Henri Célérier | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Henri Célérier | |
| Born | 05 august 1910 Saint-Yirieix-la-Perche |
| Died | 14 June 1944 (aged 33) Mérindol |
| Allegiance | O.R.A. |
| Service/ | National Gendarmerie |
| Years of service | 1937-1944 |
| Rank | Gendarme |
| Unit | Legion of Provence |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Médaille militaire |
Henri Célérier, born on August 5, 1910 in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche (Haute-Vienne) and shot on June 14, 1944 in Mérindol (Vaucluse), is a French gendarme and Resistance fighter.
Biography
editEarly life
edit4th child of modest farmers, Henri Célérier grew up in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche in Haute-Vienne[1]. His older brother, Léonard, is a veteran of the First World War who received the Croix de Guerre for his bravery in battle[2].
Military career
editCalled to duty, he accomplished his military service in the 121st Infantry Regiment.
With his best friend, he joined the National Gendarmerie. He was nominated foot guard on January 8, 1937 and formed in the 5th Legion of the Mobile Republican Gendarmerie. He was promoted foot guard on August 1st. From December, he was assigned to the 9th Legion of the Mobile Republican Gendarmerie in Champigny-sur-Marne. In November, he joined the 1st Legion, the last assignment before the World War II.
While France déclare par to Germany, he received the general mobilization order reached his regiment the next day. He fought against the Wehrmacht until June 25, 1940, three days after the Armistice signed by Marshal Pétain.
German occupation
edit4 years after his engagement, he was admitted to the corps of career non-commisioned officiers. He joined the 15th Legion which became the Provence Legion. From Apt to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, he incorporate the Brigade of Lauris in 1944. There, he met three gendarmes who took part in acts of resistance in the region. With them, he warns in time the refractory to the STO (Compulsory Work Service), gave informations on ennemy movements his sector and provides active assistance to the O.R.A. (Resistance Organisation of the Army).
Assassination
editOn June 8, 1944, two days after the D-Day, he lefts the barracks with civilian clothes and his service weapon. The gendarmes Robert Buatois, Louis Chauvet and Henri Escoffier accompany him. He posted a last letter to his family and went to the maquis. On June 13, he was lodged in Cucuron by Marius Calvin, local officer of the O.R.A. In the early morning, he was captured in a Resistance hiding place by French volunteer of the 8th Company of the Brandenburg Division[4]. Taken to the Kommandantur in Pertuis, he was interrogated and executed in Mérindol with his brother in arms[5].
Henri Célérier was shot on June 14, 1944[6]. He was married and father of two daughters.
Awards
editMort pour la France[7], he is cited in the order of the Army Corps :
« Was shot by the Germans on June 14, 1944 in Mérindol (Vaucluse) for joining the Resistance and the French Forces of the Interior »
He was posthumously. awarded the Médaille militaire[8].
| Ribbon | Citation |
|---|---|
|
Médaille militaire (Decree of December 31, 1948) |
Tribute
edit
His sacrifice is commemorated every year by the Vaucluse Departmental Gendarmerie Groupe. The ceremony takes place in Mérindol at the place called Les Maufrines where a stele was raised at the place of his assassination[9].
A monument bears his name in front of the Mérindol cemetery[10].
In honor, the gendarmerie of Cadenet was renamed « Barracks of the gendarmes shot on June 14, 1944 ». A commémorative plaque is hung on one of the facades in the courtyard[11].
Testimonials from comrades
editJean Fifis alias Poulet, liaison officer in the 1st Vaucluse Regiment of the O.R.A. - Company of Cadenet, certified :
Monsieur Célérier Henri, gendarme in Brigade of Lauris, gave active and continuous assistance to the resistance organization of the Army and in particular to the Company of Cadenet of this organization which I was a member.
Mr. Célérier Henri communicated on several occasions important informations about the movements of the Germans in our sector.
He also, by warning them in right time, allowed those required by the Compulsory Work Service to avoid the requisitions.
He, with several other members of his brigade, joined our maquis on June 8, 1944. While he had to participate in an ammunition transport, he was captured by the Germans with 3 other gendarmes on June 14, 1944 at 5 a.m. in Cucuron and shot the same day in Mérindol.
Jacques Fusina, gendarme at Cadenet and liaison officer of the Vaucluse Secret Army, certified :
Monsieur Célérier Henri, who belonged to the Brigade of Lauris, participated actively and continuously in the action of the French Forces of the Interior in his sector.
I was in contact with him through my duties, being at that time a gendarme in the Brigade of Cadenet. He was particularly informing the local resistance fighters about the activities of the Germans and helping the men required at the Compulsory Work Service to avoid te requisition.
He, with three other gendarmes, joined the maquis on June 8, 1944. Captured by the Germans with his comrades on June 14, 1944 at 5 a.m. in Cucuron. He was shot by them the same day at 11 a.m. in Mérindol.
External links
edit- Online Resistance Museum - Stele in memory of the four gendarmes shot on June 14, 1944, Mérindol (Vaucluse)
- Online Resistance Museum - Commemorative stele in the courtyard of the "Barracks for the gendarmes shot on June 14, 1944", Cadenet (Vaucluse)
- Le Maitron - Célérier Henri
- Le Maitron - Mérindol (Vaucluse), 14 juin 1944
- Le Dauphiné - Tribute to the gendarmes of Lauris shot in 1944
- La Provence - In memory of the gendarmes shot in Lauris
References
edit- ^ Civil status register of Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche (1910), Departmental archives of Haute-Vienne
- ^ Military registers (1917), recruiting office of Brive-la-Gaillarde, Departmental archives of Haute-Vienne
- ^ Military registers (1930), recruiting office of Limoges, Departmental archives of Haute-Vienne
- ^ Olivier Pigoreau, Sanglante randonnée, Histoire et Collections, 2013 ISBN 978-2352502661
- ^ Le Maitron - Célérier Henri
- ^ Civil status register of Mérindol (1944), Departmental archives of Vaucluse
- ^ Mémoire des hommes - Titles, homologations and services for facts of resistance
- ^ Great Chancellery of the Order of the Legion of Honor - Decorations department - Médaille militaire and Genealogical research section
- ^ Online Resistance Museum - http://museedelaresistanceenligne.org/media10156-StA
- ^ Le Maitron - https://fusilles-40-44.maitron.fr/spip.php?article169119
- ^ Online Resistance Museum - http://museedelaresistanceenligne.org/media10158-Stle-commmorative-dans-la-cour-de-la-Caserne-des-fusills-du-14-juin-1944-Cadenet-Vaucluse