The Pacific's Fighting
p. 42 · Read in the full issue
Sons Win Glory in Italy
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Noumea, Aug. 25.
FOLLOWING the North African cam pagn, the Bataillon du Pacifique was reconstituted as the Bataillon dTnfanterie de Marine du Pacifique, offi cers and men from the metropolis and from other French colonies being incor porated with the remaining Caledonian, Hebridean and Tahitian volunteers.
The battklion is now again in the news, and was cited in the following order of the day for its fighting in Italy:— “It is a battalion with a glorious past which, after fighting on all battlefields with the Free French Forces in Libya, Eritrea, at Bir Hakeim, El Alamein and in Tunisia, gave new proofs of its valour in Italy in May, 1944. On the slopes east of Girofano on June 19, 1944, the bat talion gave one of the decisive blows in breaking the enemy line and advancing as a spearhead of the expeditionary corps, attained its objective in the allotted time. Lost 89 killed, including Major Magny,', Chef du Corps, and two company commanders. Cited as an example among colonial troops for its forcefulness arid bravery.’’