UK seems likely, with "laissez passer" asking those nations to enable his travel to the UK.
     
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  15. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    I think where I put * the original is a shortening. It is curious that the method of transport and even exact times are recorded. I am uncertain about "Quéyrac le 2-7-45.{SIC} Débar-qué à, Inçon le 29-4-45." Inçon may be "incon" or short for "unknown."


    Engagé Volontaire pour la durée de la
    querre à Shanghai au titre des Forces
    Francaises Libres le 22.9.40
    Nommé Sergent Chef le 28.8.41
    Arrivé à Bangui le 22/10/41, par Ales{?} "
    Frontière "
    Affecté au Agoc. ( 4: Cie mixte ) le
    16/10/41.
    Mis à la disposition du Cdt Militaire du
    Cammeroun et dirigé au? Yabun dé le 25/2/42
    Nommé au grade d'Adjudant
    le 1 juillet 1944

    { typed paper glued on }

    : de la 2° Cie du B.M.14
    : quitte FES p. train sple.
    : le 27-9-44. passe la fron
    : tière le 28-9-44.
    : Arrive à ORAN (Algerie)
    : le 29-9-44. Le B.M.14
    : deviant B.C.E. {?}

    Quitte Antibes le 2{?}4
    mars 1945 par voie fer
    rée à destination du
    Frontière de l'Afrique de l'Ouest*. Débarqué
    à Lesparre le 15{?} -4-45
    Aux Armée c/e du dit
    jour. Participe aux atta-
    ques du Pont de Gua, de St.
    Vivien de Palais et de
    Soulac du 15 au 21-4-45.
    Quitte {deleted}
    le secteur du Médoc pour ?
    celui de la Rochelle par
    voie ferrée.Débarqué à
    Quéyrac le 2-7-45.{SIC} Débar-
    qué à, Inçon le 29-4-45.
    Participe à l'occupa-
    tion de la poche de la
    Rochelle du 9 juin 1945.
    Quitte Marans par voie
    ferrée ( Ile d'ELIN ) le 29
    juin 1945 à 8h à destina-
    tion de Saintes. Arrivé
    à Saintes le 29 juin 45
    à 20h.15. Cesse d'etre
    aux Armées le 1-7-45.
    Quitte Saintes lev10
    juillet 1945 à 16 hres
    par voie ferrée voie
    ferrée à des-
    tination de Bordeaux.
    Arrivé à Bordeaux le
    10 juillet 1945 à 0.15
    heures.
     
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  16. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Quéyrac is on the peninsula with the Gironde estuary to the east and the Atlantic to the west. Medoc could be a town there, I know it as a type / label for wine of that peninsula (Medoc is mentioned earlier in Post 2 as a sector) ..See: Queyrac - Wikipedia

    du Pont de Gua is actually Pont de Gau, on the French Mediterranean coast, now known as a bird sanctuary.. See: Parc ornithologique de Pont-de-Gau — Wikipédia
     
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  17. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Screen Shot 2023-01-21 at 15.12.48.png

    A case of Gua-Gau, methinks, Watson! I can't make this on the Mediterranean coast and it does not fit the narrative, neither is my transcription at fault.


    Screen Shot 2023-01-21 at 15.15.55.png

    Thanks for Queyrac.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2023
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  18. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    From a French website France Libre, concerning leaving Shanghai in 1940/1941:

    "The task of organizing the departure of volunteers for the armies of General de Gaulle was not easy, apart from the very risk taken by those who were in charge of it. Our list includes fifty-two names; the incineration of our documents on December 8, 1941 did not allow us to keep those of the one hundred and three French sailors of the merchant navy and those of the eighty-four legionnaires expelled from Indochina who, too, left to help the country.

    Two hundred and thirty-nine volunteers left Shanghai, and this figure can give us just cause for pride.

    Two men were especially responsible for this work: Égal and J. Reynaud.

    Risky work with regard to the French soldiers and the sailors of the navy, so risky even that, if the departure of the soldiers only brought about more formal than effective complaints, the departure of the sailors inflamed the rage of the commandant Ruynaud de Saint-Georges, who decided on the arrest of Égal; J. Reynaud only narrowly escaped it.

