Edgard Tupët-Thome was born in Bourg-La-Reine on 19 April 1920. After obtaining his school diploma, he quitted his further education in order to join the French Armed Forces in October 1938. During the German invasion of Western Europe, Tupët-Thomé fought in Lorraine and Belgium. Along with the other Allied armies he was pushed back to Dunkirk. Here he helped with the embarking of the British Expeditionary Force before he was taken prisoner. During his transfer to Germany he managed to escape. After he had escaped, Tupët-Thomé joined the French resistance. He managed to reach England via Spain and joined the Free French Forces led by Charles de Gaulle. He was dropped in France to gather information in December 1941. Even though he was wounded during his parachute jump he stayed for six months to fulfill his tasks. He finally returned to England to let his wounds be treated in May 1942. After he was recovered, he became an instructor for French commando units in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. In August 1943 Tupët-Thomé joined the British Special Air Service and half a year later he became second-in-command of the French 3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment. Together with his regiment Tupët-Thomé landed in France in August 1944 where they took part in the liberation of several villages. His last mission took place in the Netherlands on 7 April 1945 and was part of Operation Amherst. The goal of the paratroops was to take bridges and other important locations in Drenthe and Groningen, to pave the way for the liberation of these areas. After the war Edgard Tupët-Thome received several medals including la Légion d’honneur. He died at the age of one hundred in Hôtel National des Invalides on 9 September 2020.

The Netherlands

Edgard Tupët-Thomé receives la Croix de la Libération from General Paul Legentillhome in Paris, 9 December 1945. © Musee de l’Ordre de la Libération

Edgard Tupët-Thomé

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