Lucien BIGNON

Brief Biography

     Born on 18 June 1918 in Le Pecq (Yvelines), Commander BIGNON was drafted on 15 October 1938 to do his military service and was sent on 9 November 1938 to the 9th Regiment of Algerian Riflemen (9th RTA) in Miliana (Algeria). He went to Tunisia with his regiment on 26 February 1939 where he stayed until 29 June 1940.

     Back to Algeria on 10 July 1940, he was promoted Lance-Corporal on 15 June 1941.

     Re-enlisted with the 9th RTA, he was promoted Corporal on 1 July 1942 and then appointed Sergeant on 1 November 1942. He took part in the hard campaign of Tunisia and was wounded in Pichon battle on 26 December 1942.

     Volunteer for special missions in France occupied, he was sent by air from Algeria to England, under the pseudonym of Yves Yvonnet, and joined the BCRA in London on 12 March 1944. He volunteered in the Free French Army under the war name of Marcel Rogier, for the duration of the war. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant (Assimilated) by decree of General KOENIG in charge of the French Terrestrial Forces in England.

     Integrated into the `SUSSEX Plan’, he was trained as parachutist at Ringway and wireless radio operator in the Saint Albans joint school of the British Intelligence Service (SIS) and the American Office of Strategic Service (OSS). He was promoted Staff-Sergeant on 1 June 1944.

     Parachuted with Raymond Mocquet (SUSSEX BRISSEX DARU Team) in France occupied, by the F/Lt Johnston’s crew of the RAF Sqn 161 during the operation Mexico, in the night of 4 August 1944 near Orbais l’Abbaye (Marne department), where he stayed on mission until 16 September 1944. Lucien Bignon deserved a mention in dispatches signed by General de Gaulle for the importance of intelligence information collected on the German forces and transmitted to London.

     Affected upon his request with the 2nd Armoured Division (2ieme DB) in October 1944, Lucien Bignon took part in the fighting in Alsace and in the Liberation of Strasbourg where he deserved a mention in dispatches also signed by the General De Gaulle. On 1 June 1945, he was promoted Warrant Officer.

     Re-enlisted with the 1st Régiment de Marche du Tchad (1st Infantry Regiment of Tchad) on 19 December 1945, Lucien Bignon was allowed to attend the courses of the 7th classes of the Inter-Army Academy of Coëtquidan on 2 March 1946. He was promoted 1st Warrant Officer on 1 June 1946 and 2nd Lieutenant by decree of 19 September 1946 (retrospectively from 1 June 1945).

     Lucien Bignon left Marseilles by air to join the 1st Regiment de Choc (1st RC) in Algiers on 29 September 1946. He was promoted Lieutenant on 1 June 1947 while in service in Morocco with the 1st RC. He was sent to the 1st Battalion of Light Infantry of Africa in Tunisia on 16 September 1948. He was appointed to the 20th Battalion of Chasseurs in Germany; he disembarked in Marseilles and joined his new unit on 6 April 1951. He was promoted Captain on 1 April 1954.

     He was appointed to the 2nd Regiment of Algerian Riflemen (2nd RTA) which he rejoined at Oran (Algeria) on 16 January 1955. As commander, he took an active part, during 27 months, in the operations of law and order maintenance in the regions of Biskra, Tébessa and Khenchela. On 21 June 1956, he deserved a mention in dispatches for his courage during the fighting of Kef er Rekma (Djelfa).

     As Major, Lucien Bignon rejoined the 2nd Battalion of Algerian Riflemen (2nd BTA) on 1 August 1957. He was noticed for the quality of his work and his administrative knowledge. He received a Testimony of Satisfaction on 24 June 1959 from the General Quartermaster, Director of the Army Supply Corps of Oran.

     He was appointed on 1 March 1961 as major to the 2nd Regiment of Zouaves in Oran. He disembarked in Marseilles on 15 June 1964 to joint the 408ème Service Battalion of Metz-Bockange on 1 July 1964. He was promoted Commander on 1 April 1966.

     Appointed to the French Commando Training Centre, he joined Mount-Louis on 4 December 1967. Lucien Bignon retired from the Army on 9 March 1969.

     Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, Commander BIGNON received the Military Cross 39/45 with Palme and silver star, the cross of the Military Value with silver star, the medal of Resistance, the cross of the Voluntary Combatant of Resistance, the cross of Combatant 39/45, the Colonial medal with clip `Tunisia', the Commemorative Medal of war 39/45 with red star and clips `Africa, United Kingdom, Germany and Liberation’, the medal of the Recognition of the French Nation with clip `War 1939-1945', the Commemorative medal of the operations of law and order maintenance in North Africa with clip `Algeria'. He was also titular of US Presidential Unity Citation.

     Lucien Bignon was very committed with War Veteran associations. He was Vice-President of the 2nd DB veteran association of Oise, former treasurer of the members of the Legion of Honor and member of the War Veteran association of this Department. Valuable officer, animated by a great patriotism, he was very attached to the 2nd DB and the 2nd RTA.

     Commander Lucien Bignon died on 9 April 2006, at the age of 87, in Beauvais (Oise department). His funerals took place on 14 April in the church of Saint-Etienne-de-Beauvais where he received the last homage from several delegations (Legion of Honor, 2nd DB, Retired Officers (ANOCR), North African War Veterans (UNCAFN), Disabled War Veterans (UMRAC), War Veterans (ONAC) and Eyes Disabled War Veterans).