Loulounug
Member
Hello Forum
Here is a presentation of one of the most "wanted" pieces in the French side of the collection
It's a model 1935 tankist jacket, a hard one to find these days
But when the most are unamed, this one have one and.... it's not nobody !
Jacket itself
And here come the great part
This one is attributed to second lieutnant (Sous lieutenant ) Louis MAGREY, tank commander of the feared B1 Bis Tanks
Louis Robert Joseph MAGREY was born on August 6, 1913, in Luxeuil-les-Bains in Haute-Saône.
Admitted on Military Class in 1933.
Admitted to the Special Military School with keychains, promotion Alexander I. Ranked 240th out of 304 students in 1936. Posted on the tank speciality on 1 September 1936, with the rank of second lieutenant on 1 October.
Passed by 511th, 508th RCC, 8th BCC.
(RCC = Régiment De Char de Combat (Tank Regiment) / BCC = Bataillon de Char de Combat (Tank Bataillon)
Awarded the 1939 war cross with vermeil star: Brave and calm officer. On May 16, 1940, his tank being destroyed by a bomb during a displacement, took command of a subordinate tank. Meeting the enemy on the 17th at Hauteville, and although lower in number, engaged the fight, destroying several tanks, including a P.Z.K.W. 4, and putting the others on the run.
Awarded the Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.
He died in captivity on 4 February 1945 at the Nieubourg camp on Weser (Neuburg).
During the battle of France, he was first attached in a B1 Bis called "LILLE" of 8th BCC
Here is a picture of the first tank he was, before it was destroyed by air attack (May 16 1940)
Them, he took command of a second tank after the air attack (as an commander of the tank squad), the B1 Bis "MISTRAL" to continue an counter attack near Le Catelêt
Here is a short story of the combat
This 2nd column is followed by a 3rd column composed of buses carrying various infantry/logistics/HQ troops from many different units. They are led by the B1bis 'Mistral' and they leave Wassigny at 20h30 /21h00.
The B1bis 'Mistral' from 3/15e BCC is also in Wassigny but will join the other B1bis tanks later. This tank did not move with the 2nd column because the crew was exhausted after several days of combat and movement without sleeping at all. The B1bis 'Mistral' is also not very nice to see, there are many parts of German bodies (flesh, uniform parts etc.) stuck in the elements of the tranks. Mainly from the combats in Landrecies on May 17. Indeed, the B1bis 'Mistral' pursued several German soldiers by driving through the walls of a house to kill them.
Arriving at Bohain, the B1bis 'Mistral' spearheading the column spots 2-3 German AFVs and a destroyed blockade. Sous-Lieutenant Raiffaud concludes that the town is occupied by the enemy. They spent the night in the fields around. At dawn (May 17) they go on, avoiding Bohain and heading to Le Catelet.
The 3rd column meets the Panhard 178 'Fracas' from 4th platoon of the 2e GRDI (9e DIM) commanded by Aspirant Alain de Mierry. This armored car is the single survivor of its platoon. It will open the way to Le Catelet.
The B1bis 'Mistral' meets Lieutenant Magrey from 8e BCC on the road. He is included in the crew.
At 10h00 they arrive in front of Le Catelet where 2 German armored cars can be seen destroyed.
Entering in the town and crossing a square, the Panhard 178 is ambushed by German AT guns firing from different directions. The turret is hi on the right and on the left but without serious damage and no one is wounded. Immediately the 2nd driver (the Panhard 178 has a dual drive) moves back while several projectiles are passing in front of the armored car.
The B1bis 'Mistral' which remained far behind the Panhard 178 continues to advance. It destroyes an AT gun (or a tank according to the driver) hidden behind a building and moves on to the bridge over the Escaut River. Having reached the bridge, the commander sees French troops on the other bank and believes that he has joined French lines. Lieutenant Magrey bails out an want to make contact with these troops. But as soon as he has moved 50 meters, 2 German AT guns begin to fire at the stopped B1bis 'Mistral' (one on the front and one on the rear of the tank). The one on the rear manages to neutralize the French tank. Sous-Lieutenant Raiffaud evacuates the tank and jump in the river. He will cross 70 km in 48 hours before being captured by elements of the 7.PzD.
(https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=110720)
And like a cherry on top of the cake, here is a picture of the owner of the jacket
Thanks for viewing
Louis.
