Rémy Raffalli

Barthélémy Rémy Raffalli
Nickname(s)	Rémy
Born	16 March 1913 Nice, France
Died	10 September 1952 (aged 39) Saigon, State of Vietnam
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	French Army French Airborne
Years of service	1933-1951
Rank	Chef d'Escadrons
Unit	1st Algerian Saphis Regiment 3rd Moroccan Spahis Regiment 5th Moroccan Tirailluers Regiment 1st Foreign Regiment 1er RE 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion 3ème BEP 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1er BEP 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion 2ème BEP
Commands held	2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion 2ème BEP
Battles/wars	World War II Italian Campaign First Indochina War

Barthélémy "Rémy" Raffalli (16 March 1913 – 10 September 1952) was a French Army major who fought in World War II and the First Indochina War.

Early life and pre-war service

He entered the Saint-Cyr Military School on 1 October 1933 as part of the King Albert I promotion and graduated in 1935. Raffalli then chose to enter the cavalry of the French Army and studied at the Armoured Cavalry Branch Training School in Saumur. In 1936 he was posted to the 1st Regiment of Spahis in Algeria, which he joined at Médéa, and then the 3rd Moroccan Regiment of Spahis.

World War II service

Raffalli joined the French Expeditionary Corps in Italy in 1943 and served with distinction. On 17 March 1944, he was seriously wounded while leading a squadron of the 5th Moroccan Spahis Regiment.

Post War service and death

Raffalli earned his parachute badge in September 1949. After a short tour with the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion 3^ème BEP and 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1^et BEP, he took command of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion 2^èmeBEP on 12 September 1950 in Hanoi, Vietnam. He was promoted to Chef d'Escadrons on 1 July 1951 and led the battalion during the Battle of Nghia Lo in October 1951. He was fatally wounded on 1 September 1952 while leading his battalion; he died on 10 September 1952 in Saigon.

Honors and awards

Ribons

Decorations

• Légion d'honneur
  • Knight (1944)
  • Officer (1951)
  • Commander (1951)
• Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with one bronze star
• Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Exterieures with one bronze star

Legacy

Posthumous homages

Camp Raffalli

Camp Raffalli, the headquarters of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2^ème REP) is named in his memory.

Promotion class « Chef d'Escadrons Raffalli » École militaire interarmes ESM

The 183rd promotion of the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr chose the promotion Chef d'Escadrons Raffalli. The song of the promotion recalls the arms celebration of Chef d'Escadrons Raffalli .

See also

• Major (France)
• French Foreign Legion Music Band (MLE)