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 13 March 1638: Creation of the Régiment des Vaisseaux 3 February 1640: became the Régiment des Vaisseaux-Richelieu 10 March 1644: became the Régiment des Vaisseaux-Mazarin 25 June 1650: then the Régiment des Vaisseaux-Candale 11 April 1658: reverted to Régiment des Vaisseaux-Mazarin 15 mars 1661: renamed Régiment des Vaisseaux-Provence 20 September 1669: renamed Régiment Royal des Vaisseaux (alias Royal-Vaisseaux)
The Revolution and the First Empire 1 January 1791: renamed 43rd Infantry Regiment of the Line 1793: formation of the 43rd half-brigade of battle infantry, from the following units: 1st battalion of the 22nd Infantry Regiment 4th battalion of volunteers from Seine-et-Oise 3rd battalion of volunteers from Lot 16 April 1794 : the 1st battalion was reformed by incorporation to the 85th Battle Demi-Brigade () during the formation of the demi-brigade. 1794 : reformation, the 2nd battalion being incorporated to the 86th Battle Demi-Brigade () during the formation of the demi-brigade. 20 February 1796: formation of the 43rd half-brigade of Infantry of the Line, out of the following units: 34th half-brigade of battle infantry - itself composed of the following units: 2nd battalion of the 17th Infantry Regiment of the Line 3rd battalion of volunteers from Moselle 5th battalion of volunteers from Meurthe 3rd battalion of the 149th Infantry Regiment 24 September 1803: 43rd Infantry Regiment of the Line
The Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy 1815: disbanded 1816: recreated with the name: Legion of Loiret 6 December 1820: At Brest, takes the name of 43rd Regiment of Infantry of the Line with two battalions from the 16th Legion of Charente-Inférieure and the 48th Legion of the English Channel 1 May 1823: a third battalion is created
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 CorpsOperation of the 13th Army Corps and the 3rd Army during the Siege of Paris, General Vinoy, pages 7 and 15
Detailed article March battalion
Third Republic 1914: 43rd Regiment of Infantry August 1914: At mobilisation a reserve regiment was set up: the 243rd Infantry Regiment 2 August 1914 to 26 October 1916: assigned to the 1st Infantry Division 26 October 1916 to 7 January 1919: assigned to the 162nd Infantry Division 8 January 1919 to the end of the war: reassigned to the 1st Infantry Division 1939: 43rd Motorised Infantry Regiment 1 September 1940: 43rd Alpine Infantry Regiment of the Army of the Armistice 11 November 1942 to 29 April 1943: progressive dissolution
Fourth and Fifth Republics
16 September 1944: creation of the 43rd Infantry Regiment of the Liberation at Lille 12 January 1945: 43rd Infantry Regiment to be disbanded on 1 April 1945 12 April 1947: 43rd Battalion of Infantry 1 January 1949: Regiment of Infantry 12 February 1949: 43rd Half-Brigade of Infantry composed of: 43rd Battalion of Infantry 16th Battalion of Foot chasseurs 1 March 1954: 43rd Regiment of Infantry 12 September 1956: departed for Morocco. 1 May 1958: The Training Centre and depot of the 43rd Infantry Regiment became the Training centre for the 43rd RI 24 November 1959: Colonel Andrès restored the flag to the 3/43rd Infantry Regiment (Battalion of tradition). 18 September 1962: Battalion Commander Parouty raised the flag at the Fort of Vincennes. 29 February 1964: The Training Centre of the 43rd Infantry Regiment is disbanded. 1 March 1964: The re-creation of the 43rd Infantry Regiment. 4 April 1964: The Regiment receives its flag. 1978: The Regiment is integrated with the 12th division of Infantry comprising 6 companies (1 Command & Support Company (CCS), 3 Combat Companies, and 2 Training Companies) 1984: 43rd Infantry and Army Corps Command Regiment (43rd RICCA); comprising 5 companies (1 CCS Company, 3 CQG Companies, 1 Training company) 1 September 1991: 43rd Infantry Regiment 2002: Reorganisation of the 43rd Infantry Regiment with establishment in 2 cities (Lille and Douai); composed of 7 companies (2 Command, Support, and Services Company (CCAS), 3 Support for Command (CAC)Companies, 2 Reserve Companies) 2005: New reorganisation with a single garrison in Lille of 3 companies (1 Command and Logistics Company (CCL), 1 CAC, 1 Reserve Company). The garrison at Douai became the 6th RCS. 31 December 2010: dissolution of the 43rd Infantry Regiment 1 January 2011: Becomes the Base Defence Support Group (GSBdD) of Lille, an inter-service body under the Chief of Defence Staff (EMA) which provides general administrative and common support tasks for the benefit of all Ministry of Defence and Veterans units based in the departments of Nord and Pas de Calais. The GSBdD is entrusted with the custody of the Flag and the Hall of Honour of the 43rd Infantry Regiment.
