The 43rd Infantry Regiment was a French infantry regiment which dated back to the creation in 1638 of the Régiment Royal des Vaisseaux - one of the regiments of the Maison militaire du roi de France (Royal Military House of France) created to serve on boats and in the colonies: all such regiments were, in 1791, given a number in the line-infantry order of battle meaning that they could be considered historically as the "ancestors" of the naval infantry regiments (see 107th Infantry Regiment (France)).

Creation and Evolution

Ancien Régime

The Revolution and the First Empire

The Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy

Second Empire

Franco-Prussian War of 1870

On 1 August 1870 the 43rd Infantry Regiment was part of the Army of the Rhine. With the 5th Battalion of chasseurs under Commandant Carré and the 13th Infantry Regiment under Colonel Lion, the 43rd formed the 1st brigade under the orders of General Véron called Bellecourt. This 1st brigade together with the 2nd brigade under General Pradier, two batteries of 4 guns and one machine-gun, and one company of engineers constituted the 2nd division of infantry commanded by Major-General Grenier. This division operated under the IVth Army Corps commanded by Major-General de Ladmirault. On 16 August 1870 the 4th battalion, formed mostly from new arrivals, left the depot to create the 8th March Regiment which formed the 2nd brigade of the 1st division of the XIIIth Army Corps

Third Republic

Fourth and Fifth Republics

Regimental Commanders

Ancien Régime

Revolution and Empire

(*) Officers who became Brigadier-Generals after their command. (**) Officers who reached the rank of Major-General Colonels killed and/or wounded during their command of the 43rd Infantry Regiment: Officers killed and/or wounded while serving in the 43rd Infantry Regiment between 1804 and 1815:

The Restoration, July Monarchy, Second Empire, Third Republic until the First World War

First World War

Between the Wars

Second World War

Since 1945

Disbanded on 31 December 2010

Equipment

9 regimental colors out of which 1 "white" Colonel and 8 of Ordinance «, yellow, green, red and black by opposition, & white cross filled with golden Fleur-de-lis and a golden ship in the middle of each cross ».

Regimental Colors

Uniform

Colonels and mestres de camp

History of Garrisons, Fights, and Battles

Ancien Régime

Wars of the Revolution and the Empire

The Restoration, July Monarchy, Second Empire, Third Republic until the First World War

First World War

Constitution in 1914: 3 battalions (72 officers, 164 NCOs, 3,174 men, 219 horses)

1914

1915

Fighting in Aisne cost the regiment 23 officers and 511 men.

1916

1917

1918

Between the Wars

There is no information in the book The 43rd R.I. the regiment of Lille

Second World War

1945 to today

Indochina War

The regiment detached the March battalion of the 43rd Infantry Regiment between January 1947 and June 1948 and participated in particular in Operation Léa. A citation for the March battalion of the 43rd Infantry regiment: "An elite Regiment, a worthy heir of the Royal des Vaisseaux, presented themselves on their arrival in Indochina, faithful to the finest traditions of their forebears. Engaged for eight months in the sub-sector of Gia Lâm (Tonkin) they have carried out, under the fiery leadership of their chief - Commandant Lejosne, the conquest and pacification of a difficult area between the Canal des Rapides and the Red River. Called on to participate in the liberation of Hà Đông during the freeing of Nam Định, their cleaning-up operation north of the Rapids bridge won admiration for their energy, their offensive spirit which never shrank from the hardest sacrifices. On 14 May 1947, after a daring raid on the Red River, they seized Việt Trì. Engaged without a moment's rest in the autumn campaign, they once again demonstrated their bite. Placed in difficult conditions on the Claire River at Phu Doan, Lang-Quang, Tuyên Quang, and Sơn Dương, they coped magnificently. They inflicted heavy losses in men and material on the enemy. They are assuredly one of our best Units".

Algerian War

The regiment participated in operations in Morocco and in Algeria from 1952 to 1962 at the cost of 2 officers, 3 NCOs, and 57 men killed.

Reorganisation

On 1 July 2005 the regiment was reorganised to create the 6th RCS of Douai which had: 21 officers, 106 NCOs and 227 voluntary enlisted men divided into two active units: 1 Command & Support (CAS) and 1 CDC.

Mission

The 43rd Infantry Regiment, deployable to any of the forces is subject to the Commandement des Forces Terrestres. Its mission is to ensure the support of various Headquarters in the Lille garrison. It contributes, in compliance with NATO criteria to support the deployment of the Headquarters Rapid Reaction Corps – France (RRC-fr) during its operational preparations and during engagements.

Composition

1 company for command and logistics (CCL) 1 company for administration and support (CAS) 1 company for Reserve (5CIR)

Materials

The main materials are interconnected modules that allow rapid provision of mobile headquarters command posts with transport vehicles with trailers to provide movement (a semi-trailer is 38 tons).

Dissolution

The reserve unit: 5th USR company delivered its flag in December 2010.

Flag

It has sewn in gold letters in its centre strip, the entries shown in the picture below:

Decorations

The tie is decorated with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with 3 citations (30 October 1916, 5 October 1917, and 29 September 1918) at the order of the army (three palms). The 43rd Infantry Regiment also holds the Gold Medal of the City of Milan following its participation in the battles of Solferino and Palestro in 1859. The regiment detached a Marching battalion in Indochina between January 1947 and June 1948. Its pennant bears the Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'opérations extérieurs with a citation (9 June 1948) at the order of the army (one palm).

Regimental Insignia

Company Insignia

Famous people who served in the 43rd Infantry Regiment

Sources and bibliography