Pierre Segrétain
Encyclopedia
Pierre Côme André Segrétain (7 November 1909 – 8 October 1950) was a French Army
officer, that fought in World War II
and the First Indochina War
, primarily in Foreign Legion
units. He received command of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
when it was created in 1948 and lead it for two years in Indochina before being fatally wounded while leading his battalion during the Battle of Route Coloniale 4
.
He was married to Marie-Elizabeth Rossignol together they had three children: Philippe, Étienne and Anne-Marie.
before entering Saint Cyr Military Academy
in 1930. He graduated in 1932 as a part of the Joffre promotion and was sent to the 35th Infantry Regiment at Belfort
as section leader and transmission officer. In May 1936, he joins the 1st Foreign Regiment
at Sidi Bel Abbes
, Algeria, his first posting in the Foreign Legion. He takes part in campaigns in Algeria and Morocco with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
(1938) and 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1939).
. His conduct in battle earns him his first citation for bravery. He was promoted to Captain and in December 1940, he was posted to the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment in the French Mandate of Syria
. There he fought against the British and Free French in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
.
After the Allied landings in French North Africa, he and his regiment fought together with them against the Germans in Tunisia. In July 1943, he was posted to the newly created Foreign Legion March Regiment, with which he takes part in the landings in Southern France, the liberation of Franche-Comté and the advanced to the Danube River.
.
As a Legion officer with training in the developments in infantry, Segrétain was responsible for creating the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
on 1 July 1948 at Khamisi. He also became its first commander and departed with it for Indochina on 12 November the same year, seconded by Major Jeanpierre
. Segrétain led the battalion during several successful in Tonkin.
During September 1950, Segrétain and the battalion receive the mission to jump on a retake Dong Khe on Route Coloniale 4 and establish contact with That Khe, 20 kilometres south of Dong Khe. Faced with a superior enemy, Segrétain tries to withdraw to Coc Xa, but was assailed on all sides. Segrétain was seriously wounded in an ambush and ordered his men to leave him, he died shortly afterwards in captivity.
The 193rd class of the Saint Cyr Military Academy
was named in honour of him; Promotion Chef de Bataillon Segretain.
He received 8 citations during his career.
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
officer, that fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
, primarily in Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
units. He received command of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
1st Foreign Parachute Regiment
The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment was an airborne unit of the Foreign Legion. It fought in the First Indochina War, Suez Crisis and Algerian War, but was disbanded after taking part in a putsch against the French government in 1961....
when it was created in 1948 and lead it for two years in Indochina before being fatally wounded while leading his battalion during the Battle of Route Coloniale 4
Battle of Route Coloniale 4
The Battle of Route Coloniale 4 was a battle of the First Indochina War. The battle lasted from 30 September to 18 October 1950...
.
He was married to Marie-Elizabeth Rossignol together they had three children: Philippe, Étienne and Anne-Marie.
Early life
Pierre Segrétain was born in a military family with military traditions. He studied a year in minor seminary, two years at the lycée Sainte Geneviève at VersaillesVersailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
before entering Saint Cyr Military Academy
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
in 1930. He graduated in 1932 as a part of the Joffre promotion and was sent to the 35th Infantry Regiment at Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
as section leader and transmission officer. In May 1936, he joins the 1st Foreign Regiment
1st Foreign Regiment
The 1st Foreign Regiment is the senior regiment in the French Foreign Legion. Today the regiment is mainly administrative, and provides staff for the Command of the Foreign Legion....
at Sidi Bel Abbes
Sidi Bel Abbes
Sidi Bel-Abbes is capital of the Sidi Bel Abbès wilaya , Algeria. It is named after a Muslim holy man who is buried there. It is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. It is surrounded by a wall with four gates and there is a...
, Algeria, his first posting in the Foreign Legion. He takes part in campaigns in Algeria and Morocco with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion created in 1841 and is situated in the south of France at Nimes. The 2REI has participated in several conflicts, more notably in the Gulf war, in Bosnia, Chad and in different parts of Africa...
(1938) and 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1939).
World War II
When the war breaks out, Lieutenant Segrétain was part of the Foreign Legion contingence in the Middle East. He volunteered to fight in the Metropolitan France, being posted to the 20th Colonial Infantry Regiment at Saint-Gervais, where he receives his baptism of fire during the Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. His conduct in battle earns him his first citation for bravery. He was promoted to Captain and in December 1940, he was posted to the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment in the French Mandate of Syria
French Mandate of Syria
Officially the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon was a League of Nations mandate founded after the First World War and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire...
. There he fought against the British and Free French in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
.
After the Allied landings in French North Africa, he and his regiment fought together with them against the Germans in Tunisia. In July 1943, he was posted to the newly created Foreign Legion March Regiment, with which he takes part in the landings in Southern France, the liberation of Franche-Comté and the advanced to the Danube River.
Indochina
In 1945, he joins Coëtquidan and becomes responsible for instruction in military transmission. After receiving his parachute wings at Pau, Captain Segrétain was posted to the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment is an airborne unit of the French Army. It was the first French parachute regiment and is today part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.-Organisation:*Command and Logistic “Yellow” Company*Support and Lightning “Blue” Company...
.
As a Legion officer with training in the developments in infantry, Segrétain was responsible for creating the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
1st Foreign Parachute Regiment
The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment was an airborne unit of the Foreign Legion. It fought in the First Indochina War, Suez Crisis and Algerian War, but was disbanded after taking part in a putsch against the French government in 1961....
on 1 July 1948 at Khamisi. He also became its first commander and departed with it for Indochina on 12 November the same year, seconded by Major Jeanpierre
Pierre Jeanpierre
Pierre Paul Jeanpierre was a French Army officer. He fought during World War II, the First Indochina War, the Suez Crisis and the Algerian War, where he was killed in action...
. Segrétain led the battalion during several successful in Tonkin.
During September 1950, Segrétain and the battalion receive the mission to jump on a retake Dong Khe on Route Coloniale 4 and establish contact with That Khe, 20 kilometres south of Dong Khe. Faced with a superior enemy, Segrétain tries to withdraw to Coc Xa, but was assailed on all sides. Segrétain was seriously wounded in an ambush and ordered his men to leave him, he died shortly afterwards in captivity.
The 193rd class of the Saint Cyr Military Academy
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
was named in honour of him; Promotion Chef de Bataillon Segretain.
Decorations
- Knight of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with silver star
- Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations ExtérieuresCroix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations ExterieuresThe Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieures is a French medal rewarded for military service in foreign countries. It is granted to individuals who have received citations for their actions while engaged in military service overseas.-History:...
with 3 palms
He received 8 citations during his career.