Regimental Commanders
Ancien Régime
13 March 1638: Henri d'Escoubleau de Sourdis (Archbishop of Bordeaux) 3 February 1640: Cardinal Richelieu 10 March 1644: Cardinal Jules Mazarin 25 June 1650: Louis Charles Gaston de Nogaret de Foix, Duke of Candale 15 March 1661: Louis de Vendôme, Duke of Mercœur 20 September 1667: Alexandre Le Bret (died a Lieutenant-General) 29 March 1679: Louis Potier de Gesvres, Marquis of Gandelus (died of his wounds) 24 April 1689: Count Louis de Mailly (died of his wounds) 29 April 1692: Marquis René de Névet 16 June 1699: Hyacinthe de Montvalat, Knight of Entragues (killed in action) 1 March 1702: Isaac Charles de la Rochefoucaud, Count of Montendre (killed in action) 27 August 1702: Louis de Régnier, Marquis of Guerchy 14 June 1705: Thomas Le Gendre de Collandre 6 March 1719: Pierre-Aimé de Guiffrey, Count of Marcieu 25 November 1734: Claude Louis François de Régnier, Count of Guerchy 26 May 1745: Jean-Baptiste Charles Hubert d'Esparbès de Lussan, Knight of Aubeterre (killed in action) 21 February 1746: Louis Henri d'Esparbès de Lussan, Count of Aubeterre-La Serre (died of his wounds) 7 August 1747: François Emmery de Durfort, Count of Civrac (Marshal of Camps on 20 February 1761) 30 November 1761: Marquis Anne Pierre de Montesquiou (Army Brigadier on 20 April 1768) 28 July 1773: Charles Pierre Hyacinthe, Count of Ossun (Marshal of Camps on 9 March 1788) 10 March 1788: Frédéric Séraphin de la Tour du Pin-Paulin, Marquis of Gouvernet (son of Jean-Frédéric de la Tour du Pin)
Revolution and Empire 21 October 1791: Colonel Joseph-Marie Rogon De Kerkaradec 16 May 1792: Colonel Anselme De Sicard (fled to the Netherlands due to his connection to Louis XVI on 20 August 1792) 4 September 1792: Colonel François de Vergès (*) 1794: Brigadier Louis-Prix Varé (*) 1796: Brigadier Barrere (?) 13 August 1799: Brigadier Baptiste Pierre Bisson (**); appointed General on 5 July 1800 5 July 1800: Brigadier Raymond Viviès (*), promoted Brigadier-General on 24 December 1805 1805: Colonel Yves Lemarois 10 May 1807: Colonel Jean-Claude Baussin 19 May 1811: Colonel Antoine Devez 23 January 1813: Colonel Nicolas Jacquemard (*) 2 July 1813: Colonel Jean-Pierre René Stanislas Weller de Chef du Bois
(*) 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: Colonel Le Marois: killed on 8 February 1807 Colonel Baussin: wounded on 10 June 1807, killed on 27 February 1811 Colonel Devez: killed on 14 April 1812 Colonel Weller de Chef du Bois: wounded on 13 October 1813 then again on 10 November 1813
Officers killed and/or wounded while serving in the 43rd Infantry Regiment between 1804 and 1815: Officers killed: 42 Officers who died of their wounds: 18 Officers wounded: 182
