It was September 13th, 1945, in Saigon
A Japanese naval officer surrenders his sword to a British Lieutenant in Saigon on 13th September 1945.
It was October 5th, 1945, in Saigon
Left: On October 5th, 1945, in Saigon, on the day he arrived with Commander Fonde, General Philippe Leclerc, commander of the French Expeditionary Corps in the Far-East (C.E.F.E.O.) lays a wreath at the monument to the French soldiers who died during the First World War. Under a torrential downpour, the French rushed to greet him and to express their renewed trust.
Right: A military parade going down Catinat Street before the Foreign Legion Band set up in front of the Municipal Theater (Foray Square).
Once again Saigon is festooned with the colors of France. The European population regains hope.
The store « Aux Magasins Catinat », located at 165 Catinat Street is draped with French, British, and American flags.
Is was December 16th, 1945, in Saigon
To arms at the next start of the 32nd Indian Brigade.
General Leclerc reviews the Gurkhas troops.
General Leclerc and General Hirst on Norodom boulevard.
It was July 14th, 1946, in Saigon
French soldiers parading on Norodom Boulevard.
It was Novembre 11th, 1946, on Norodom Boulevard
On November 1946 French Foreign Legion (next to Jean Comte Garage) and motorized paratroopers parading on the Norodom Boulevard in Saigon.
It was avril 27, 1947, in Saigon
Articles which appeared in the “Journal of Saigon” of April 27th, 1947
This morning on Francis Garnier Square
The magnificent parade of the Far-East Expeditionary Corps
through the flag-draped city.
In the presence of the High-Commissioner of France, Monsieur Coste-Floret, Minister of War, presented his flag to Colonel de Bollardière’s half-brigade of paratroopers. The magnificent citation that went with it was read to the troops standing at attention.
The magnificent citation that went with it was read to the troops standing at attention. A cooler-than-usual dawn gave way to the storm-washed Saigonese night. Flags appeared on the façades of public monuments, and while the city awakens, the military detachment gradually takes over the streets that will later be used by units taking part in the parade. The 22nd Colonial Infantry Regiment (R.I.C.) has positioned itself across from the official grandstand facing the forward grandstand where three red armchairs have been placed for Mr. Bollaert, Mr. Coste-Floret, and President Hoach (President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Cochin China).
As they arrive, civil dignitaries settle in to the right. On the left, the military authorities.
At 0840h, the car bringing President Hoach stops in the center of the square and salutes the flag of the 22nd R.I.C, while the band plays the Cochin Chinese anthem.
At 0845h, it’s Mr Bollaert’s turn to arrive in Francis Garnier Square (Theater Square) accompanied by his cabinet director, Mr. Mesmer; with the bandplaying “Aux Champs”,the High Commissioner bows before the flag and the band plays “La Marseillaise”.
Among the dignitaries we find:
Mr. Torel, Commissioner of the Republic, Mr. Mesmer, Cabinet Director of the High Commissioner, Tran-Van-Ly, Vice-President of the autonomous government, Ing Fong Tsao, Consul-General of China, Mr. Reed, Consul-General of the United States, Mr. Meiklereid, Consul General of Great Britain, Mr. Den Dooren De Song, Consul General of the Netherlands, Mr. Widmer, Consul General of Switzerland, and Mr. Derenddre, Consul General of Belgium.
Mr. Coste-Floret, accompanied by General Aster de Villatte, is received by Mr. Bollaert and President Hoach as he steps from his car.
At this point the line of paratroopers forms an honor guard and forms up in front of the rostrum, with Colonel de la Bollardière in the lead.
Mr. Coste-Floret steps down and takes a flag that was presented to him.
It’s the flag of the half-brigade. An officer reads the citation that goes with it, and the Minister pins the military medal on the new staff. It’s an impressive moment as the flag and its escort take their place in the regimental framework.
Presenting arms
During the presentation of arms Mr. Coste-Fleuret awards the rosette of Officer of the Legion of Honor to Colonel Herckel and the Knight’s Cross to Commander Keller, Lieutenants Cartalada, Nguyen-van-Vy, and Casati. Then Generals Nyo and Bodet proceed with various awards of decorations.
The great parade of the Expeditionary Corps
At 0930h, the lead element of the parade moved out from the top of Catinat Streeet. The Legion and the Republican Guards band start things off, followed by its Colonel and three squads. Applause thunders as the flag goes by.
Then, it’s the Naval Infantry Tank Regiment (R.I.C.M.) and the glorious emblem of which only tatters remain. All the dignitaries present stand at attention as the precious flag passes by.
The parade continues in the following order:
- The military band of the Algerian Sharpshooters Regiment;
- The detachment of the Schools of Children of the Troop;
- The Cochin Chinese Guard Squad;
- The Legion, led by its band, had considerable success. A detachment of the Air Force brings up the rear, marking an end to the impressive parade.
After a brief pause, the motorized elements of the Brigades of Paratroopers, Armor, the 10th Colonial Artillery Regiment, and the Colonial Artillery Group of French West Africa (G.A.C.A.O.F.) arrive in turn.
At 1000h, the parade is over, and Mr. Bollaert, Mr. Coste-Florel, General Valluy, and President Hoach congratulate General Nyo for the excellent display by his troops.
Then the dignitaries leave Francis Garnier Square while in the distance sound the unit bands as they return to their quarters.
It was March 20th, 1950, on Catinat Street in Saigon
On March 20th, the French Navy Band of the F.M.E.O. (Maritime Forces of the Far-East) paraded on Catinat Street past the Continental Palace Hotel to welcome the sailors of the U.S. Navy from the squadon commanded by Admiral Berkey.
It was July 14th, 1950 in Saigon
In front of the Jean Comte garage on Norodom Boulevard, from left to right in the photographs:
- The crowd gathers to watch the July 14th parade in 1950. The streets of Saigon are well-decorated with French and Vietnamese colors for the event.
- A detachment of the Colonial Police (Gendarmerie).
- Lieutenant colonel Pierre Chateau-Joubert at the head of the 2nd Colonial Half-Brigade of Paratrooper Commandos (DBCCP).
- The Saigon Passing Company of the French Foreign Legion (CPLE).
- The flag of the 43rd RIC (Colonial Infantry Regiment).
Right: Presentation of the "Croix de Guerre" medal of the "T.O.E." (Theater of Exterior Operations) to the unit standard of the 5th B.C.C.P. (Colonial Commando Paratrooper Batallion), by General Carpentier.
Left: The Foreign Legion in front of the Jean Comte Garage, located at No. 36, Norodom Boulevard in Saigon.
Source :
ecpad
Source :
ecpad
The Foreign Legion in front of the Jean Comte Garage, located at No. 36, Norodom Boulevard in Saigon.
It was Novembre 11th 1953 on Norodom Boulevard in Saigon
Maurice Dejean, who was named Commissioner-General of Indochina in June 1953; he would leave in 1954 after the fall of Dien Bien Phu.
It was July 7 1954 in Saigon
New Force in Far East waters.
The French heavy cruiser "Montcalm" receives a "Present Arms" salute from French and Vietnamese sailors as it glides into the port of Saigon to swell French Forces fighting in Indochina.
Another cruiser in the same class the "Gloire" arrived with Montcalm. Note the many portholes, a feather, no longer in use on modern navy ships.
French soldiers in Saigon
French soldier in Catinat street by Marcelino Truong
May, 1953: French sailors on the aircraft carrier “Lafayette” in front of Charner Boulevard in Saigon.
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