Jules Gaucher
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| Jules Gaucher | |
|---|---|
| 13 September 1905 – 13 March 1954 | |
| Place of birth | Paris, France |
| Place of death | Dien Bien Phu, State of Vietnam |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/branch | French Army |
| Years of service | 1929-1954 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War II First Indochina War *Battle of Hoa Binh *Battle of Dien Bien Phu |
Jules Gaucher (13 September 1905 - 13 March 1954) was a French military officer noted for his command of Foreign Legion troops in Indochina. He was killed at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
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[edit] Early life
Gaucher graduated from the French military academy at St Cyr in 1929 and was commissioned as a Sous-lieutenant (2nd Lieutenant). He was posted to French Algeria and served as an officer with the Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens from 1929 to 1931. He transferred to the Foreign Legion in 1931 and served in North Africa with the 1st Foreign Legion Regiment (1° REI) and the 3rd Foreign Legion Regiment (3° REI). In 1938 he was promoted to Capitaine (Captain) and transferred to 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (5° REI) in Tonkin. He was promoted to Chef de bataillon (Major) in 1945 and returned to the Foreign Legion depot at Sidi Bel Abbes where he joined 13e Démi-Brigade de la Légion Étrangère (13e DBLE).
[edit] Indochina 1950-54
Gaucher was appointed to command of 3rd battalion of 13th demi-brigade (III/13 DBLE) in 1949 and returned to Indochina at the head of his battalion in 1950 as part of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps to participate in the First Indochina War. Under his command, III/13 DBLE served throughout Indochina - notably in the Delta (1951) and at the Battle of Hoa Binh (1951-52). In 1951 he was promoted to Lieutenant-colonel and asked to remain in Indochina with 13 DBLE instead of accepting command elsewhere. He served as second-in-command (executive officer) of 13 DBLE from 1951 to 1953, until in 1953 he was appointed as commander of 13 DBLE.
[edit] Dien Bien Phu 1953-54
Gaucher was appointed to command of Groupe Mobile 9 during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The group (equivalent to a regimental combat team) comprised 3 infantry battalions (the 1/13 DBLE, 3/13 DBLE, and III/3 RTA), and 1 artillery battalion (the III/10 RAC). Gaucher was killed at Dien Bien Phu on 13 March 1954 when his command post suffered a direct hit from Viet Minh artillery. Suffering from serious wounds – the loss of both arms, severe injuries to both legs, and an open chest wound – he died at the hospital. (Fall, 1966)
[edit] Trivia
Described as a "burly, hard-drinking veteran of years of jungle fighting, with a nose like an axe-blade and a mouth like its cut", Gaucher was known as 'the Old Man' to his troops. (Windrow, 2004)
[edit] References
- Fall, Bernard B. 1966 (2002). Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81157-X
- Windrow, Martin. 2004. The Last Valley. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81386-6