The Restoration, July Monarchy, Second Empire, Third Republic until the First World War 17 November 1820: Genty 14 November 1821: Gérard 7 February 1823: De La Tour du Pin de La Charce 16 August 1830: Janin 14 April 1831: Lacretelle 29 September 1837: Massoni 16 April 1843: Cornille 11 April 1843: Lorenton-Dumontet 7 January 1852: Douay 23 October 1852: de Martimprey 5 September 1854: Broutta 12 July 1859: Jeanningros 12 March 1862: Wolff 1 May 1870: De Viville 23 August 1879: Mathieu 13 March 1883: De Ricouard d'Hérouville 6 May 1887: Jacquey 9 April 1892: De Courson de la Villeneuve 29 December 1897: Guelle 4 June 1903: Bizard 22 December 1906: De Lartigue 27 September 1911: Proye
First World War 23 September 1912 - ?: Colonel Paul Maistre 2 to 29 August 1914: Colonel Proye 31 August to 6 September 1914: Lieutenant-colonel Baston 14 September to 6 December 1914: Lieutenant-colonel Lapointe 6 December 1914 to 8 January 1915: Colonel Proye 8 January 1915 to 24 April 1917: Lieutenant-colonel Lapointe 25 April to 4 May 1917: Squadron Leader Marthe 4 May to 12 June 1917: Lieutenant-colonel Nenig 24 June 1917: Lieutenant-colonel Carrot
Between the Wars 24 May 1921: Rat 14 April 1923: Merx 16 March 1925: Leroy 15 December 1925: Stirn 25 March 1927: Dewattre 1 September 1928: Fournier 25 April 1930: Cousse 25 April 1932: Aymes 25 April 1934: Troublé (René Jules) 25 April 1936: Bornecque 10 July 1938: Meyer
Second World War 13 January 1940 to 29 June 1940: Veyrier Du Muraud (Pierre) 7 September 1940: Schneider 1 March 1942 to 30 November 1942: Dumas 30 September 1944: Lajouanie (Marcel)
Since 1945 7 January 1946: Paquette (Jean) 16 January 1947 to 31 March 1947: Letang (Michel) 1 January 1949 to 31 January 1949: Masson (Henry)
43rd Half-brigade 1 August 1950: De Toustain du Manoir 21 April 1952: Katz
43rd Infantry Regiment (7 March 1954) September 1954: Noël (Charles) 10 September 1956: Pénichon (Paul) 1 November 1958 to 31 October 1959: Andres (Pierre) 1 March 1964: Loyer (André) Ducret Roger 1 July 1967: Delerm (Jean) 1 July 1969: Hautecœur (Jean-Pierre) 31 July 1971: Rouquette (Pierre) 31 July 1973: Philippe (Marcel) 31 July 1975: Moussu (Jean) 1 August 1977: O'Callaghan (Patrick) 1 August 1979: Poudevigne (Jacques) 1 August 1981: Simonet (Rémi) 1 August 1983: Bracoud (Maurice) 1 August 1985: Vautrin (Jacques) 1 August 1987: Gouffault (André-François) 1 August 1989: Barth (Lucien) 2 August 1991: Lavigne (Daniel) 1 September 1993: Dequen (René) 1 September 1995: Gabet (Bernard) 29 August 1997: Hubault (Jean-Armel) 31 August 1999: Amelineau (François) 31 August 2001: Paitier (Marc) 27 June 2003: Baulain (Philippe) 4 July 2005: Louze (Laurent) 4 July 2007: Hameury (François) 6 July 2009: Bialais (Philippe) Disbanded on 31 December 2010
Equipment