A Naval Memory
p. 22 · Read in the full issue
Of The
Pacific War
jt it reported that a colourful person ality, Capt. Pierre Marriotti, of the little French steamer Altair, well known in the New Hebrides, has been
nominated for election as a Deputy, to represent New Caledonia and depen dencies in Paris.
Captain Marriotti probably is more widely known as Commandant Pierre Villebois, who was prominent in French waters in the early part of World War 11. He was wounded at Dunkirk, and again during the North African landings.
Then he became a special secret agent In the service of Free France, and the Germans put a high price on his head.
Later, he was a Marine Commander in the French Navy in New Caledonia and Tahiti.
There, Commandant Villebois made the acquaintance of Lt.-Commander William B. Leeds, who was in the service of the US Navy in the Pacific. William B.
Leeds is well known as “the tin plate magnate.” He was married (now divorced)
to Princess Xenia, of Greece; and, before the war, he cruised in the Pacific in hu palatial yacht Moana.
At the end of the war, Commandanl Villebois was on a mission to Washing ton; and, in New York, he called on Lt.- Commander Leeds and, on behalf of the French Government, pinned on his breasl the Croix de la Legion d’Honneur. for services rendered to France during anc after the war. The photograph show; Commandant Villebois (left) shaking hands with the American, after the cere mony. .
When he resumed his civil occupation Commandant Villebois assumed his ole family name of Marriotti.
A cheque for £5OO was recently giver by the Sydney Auxiliary of the Australia!
Board of Missions to the ABM Centenar; War Memorial Appeal which aims to rais< £lOO,OOO for the establishment of missior schools and churches in Australia and th Pacific.