Here is a presentation of one of the most "wanted" pieces in the French side of the collection
It's a model 1935 tankist jacket, a hard one to find these days
But when the most are unamed, this one have one and.... it's not nobody !
Jacket itself
And here come the great part
This one is attributed to second lieutnant (Sous lieutenant ) Louis MAGREY, tank commander of the feared B1 Bis Tanks
Louis Robert Joseph MAGREY was born on August 6, 1913, in Luxeuil-les-Bains in Haute-Saône.
Admitted on Military Class in 1933.
Admitted to the Special Military School with keychains, promotion Alexander I. Ranked 240th out of 304 students in 1936. Posted on the tank speciality on 1 September 1936, with the rank of second lieutenant on 1 October.
Passed by 511th, 508th RCC, 8th BCC.
(RCC = Régiment De Char de Combat (Tank Regiment) / BCC = Bataillon de Char de Combat (Tank Bataillon)
Awarded the 1939 war cross with vermeil star: Brave and calm officer. On May 16, 1940, his tank being destroyed by a bomb during a displacement, took command of a subordinate tank. Meeting the enemy on the 17th at Hauteville, and although lower in number, engaged the fight, destroying several tanks, including a P.Z.K.W. 4, and putting the others on the run.
Awarded the Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.
He died in captivity on 4 February 1945 at the Nieubourg camp on Weser (Neuburg).
During the battle of France, he was first attached in a B1 Bis called "LILLE" of 8th BCC
Here is a picture of the first tank he was, before it was destroyed by air attack (May 16 1940)
Them, he took command of a second tank after the air attack (as an commander of the tank squad), the B1 Bis "MISTRAL" to continue an counter attack near Le Catelêt
Here is a short story of the combat
This 2nd column is followed by a 3rd column composed of buses carrying various infantry/logistics/HQ troops from many different units. They are led by the B1bis 'Mistral' and they leave Wassigny at 20h30 /21h00.
The B1bis 'Mistral' from 3/15e BCC is also in Wassigny but will join the other B1bis tanks later. This tank did not move with the 2nd column because the crew was exhausted after several days of combat and movement without sleeping at all. The B1bis 'Mistral' is also not very nice to see, there are many parts of German bodies (flesh, uniform parts etc.) stuck in the elements of the tranks. Mainly from the combats in Landrecies on May 17. Indeed, the B1bis 'Mistral' pursued several German soldiers by driving through the walls of a house to kill them.
Arriving at Bohain, the B1bis 'Mistral' spearheading the column spots 2-3 German AFVs and a destroyed blockade. Sous-Lieutenant Raiffaud concludes that the town is occupied by the enemy. They spent the night in the fields around. At dawn (May 17) they go on, avoiding Bohain and heading to Le Catelet.
The 3rd column meets the Panhard 178 'Fracas' from 4th platoon of the 2e GRDI (9e DIM) commanded by Aspirant Alain de Mierry. This armored car is the single survivor of its platoon. It will open the way to Le Catelet.
The B1bis 'Mistral' meets Lieutenant Magrey from 8e BCC on the road. He is included in the crew.
At 10h00 they arrive in front of Le Catelet where 2 German armored cars can be seen destroyed.
Entering in the town and crossing a square, the Panhard 178 is ambushed by German AT guns firing from different directions. The turret is hi on the right and on the left but without serious damage and no one is wounded. Immediately the 2nd driver (the Panhard 178 has a dual drive) moves back while several projectiles are passing in front of the armored car.
The B1bis 'Mistral' which remained far behind the Panhard 178 continues to advance. It destroyes an AT gun (or a tank according to the driver) hidden behind a building and moves on to the bridge over the Escaut River. Having reached the bridge, the commander sees French troops on the other bank and believes that he has joined French lines. Lieutenant Magrey bails out an want to make contact with these troops. But as soon as he has moved 50 meters, 2 German AT guns begin to fire at the stopped B1bis 'Mistral' (one on the front and one on the rear of the tank). The one on the rear manages to neutralize the French tank. Sous-Lieutenant Raiffaud evacuates the tank and jump in the river. He will cross 70 km in 48 hours before being captured by elements of the 7.PzD.
(https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=110720)
And like a cherry on top of the cake, here is a picture of the owner of the jacket
Thanks for viewing
Louis.
