Maurice Amiot (19 March 1932 – 2 April 1961) was a French soldier who fought in the

First Indochina War The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam, and alternatively internationally as the French-Indochina War) was fought between French Fourth Republic, France and Việ ...

and the

Algerian War The Algerian War (also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence) ''; '' (and sometimes in Algeria as the ''War of 1 November'') was an armed conflict between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front (Algeri ...

. He was killed in action leading his platoon in the

Aurès Mountains The Aures Mountains (, known in antiquity as ) are a subrange of the Saharan Atlas in northeastern Algeria. The mountain range gives its name to the mountainous natural and historical region of the Aurès. Geography The Aures mountains are the ...

during the Algerian War.

Biography

Maurice Amiot was born on 19 March 1932 in Vaire-le-Grand,

Doubs Doubs (, ; ; ) is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the river Doubs, it had a population of 543,974 in 2019.French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...

at 17 and was posted with the 1st Choc Parachute Battalion at 18. He attracted the notice of his superiors and was sent to a training platoon, attaining the rank of corporal. In July 1951, he volunteered for service in Indochina. Amicale des Anciens et Anciens Combattants du Grand 14 website. Retrieved on 29 January 2010. In Indochina, Amiot spent six months instructing units of the

Vietnamese National Army The Vietnamese National Army (VNA; , ; ) was a State of Vietnam's military force officially created on 8 December 1950, after the Élysée Accords took effect on 14 June 1949 when Vietnam was recognized by France as an "independent" country rule ...

, before being posted to the

8th Colonial Parachute Battalion Eighth is ordinal form of the number eight. Eighth may refer to: * One eighth, , a fraction, one of eight equal parts of a whole * Eighth note (quaver), a musical note played for half the value of a quarter note (crotchet) * Octave, an interval b ...

in February 1952. Eight months later, his leadership qualities had earned him promotion to caporal-chef. He also received his first citation as a group leader at the Battle of Uong-Phu. In October 1953, Amiot returned to France and was assigned to the 35th Algerian ''

Tirailleur A tirailleur (), in the Napoleonic era, was a type of light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns. Later, the term "''tirailleur''" was used by the French Army as a designation for indigenous infantry recruited in the French c ...

'' Battalion at

Toulouse Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...

, one of two Algerian ''Tirailleur'' battalions who formed the 14th Choc Parachute Infantry Regiment. In July 1954, Amiot volunteered for the Blizzard Battalion destined for

Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...

and on 1 November he was promoted to sergeant. Returning to France, he became a parachute instructor in 1956. The

had now begun in earnest; during his first tour Amiot was promoted to sergent-chef and received several citations. On 2 July 1959, he received the ''

Médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' (, "Military Medal") is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...

'' for outstanding service and on 1 August, he became a career

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...

. During his second tourm he received three citations, including one at army level. On 2 April 1961, he took part in an operation in the

at the head of his section of the 2nd Company, 14e Parachute ''Chasseur'' Regiment (14e RCP) and was killed in action. Posthumously he was made Knight of the ''

Légion d’honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

'' and became the patron of the 95th class of non-commissioned officers of the Saint Maixent School. (now the

National Active Non-Commissioned Officers School (France) National Active Non-Commissioned Officers School (, ENSOA) is a general military school created by the French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the large ...

or École Nationale des Sous-Officiers d’Actives (ENSOA))

Decorations

*Knight of ''

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

'' (posthumous) *''

'' *''

Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures The (; "War Cross for Foreign Operational Theatres"), also called the for short, is a French military award denoting citations earned in combat in foreign countries. The Armistice of November 11, 1918 ended the war between France and Germa ...

'' with a bronze star *''

Croix de la Valeur Militaire Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort d ...

'' (six citations) *

Colonial Medal The Colonial Medal () was a French decoration created by the "loi de finances" of 26 July 1893 (article 75) to reward "military services in the colonies, resulting from participation in military operations, in a colony or a protectorate". A decr ...

*''Médaille commémorative des opérations en Algérie''

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amiot, Maurice 1932 births 1961 deaths People from Doubs French military personnel of the First Indochina War French military personnel killed in the Algerian War Knights of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Cross for Military Valour Recipients of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures