This is a photo of a French Aircraft Carrier on its way to Indo China – on board are French Foreign Legion. I was told that a number of these Legionaries jumped off the ship into the Canal.
FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION
They Did Jump Ship
QUESTION?
Bill England, ex:1st Btn Beds & Herts, El Firdan 1952-53 asks -
This is a photo of a French Aircraft Carrier on its way to Indo China – on board are French Foreign Legion. I was told that a number of these Legionaries jumped off the ship into the Canal.
Does anyone else remember this story? Did we give them bed and breakfast or just send them on the way?
CANAL ZONERS REMEMBER
THAT THOSE LEGIONAIRES DID JUMP SHIP
Ken Thomaa ex: HMS Gravelines & HMS St Kitts 1952-54 -
I do remember the French carrier coming through, and soldiers jumping off into
the Canal. We were at the Port Said end at the time. A long time ago now. The
French were getting hammered in Indo china, and those who jumped off knew they
were going into a bad situation at Dien Bien Pnu, where General Giap was giving
the French a hard time. They (the French) were short of medical supplies, ammunition
and water and finally surrendered to Giap. We were told that the “jumpers”
were all rounded up to continue their journey to a nasty situation. I have often
wondered how many of them made it back to France
Tom Perkins ex: 1st Royal Tank Regt Shandur1953-56 - Reference your article of the French carrier going on route via the Suez Canal to Indo China. As the shipping exits the Great Bitter Lakes they pass a point called Geneifa Point which had a water filtration plant and also a swimming lido. I cannot recall the exact day or month but it was about mid afternoon when the Carrier passed this point. We were all on the Canal side as we were not allowed to be in the water with a passing convoy and naturally observing her passing when four persons lept into the Canal – they were very lucky to survive the drop as the undertow of water is very strong. The four men came ashore with our help and were taken to the Guard Room at Shandur Camp where they were then taken away by the Military Police to Fayid. I don’t know the onward story but we do know that two of the men were British and two foreign
Arthur Bach ex: 5 BOD TEK 1950-51 - In reference to the article
from Bill England about giving ‘bed & breakfast’ to anyone who
jumped ship from those French troopships, while I was at TEK (1950-51) a Staff
Sgt Wartman starting a fishing club and we would go fishing at weekends, mostly
to where the Bitter Lakes joined the Canal at the southern end near Kabrit.
We would see the troopships going down on their way to the Far East and I was
told that they had people with rifles on board and that anyone who tried to
jump overboard would be fired upon. I don’t know if it ever happened and
I hope it never did. Also sometimes it was great to see one of our troopships
going home – it was great to wave to them but there was always someone
on the ship who would shout “what’s this home posting like!”
Jim Gardner ex: 128 MU Abu Sultan - I can recall the story. A group of us from 128 MU Abu Sultan were down at Deversoir point when a Hospital Ship was coming back from Indo China after the Battle of Dien Bein Phu where the Legion suffered large casualties. I well remember armed guards patrolling the decks where the ‘walking wounded’ could be seen leaning on the rail having a smoke. Some of the lads took photos – unfortunately I lost the copy I had. It was later that we heard that two Legionaires had jumped over the side and had been picked up by the Police. I can’t recall any report in the papers – maybe some members can add more information. I think is was the summer of 1954.
David Bennett ex: A.C.C. Gebel Maryam - Reference to the article
by Bill England with the French Aircraft Carrier bound for Indo China. Yes,
I was told that Legionaires did, if the opportunity arise, jump ship. Also those
Legionaires serving ‘jankers’ were caged on the ship’s deck.
I remember seeing a battalion of Legionaires on parade before boarding at Algiers.
I was on a ‘walk-about’ from the Empire Ken.
