Amédée Maingard
Encyclopedia
Amédée Maingard was born in Mauritius
, then a British colony.
During World War II
(1939–1945)
he served with distinction with the British special services supporting the French resistance
, and was awarded medals by the British and French governments.
After the war he returned to Mauritius and became a successful businessman.
.
After an unrewarding period in the infantry, Maingard managed to join the Special Operations Executive
F section in 1942.
He was parachuted into occupied France in April 1943 to join the 'Stationer' circuit run by Squadron Leader Maurice Southgate,
initially as radio operator but soon was second-in-command in the circuit,
arranging the delivery of weapons, supplies and personnel to the maquisards
of the French Resistance
.
Southgate was arrested by the Gestapo
in May, 1944, and sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp.
Maingard, promoted to Major, took over the running of the circuit (renamed 'Shipwright') and expanded its size and scope of operations, operating between Poitiers
and Montluçon
.
The circuit was especially active in the sabotage that took place on and after D-Day
(June 6, 1944), supporting the Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur
and the arrival of fifty-five men of 1st SAS
Regiment for the ill-fated Operation Bulbasket shortly after D-Day
.
He continued his vital work until the liberation of central France, managing to keep the peace among the Gaullists, Communists, British and Americans fighting for the French common cause.
He earned the Croix de Guerre
from the French government in 1944 and the Distinguished Service Order
from the British government in June 1945.
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.
He became one of his country's most successful post-war businessmen.
Amédée Maingard died in 1981 at the age of 62, just before a boom in the tourist industry that he had helped establish.
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, then a British colony.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(1939–1945)
he served with distinction with the British special services supporting the French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, and was awarded medals by the British and French governments.
After the war he returned to Mauritius and became a successful businessman.
Wartime career
René Amédée Louis Pierre Maingard de la Ville-ès-Offrans was studying in London in 1939 at the outbreak of the second world war, and volunteered for the British Army.
After an unrewarding period in the infantry, Maingard managed to join the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
F section in 1942.
He was parachuted into occupied France in April 1943 to join the 'Stationer' circuit run by Squadron Leader Maurice Southgate,
initially as radio operator but soon was second-in-command in the circuit,
arranging the delivery of weapons, supplies and personnel to the maquisards
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
of the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
.
Southgate was arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
in May, 1944, and sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp.
Maingard, promoted to Major, took over the running of the circuit (renamed 'Shipwright') and expanded its size and scope of operations, operating between Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
and Montluçon
Montluçon
Montluçon is a commune in central France. It is the largest commune in the Allier department, although the department's préfecture is located in the smaller town of Moulins. Its inhabitants are known as Montluçonnais...
.
The circuit was especially active in the sabotage that took place on and after D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
(June 6, 1944), supporting the Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur
French Forces of the Interior
The French Forces of the Interior refers to French resistance fighters in the later stages of World War II. Charles de Gaulle used it as a formal name for the resistance fighters. The change in designation of these groups to FFI occurred as France's status changed from that of an occupied nation...
and the arrival of fifty-five men of 1st SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
Regiment for the ill-fated Operation Bulbasket shortly after D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
.
He continued his vital work until the liberation of central France, managing to keep the peace among the Gaullists, Communists, British and Americans fighting for the French common cause.
He earned the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
from the French government in 1944 and the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
from the British government in June 1945.
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Later career
Maingard returned to Mauritius and helped develop the island's tourism industry, founding Air MauritiusAir Mauritius
Air Mauritius Limited, stylised as Air Mauritius, is the flag carrier of Mauritius. The airline is headquartered at the Air Mauritius Centre in Port Louis, Mauritius. Its main base is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport...
.
He became one of his country's most successful post-war businessmen.
Amédée Maingard died in 1981 at the age of 62, just before a boom in the tourist industry that he had helped establish.