Gérard Théodore (November 28, 1920 – June 10, 2012) was a French Compagnon de la Libération, having received the Ordre de la Libération for his role in the Liberation of France during World War II.[1]
Théodore was born in Paris on November 28, 1920.[1] He enlisted in the Free French Forces in London in July 1940 following the fall of France.[1] Théodore was assigned to the artillery and sent to battles in Dakar, French West Africa (present-day Senegal), Eritrea and the French Mandate of Syria and the Lebanon.[1]
Théodore was sent to Libya as part of 1st Free French Brigade under the command of General Marie-Pierre Kœnig.[1] There, Théodore was severely wounded at the Battle of Bir Hakeim on June 8, 1942.[1] He lost much of his left leg when he was hit by German shrapnel.[1]
He was inducted as a Compagnon de la Libération in September 1942, just months after Bir Hakeim.[1] He was also made a Grand Officier of the Légion d'honneur and received the Croix de guerre.[1]
Professionally, Théodore worked as a statistician and inspector general with the INSEE.[1]
In 2012, though in failing health, Théodore granted an interview for a France 3 documentary on the Battle of Bir Hakeim. The film aired on France 3 on June 6, 2012, just days before his death.[1]
Gérard Théodore died on June 10, 2012, in Paris at the age of 91.[1] His death left just twenty-six living Compagnon de la Libération left, out of the original 1,038 recipients.[1] Théodore died just two days after the passing of another Compagnon, former government minister Robert Galley.[1][2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 "Décès de Gérard Théodore, compagnon de la Libération, artilleur à Bir Hakeim". Le Monde. 2012-06-10. http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2012/06/10/deces-de-gerard-theodore-compagnon-de-la-liberation-artilleur-a-bir-hakeim_1715860_3224.html. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
- ↑ "Décès de Robert Galley, ancien ministre et figure du gaullisme". Le Monde. 2012-06-08. http://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2012/06/08/deces-de-robert-galley-ancien-ministre-et-figure-du-gaullisme_1715360_3382.html. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
The original article can be found at Gérard Théodore and the edit history here.