• Operation Amherst

Date of birth:

December 16th, 1907 (Chateaubriant , France)

Date of death:

February 22nd, 1986 (Talhouet, France)

Nationality:

French

After his studies at the Military Academy of Saint-Cyr, Bollardière he graduated in 1930 with the rank of sergeant. Normally graduates were given the rank of sous-lieutenant, but he was given a lower rank for insubordination. He was soon promoted to sous-lieutenant (2nd Lt.), and in 1932 to lieutenant. In February 1935 he joined the Foreign Legion and was stationed in Algeria.

In February 1940 he was assigned to 13 Demi-Brigade, Legion Etrangee and was promoted to capitain. He was involved in the battles at Narvik and returned to Brest on 13th June. When the French Vichy government made an armistice with the German forces, he fled to England and joined Charles de Gaulle’s Free French Army. During the East African Campaign he fought in Gabon and Eritrea. He led a 90 men strong force that captured the Italian fortress Massawa, taking over 300 Italian prisoners.
In 1941 he was promoted to Commandant (Major) and took part in the capture of Damascus. In 1942 he took part in the Battle of Bir Hakeim and the first Battle of El Alamein. During this battle he was severely wounded by a landmine.
In October 1943 he volunteered for Special Forces training. Bollardière parachuted into France on 12th April 1944 to take over the command of the maquis (French resistance) in the Ardennes. He operated under the codename "Prisme" and returned to England in September 1944. Here he joined the 3e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (Parachute Light Infantry), a part of the S.A.S. (Special Air Service) and was parachuted in the Netherlands.

During the Indochine War he commanded a para brigade and was in action in Laos, Cambodia and Tonkin. From October 1953 he teaches parachutists at the École de Guerre in Paris and was placed in command of two brigades in Algeria in July 1956. In December he was promoted to General de Brigade (Brigadier-General). He rejected the use of torture methods in French units and debated these openly. After the Algerian debacle he resigned from the Army. In 1970 he became a pacifist, was president of the Logement et Promotion Sociale between 1968 and 1978 and was arrested by the French Navy during protest actions against the nuclear trials at Mururoa.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

Chef, 3rd SAS Regiment, Special Air Service (SAS), British Army

Awarded on:

January 2nd, 1951

Awarded for:

Operation Amherst

"He has distinguished himself by courageous and tactful conduct as commander of the 3rd “Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes” in combat against the enemy on April 7 and 8, 1945, having been dropped behind enemy lines in Drenthe and having fearlessly taken part in the ensuing fighting during which he was wounded. By his conduct, he contributed to the liberation of The Netherlands, thereby serving the interests of the Dutch Government."

Royal decree no.15

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Compagnon

Awarded on:

June 23rd, 1941

Received for the capture of the Fortress Massawa with a raiding party of 90 men. During this action over 300 Italians were taken prisoner.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

5 citations

Received with times mentioned in dispatches.

Period:

First Indochina War (1946-1954)

Rank:

Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

1er Bataillon de Parachutistes SAS

1 palm

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Chef de bataillon

Unit:

1er Bataillon, 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Etrangère

Awarded on:

1942

WIA 23.10.1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

with clasps "Erythrée" "Libye" "E-O"

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

First Indochina War (1946-1954)

Unit:

1er Bataillon de Parachutistes SAS

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant-Colonel

Citation:
"Lieut.Col. Paris de Bollardiere is a regular French officer with seventeen year's service, fourteen of which have been spent in the Foreign Legion. Since 1939 he has served in France, Norway, Syria and Egypt. After recovering from wounds received at El Alamein he came to England and volunteerd to go to France on a mission. He left for the field in April 1944 as the French member of and inter-allied mission to the Ardenned, and found himself in military control of the maquis organisation which had just been started. It was entirely due to his military skill and cool leadership that the main elements of this organisation were able to with draw from the German attack on the maquis and re-organise. His outstanding military qualities were further shown during the attack on the Stoll where, after a three hour engagement, he made a complete successful withdrawal and left the germans fighting among themselves.

During the final attack on the Renarde Bulzat he personally rallied a section which had withdrawn with lowered morale. During this action he was himself wounded, but continued to direct operations.

Lt.Col. Paris de Bollardiere is a man of exceptional qualities of leadership. He inspired the utmost confidence in everyone who had contact with him and was able, owing to his dynamic personality to prevent the maquis breaking up after repeated failures to send arms or money.

It is recommended that this French officer be appointed a Companion in the Disitinguished Service Order."

Signed
Colin Gubbins
Major-General
15/3/45

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

3th SAS Regiment, Special Air Service (SAS), British Army

Citation:
"In Nov 44 Lt Col de Bollardiere assumed command of 3 TRP which was in a state of bad morale and training. His personality, anergy and drive soon completely changed the Regt. which soon became a first class unit with an admirable fighting spirit. This change was entirely due to the new CO.. The Regt parachuted into NORTH HOLLAND in early April 45, to disorganise the enemy by harassing in small parties in front of First Canadian Army's advance. The results achived included 92 enemy killed, 150 believed killed or wounded, 102 prisoners and 13 vehicles destroyed, at a negligable cost to the Regt. This proved beyond doubt the effectiveness of the methods obtained by Lt. Col de Bollardiere to pul the Regt together. At SPIER on 11 Apr 45 the small party which he personally led was heavily attacked by enemy in strength. The situation was at one period very grave, but the Col, by his inspiring leadership and complete personal disregards to danger encouraged the party to hold off the German attack untl the arrival of Canadian armour, At least 40 casualties were inflicted on the enemy during this engagement."

Second DSO awarded as a Bar.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

1 palm

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

1 palm

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - ERIK MÜLLER, De Bronzen Leeuw.
  - Guisnel J., "Jacques Pâris de Bollardière, portrait d'un général en honnête-homme", pp.47-49 in Histoire secrète de la Ve République (dir. Roger Faligot and Jean Guisnel), La Découverte, 2006, 2007
  - http://www.onderscheidingen.nl - Recommendation for Award for de Bollardiere, Paris Rank: Lieutenant Colonel ... | The National Archives
  - Recommendation for Award for Paris de Bollardiere, Jacques Rank: Lieutenant... | The National Archives