British Army officers fighting with the French in French Vietnam

Discussion in 'Vietnam' started by davidbfpo, Jun 24, 2023.

  1. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Came across an obituary of a Major General Tillotson in The Daily Telegraph today (behind a pay wall) and so I cite a few sentences - that aroused my curiousity - given that we were not officially to my limited knowledge committed to defending French colonial rule of Indo-China.

    I am well aware of the post-VJ Day British role in French Vietnam, fighting the Viet Minh and supervising the exit of the Japanese. There was an official British Mission who visited Dien Bien Phu before the siege began.

    So what did this officer do:
    From: Major General Michael Tillotson, soldier awarded the Croix de Guerre for courage in Vietnam – obituary

    In the comments was a passage about another officer serving there:
    [1] Possibly the 10th Company, 3rd Battalion, 3e REI or 1st Battalion, 5e REI. From: Foreign Legion events: October 21 – 31 | French Foreign Legion Information

    [2] See: Operation Mouette - Wikipedia 15 Oct 1953 – 7 Nov 1953

    [3] Taken from: Peter N R Stewart-Richardson | ParaData and behind a paywall: Brigadier Peter 'Scrubber' Stewart-Richardson - obituary

    [4] Many websites found all in French and a few indicate they served in Indo-China.
     
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Another obituary (behind a pay wall) in the Daily Telegraph, for an infantry officer who whilst with the Royal Welch, post-Korea service:
    From: Captain Ian Powys, soldier decorated for his service in Korea – obituary
     
  3. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Lt Col. Stewart-Richardson ( Guards/Para)
    Extract From Para Data


    He served in 2nd Bn in Malaya during the early phase of the Emergency and, in 1950, his thirst for adventure led him to French Indo-China under the guise of taking a spot of leave.

    He was with the 5ème Cuirassiers near Ben Cat (now in Vietnam) when Viet Minh insurgents ambushed his convoy. He helped the French silence one machine-gun but was wounded in the thigh while attacking another. He was awarded a Croix de Guerre by the C-in-C French Union Forces, General Marcel Carpentier, but questions were asked in Parliament and he was not permitted to wear the medal. In 1951 he returned to England and joined No 1 (Guards) Independent Parachute Company, which deployed for two years in Middle Eastern and North African countries, Cyprus and the Suez Canal Zone. Staff postings to 3rd Independent Infantry Brigade in Cyprus and HQ Tripolitanian Area, Libya, were followed by a spell as an instructor at the School of Infantry, Warminster. He was appointed MBE (Military) in 1964.

    Stewart Richardson ( Scrubber) was my CO for a couple of years to describe him as Eccentric would be an understatement.
     
    TijgerB likes this.

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