The personal pages on this site are to honour those men who either remained or returned to Great Britain and especially the Isle of Wight after the war.

It is not intended to tell the complete story of the FNFL presence in Cowes here, rather to allow the reader to build their own impression through the many links discovered in the search for  evidence of their time in Marvins Yard and the operations they embarked upon.

The pages that follow are designed to show the scale of their endeavour.

General De Gaulles Broadcast on the BBC

In the Beginning.......                                                                                        

On the 18th of June 1940 General De Gaulle broadcast the speech below to all able Frenchmen  to come to continue the fight which he considered was not lost.

To liberate France from the enemy, and come they did, fishermen, cooks and engineers. 128 young men from Ile de Sein alone, more from North Africa, others who were in New York as crew on the French Liner Normandie and many more.

                                                                                                                                      Photo Pierre L'Hours

Thr Free French Navy Memorial on Cowes Parade Isle of Wight 

 Photo Pierre L'Hours

The Pavillon de Beaupré designed by Vice Admiral Muselier for the Free French Navy, flown as a bow pennant. Also the Cross of Lorraine France Libre badge worn by all.

Chasseurs at Marvins Yard                                                                                 Collection L'Hours

Collection L'Hours