French honour Second World War veteran Francois Andriot - Commando Kieffer, 4 Commando

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 12/10/2014 19:42:13

One of just ten surviving French commandos from 1944, Mr Andriot of Chart Place, Wigmore, has lived in England since he returned after the war to marry his English sweetheart Marie, but was too frail to attend the 70th anniversary ceremony at Ouistreum in July, where he would have been presented to the Queen and promoted to the rank of officer in France?s prestigious Legion of Honour.

Determined he should get the honour, the French president Francois Holland wrote to 93-year-old Mr Andriot to confirm it would be presented in England - and on Wednesday a delegation from France performed the ceremony at Chatham?s Bridgewood Manor Hotel.

Contains photo of Felix Crispin, and mentions Charles Husson.

His friend Charles was less fortunate, killed five or six weeks after D Day - yet he too died knowing he had carried French pride back to his homeland.

Francois is mentioned on the 4 Commando nominal roll[1], but currently neither of the names mentioned in the article are. The nominal roles are of course a work in progress.

Perhaps somebody can find more information on Charles and Felix.

[Edit see my subsequent posting below!]

Read full article
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-salute-you-francois-25097/

[1] http://www.commandoveterans.org/node/1197

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 12/10/2014 19:48:45

Thanks to Bill Harvey's posting here http://forum.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/4555.page

I spotted this link
http://musee.fusco.lorient.free.fr/biofusco_base_177.htm

Which has a Félix GRISPIN who looks very much like the Felix "Crispin" in the Kent Online article. A typo ?

http://musee.fusco.lorient.free.fr/biofuscogrispin.htm

Our nominal roll has an entry for "CPL GRISPIN F"

It seems my reading comprehension is, well a little poor !

From the Kent Online article, it clearly says

Charles joined the paratroopers while Francois joined Commando Kieffer

Apologies )

I emailed the Museum a link to the Kent Online article.