Free French Naval Forces World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Naval History by Country :

ROYAL
NAVY

US
NAVY

GERMAN
NAVY

FRENCH
NAVY

*VIEW ALL OF OUR CURRENT ART SPECIAL OFFERS ON ONE PAGE HERE*
NAVAL ART	AVIATION ART	MILITARY ART	SPORT ART

ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :

20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS

BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS

FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

Free French Naval Forces World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Free French Naval Forces

Posts 1 to 13

Hello, My particular interest in World War II naval history are the European navies that sailed alongside the British Royal Navy. I am presently working on a scholarly paper about the British liaison teams placed aboard Free French and other allied navies-in-exile ships. These liaison teams consisted of a single junior officer, usually a SubLt or Lt of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and 2-12 communications ratings depending on the type of ship. The officer was known as a British Naval Liaison Officer or BNLO. As part of the information collection process, I am seeking the personal accounts of British officers and enlisted men who served in a liaison team on a French or other allied warship. I am also interested in the memories of veterans who served in the allied navies and were aboard ships with a RN liaison team. I am interested in any documents, letters, diaries, photographs or any published account that mentions the liaison teams. I can be reached by private message on this site or by e-mail at: jones DOT mark DOT c AT gmail DOT com Mark C. Jones

Hello Mark, I don't think this will be of much use for your paper, my Father was in the French Navy when his ship Incomprise was taken off Portsmouth in 1940. I was told by my Mother that he joined the Royal Navy in 1940 and stayed in till 1945, she also told me that to join the Royal Navy he had to change his name to an English one. I am under the impression that he stayed on the Incomprise with a British Captain till he left in 1945. It seems the Incomprise saw quite a bit of action during those years. Hope this is helpful Frank503

The ship your father sailed on Frank. Not a brilliant picture but the best I have.
Attachments :

Hi Terry, thanks very much for picture of Incomprise, I've waited 50 years to see it, thanks again!

[QUOTE=frank503;54658]Hi Terry, thanks very much for picture of Incomprise, I've waited 50 years to see it, thanks again![/QUOTE] Once again Terry thanks for your help, still not got the hang of the forums yet but will keep trying..... Frank503

Its nice to be thanked twice Frank!!;)

Hello Terry, do you know anyway of getting the crew list of L'Incomprise, as I have just discoverd from an old wedding photo of my parents my Dad's best man was called John Nelson of the crew on the L'Incomprise! Do you or anyone know if you were French and joined the Royal Navy did you have to take an English name? Sorry to be a pest, but thanks for a third time!! Regards Frank 503

Whilst sorting through some of my old photos I came across a few of ex crew members of the Battleship FS Richelieu. I took these in 1995 at the 50th Commemoration for the British Pacific and East Indies Fleets in Southsea. I hope they are of interest to someone. Regards....John
Attachments :

Sorry Frank I have made a few enquiries but so far have drawn a blank. I hope that maybe someone else in the forum might have an idea how to go about this?

It's true some french sailors who join the RN or the Free French in WW2 take a new names because their family were in France to avoid 'represailles' from German or Vichy gouvernement.

Hello Le Breton, Thank you so much for confirming that some French sailors who joined the Royal Navy changed their names for security reasons. I have been trying to find this out for many years! My Father's name was Emile Georges Marin LECAS, then he suddenly added PETERS when he transfered to the Royal Navy in1940. Do you know if this was done leagaly by deedpoll or did they just adopt the name them selves! This could mean my true surname is LECAS? Do you know anyway I could check this out? Regards frank503

Interested in this thread as I am trying to find out if a relative was indeed a Free french seaman. Does anyone know if any French sailors were present in Essex (particularly Brightlingsea area) during 1943-44? The comment about Anglicising names is very interesting as the English name we were given has proved untraceable so far!

I think the main problem at that time was that many "Free" French servicemen were sentenced to death "par coutumance" by Vichy. This applied to Officers in particular. (Thus Colonel MAGRIN VERNEREY who participated in the Narvik landings had to adopt the name MONCLAR to protect himself.) Many French famillies suffered reprisals during WW2. Relatives often being imprisoned or deported.:(

Everything we obtain for this site is shown on the site, we do not have any more photos, crew lists or further information on any of the ships.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE. ALL IMAGES DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW, AND ARE OWNED BY CRANSTON FINE ARTS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. NO REPRODUCTION OR COPYING ALLOWED ON OTHER WEBSITES, BOOKS OR ARTICLES WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT.

Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com

Return to Home Page