Memorials and Monuments on the Isle of Wight - Cowes : Free French Memorial

Location

In the shelter at The Parade, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31

IWM War Memorials Archive Record

Link : War Memorials Archive Reference 21783

Description

Bronze memorial plaque, with enamel cross of Lorraine.

The original enamel badge was damaged and has been replaced.

Memorial

Inscription

CLOSE TO THESE PREMISES
IN MARVIN'S YARD
WERE BASED FROM 1940 TO 1945
THE FREE FRENCH SUBMARINE CHASERS
UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN
FIRST DESTROYER FLOTILLA.
THEY WERE IN THE FIGHTING LINE
IN THE CHANNEL
NOTABLY IN THE COWES BLITZ
BRUNEVAL AND DIEPPE RAIDS
LIBERATION OF FRANCE
+
+
PRES D'ICI
A MARVIN'S YARD
FURENT BASES DE 1940 A 1945
LES CHASSEURS DES F.N.F.L.
SOUS LES ORDRES DU COMMANDANT
DE LA PREMIERE FLOTILLE DE TORPILLEURS
ILS ETAIENT EN PREMIERE LIGNE DANS LA MANCHE
PARTICULIEREMENT LORS DU BOMBARDMENT DE COWES
DES RAIDS DE BRUNEVAL ET DIEPPE
ET LA LIBERATION DE LA FRANCE

Many French sailors served in this unit. At least four died while based in Cowes, while others feature in local newspaper reports for a variety of reasons, either because they were involved with concerts, or football matches, or appeared in the local courts. At least three men married local girls.

Those known to have died :
	Jean Francis Marie BERTHOU Quartermaster Cook	Drowned, River Medina, Cowes, 3 Nov 1942. Initially buried at Northwood Cemetery, 7 Nov 1942. Exhumed for re-burial at Brookwood Cemetery, 7 Dec 1949.
	René François CHATEAU-REYNARD Chief Radio Officer	Died at Military Hospital, Totland Bay. Initially buried at Northwood Cemetery, 9 Mar 1945. Exhumed for re-burial at Brookwood Cemetery, 7 Dec 1950.
	Dominique GRAZIANI Naval Rating	Accidentally killed during practice at sea, Dec 1944. Initially buried at Northwood Cemetery, 6 Dec 1944. Exhumed for re-burial at Brookwood Cemetery, 7 Dec 1950.
	Pierre Michael GUILCHER	Killed in the bombing of Cowes, 4/5 May 1942. Initially buried at Northwood Cemetery, 8 May 1942. Exhumed for re-burial in France, 7 Dec 1948.	Biography on the National Memorial to the Sailors who died for France website.
	Robert QUEGINIER	Died at the Military Hospital, Totland Bay. Initially buried at Northwood Cemetery, 25 Nov 1944. Exhumed for re-burial in France, 7 Dec 1951.
	Jacques VIEL Quartermaster Mechanic	Killed in an accident at Mill Hill Station, Cowes, 3 Nov 1942. Initially buried at Northwood Cemetery, 7 Nov 1942. Exhumed for re-burial in France, 7 Dec 1950.
Those known to have married :
	Louis Henri BERTHO Petty Officer	Married Dorothy Lilian May HATCHER, at St Thomas's R.C. Church, Cowes, 6 Sep 1941.
	François KERGOAT Chief Petty Officer	Married Florence Adelaide LEWIS, at St Thomas's R.C. Church, Cowes, 9 May 1942.
	Pierre GAREL	Married Kathleen Julia CONROY, in Portsmouth, Mar qtr 1943.
Others mentioned in newspaper reports :
	Pierre BAZIN	Drunk and disorderly, [IWCP 24 May 1941]
	REGLER	Played for Cowes football club, used to play for Calais, [IWCP 13 Dec 1941]
	Noel MELOU and Joseph MILLENCE	Drunk and disorderly, [IWCP 7 Feb 1942]
	Marcel AUSSANT, René QUESNEL, Charles LABAYE, and Albert COUDRAY	Drunk and disorderly, [IWCP 7 Nov 1942]

This list is of course not exhaustive.

Page last updated : 13 October 2020 (added further men who died)

Memorials & Monumentson the Isle of Wight - Cowes : Free French Memorial -

Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Cowes : Free French Memorial -