    Difficult work also: Material difficulties. At the beginning it would have been necessary to pay passages at 80 pounds per person, which required many negotiations; then it was only necessary to advance the necessary sum for the passage to Hong-Kong; it was also necessary to give a small nest egg, 5 pounds to 15 U.S. dollars. It was necessary to organize medical visits by a doctor approved by the British Embassy, visits which had to be planned in such a way as to avoid indiscretions; the purchase of civilian clothes and the creation of a real dressing room for soldiers or sailors; the installation of the starters in a safe and secret place while waiting for the boat; luggage camouflage.

    To these material difficulties were added others: there was little resistance on the part of the chiefs of the police and the municipality, but it would be an exaggeration to say that there was the best will. It took all the energy of Egal, supported by the military attaché and the press attaché, to break this passivity. It was even necessary for Egal, in a meeting with the British ambassador, to very courageously take on all the responsibilities and all the risks. “General de Gaulle, he said, asks me for men. I will send men no matter what."

    The magnificent ardor of the volunteers and their guts; the help given by Frenchmen like Meunier, whose house in Hongjao hid many volunteers in transit; like Jehl; like May, the luggage specialist, were for us the best encouragement for the continuation of our work.

    The help also of our foreign friends: you all know the name of Eric Davies and it would take pages to relate all the services rendered by him and his friends. For example, Hubert, of the Canadian Pacific, who arranged discreet stays for the volunteers at the Y.M.C.A. ; let us cite Carrière, who embarked three French soldiers as Dutch sailors on one of his boats; let us quote Georges Guhl, the owner of the Brasserie Suisse Broadway, who often gave a very useful shelter to ours.

    A comical note: Eric Davies, commander of the Special Police, once dressed some volunteers as very special policemen and they all passed this uniform in front of other policemen - real ones - responsible for spotting them.

    Let us pay tribute today to all those who actively participated in the organization of these departures; send the testimony of our admiration to the volunteers whose action saved our country.

    The organization of the movement, the propaganda, the sending of volunteers required funds and the establishment of a financial service. Were in charge of this service, successively Meunier, R. Pontet, Bouvier and finally Andrefouet. Our fund was supplied by the monthly contributions of the members; by subscriptions made at meetings or, in certain circumstances, by exceptional payments made either by members of the group or by foreign friends.

    In the presence of this activity and the magnitude taken day by day by our movement, the French local authorities grew impatient. Denunciations, denouncements and slanders were the order of the day, while our authorities endeavored to thwart our efforts and our propaganda. The recruitment of volunteers was their pet peeve. The army and especially the navy rose up violently against this recruitment which, they said, weakened their numbers, but which in reality only threw opprobrium on those who remained insensitive to the call of the fatherland. The same applies to the recruitment of police officers and municipal employees. All this personnel was considered intangible and necessary for an administration which, however, was soon to be returned.

    It was above all about this that the clash with the authorities occurred. As early as October 1940, threats were made following the first departure of soldiers. As the departures continued, the authorities decided to arrest the leader of the movement."

    Google translate rendition of part of the article found here:
    « France Quand Même », Comité Français Libre de Chine - Fondation de la France Libre

    There is a later, shorter, article covering the same ground:
    Le Comité de la France Libre de Chine - Fondation de la France Libre


    Australian Archives has this file, unfortunately not digitised as yet+:
    Item details for: A659, 1941/1/2183
    Request copy
    Title
    Evacuation of members of Free French Forces from Shanghai - Visas for
    Contents date range
    1941 - 1941
    Series number
    A659
    Click to see which government agency or person created this item.
    Control symbol
    1941/1/2183
    Citation
    NAA: A659, 1941/1/2183
    Item ID
    80612

    Other files in Australian Archives are digitised: search for "Free French."
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2023
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  19. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    That looks like the webpage I mentioned in my first post, although oddly sitting reading it in your post it came through a lot more sensibly and clearly than when I tried google translate, not sure if you tidied up some of the context or odd translation but it helped
     
  20. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    IMG_0865ed.jpg No editing used, except that I substituted the word "incineration" for the Google Translate version: "holocaust." Thanks for posting this man's record, it has led to other lines of enquiry, one of David's links highlighted my ignorance, and, not least, trying to find my French dictionaries. I rediscovered the oldest, an 1828 French/English and English/French bought for £1.75 because I felt sorry for it , and a 1913 Larousse, which belonged to a very old friend long gone, but the others are somewhere. But I am not pretending, because Google T has done the hard work, and I cannot speak the language at all.
     
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