13 March 1638: Creation of the Régiment des Vaisseaux3 February 1640: became the Régiment des Vaisseaux-Richelieu10 March 1644: became the Régiment des Vaisseaux-Mazarin25 June 1650: then the Régiment des Vaisseaux-Candale11 April 1658: reverted to Régiment des Vaisseaux-Mazarin15 mars 1661: renamed Régiment des Vaisseaux-Provence20 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 Line1793: formation of the 43rd half-brigade of battle infantry, from the following units:1st battalion of the 22nd Infantry Regiment4th battalion of volunteers from Seine-et-Oise3rd battalion of volunteers from Lot20 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 Line3rd battalion of volunteers from Moselle5th battalion of volunteers from Meurthe3rd battalion of the 149th Infantry Regiment24 September 1803: 43rd Infantry Regiment of the LineThe Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy
1815: disbanded1816: recreated with the name: Legion of Loiret6 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 Channel1 May 1823: a third battalion is createdOn 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 Corps
Detailed articleMarch battalion1914: 43rd Regiment of InfantryAugust 1914: At mobilisation a reserve regiment was set up: the 243rd Infantry Regiment2 August 1914 to 26 October 1916: assigned to the 1st Infantry Division26 October 1916 to 7 January 1919: assigned to the 162nd Infantry Division8 January 1919 to the end of the war: reassigned to the 1st Infantry Division1939: 43rd Motorised Infantry Regiment1 September 1940: 43rd Alpine Infantry Regiment of the Army of the Armistice11 November 1942 to 29 April 1943: progressive dissolutionFourth and Fifth Republics
16 September 1944: creation of the 43rd Infantry Regiment of the Liberation at Lille12 January 1945: 43rd Infantry Regiment to be disbanded on 1 April 194512 April 1947: 43rd Battalion of Infantry1 January 1949: Regiment of Infantry12 February 1949: 43rd Half-Brigade of Infantry composed of:43rd Battalion of Infantry16th Battalion of Foot chasseurs1 March 1954: 43rd Regiment of Infantry12 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 RI24 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 Regiment2002: 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 siingle 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 Regiment1 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.13 March 1638: Henri d'Escoubleau de Sourdis (Archbishop of Bordeaux)3 February 1640: Cardinal Richelieu10 March 1644: Cardinal Jules Mazarin25 June 1650: Louis Charles Gaston de Nogaret de Foix, Duke of Candale15 March 1661: Louis de Vendôme, Duke of Mercœur20 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 Névet16 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 Guerchy14 June 1705: Thomas Le Gendre de Collandre6 March 1719: Pierre-Aimé de Guiffrey, Count of Marcieu25 November 1734: Claude Louis François de Régnier, Count of Guerchy26 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 Kerkaradec16 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 18005 July 1800: Brigadier Raymond Viviès (*), promoted Brigadier-General on 24 December 18051805: Colonel Yves Lemarois10 May 1807: Colonel Jean-Claude Baussin19 May 1811: Colonel Antoine Devez23 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 1807Colonel Baussin: wounded on 10 June 1807, killed on 27 February 1811Colonel Devez: killed on 14 April 1812Colonel Weller de Chef du Bois: wounded on 13 October 1813 then again on 10 November 1813Officers killed and/or wounded while serving in the 43rd Infantry Regiment between 1804 and 1815:
Officers killed: 42Officers who died of their wounds: 18Officers wounded: 18217 November 1820: Genty14 November 1821: Gérard7 February 1823: De La Tour du Pin de La Charce16 August 1830: Janin14 April 1831: Lacretelle29 September 1837: Massoni16 April 1843: Cornille11 April 1843: Lorenton-Dumontet7 January 1852: Douay23 October 1852: de Martimprey5 September 1854: Broutta12 July 1859: Jeanningros12 March 1862: Wolff1 May 1870: De Viville23 August 1879: Mathieu13 March 1883: De Ricouard d'Hérouville6 May 1887: Jacquey9 April 1892: De Courson de la Villeneuve29 December 1897: Guelle4 June 1903: Bizard22 December 1906: De Lartigue27 September 1911: Proye23 September 1912 - ?: Colonel Paul Maistre2 to 29 August 1914: Colonel Proye31 August to 6 September 1914: Lieutenant-colonel Baston14 September to 6 December 1914: Lieutenant-colonel Lapointe6 December 1914 to 8 January 1915: Colonel Proye8 January 1915 to 24 April 1917: Lieutenant-colonel Lapointe25 April to 4 May 1917: Squadron Leader Marthe4 May to 12 June 1917: Lieutenant-colonel Nenig24 June 1917: Lieutenant-colonel Carrot24 May 1921: Rat14 April 1923: Merx16 March 1925: Leroy15 December 1925: Stirn25 March 1927: Dewattre1 September 1928: Fournier25 April 1930: Cousse25 April 1932: Aymes25 April 1934: Troublé (René Jules)25 April 1936: Bornecque10 July 1938: Meyer13 January 1940 to 29 June 1940: Veyrier Du Muraud (Pierre)7 September 1940: Schneider1 March 1942 to 30 November 1942: Dumas30 September 1944: Lajouanie (Marcel)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-brigade1 August 1950: De Toustain du Manoir21 April 1952: Katz43rd 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 Roger1 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
1702:Battle of CremonaRoyal des Vaisseaux Infantry Regiment1740-1748: War of the Austrian Succession11 May 1745: Battle of Fontenoy where the regiment lost 32 officersWars of the Revolution and the Empire
1792: Battle of Valmy and the taking of Namur1795: Battle of Loano1796: Battle of Würzburg1797: Battle of Rivoli, Battle of La Favorita, and Valvassone1800: Battle of Montebello, Battle of Marengo, and Battle of Pozzolo1805:15–20 October: Battle of Ulm2 December: Battle of Austerlitz1806: Campaign of Prussia and Poland14 October: Battle of Jena1807:8 February: Battle of Eylau10 June: Battle of Heilsberg1808:14 July: Battle of Medina del Rio SecoBilbao, and Durango1809: Santeter and Ronda1810: capture of Ronda, Pamplona, and Aspiro1811: Defence of Ronda, Villa-Nova-del-Duque, and Osuna1812: Olora1813:2 May: Battle of Lützen20–21 May: Battle of Bautzen21 June: Battle of Vitoria30 August: Battle of Kulm7 October: Battle of the Bidassoa16–19 October: Battle of Leipzig30–31 October: Battle of HanauSaint-Barbe10 November: Battle of NivelleBayonne1814: Peninsular War27 February: Battle of Orthez10 April: Battle of Toulouse1814: War of the Sixth Coalition10 February: Battle of Champaubert11 February: Battle of Montmirail14 February: Battle of Vauchamps9–10 March: Battle of Laon13 March: Battle of Reims25 March: Battle of Fère-Champenoise30–31 March: Battle of Paris1815: The Hundred DaysSaint-GillesMathaRevolution of 1830: the regiment, stationed at Le Havre and Dieppe rallied to the new régime.February 1831: participated in the suppression of disturbances in Morbihan.1845-1851: French conquest of Algeria11 October 1845: the regiment is garrisoned at Toulon; three battalions were deployed to Algiers (two on 31 October and one on 3 November). The regiment established itself in Béjaïa.9 December 1845 – 4 January 1846: an expedition against the tribes linked to Abdel Kader: this expedition was badly prepared and resulted in the deaths of 66 men, 2 in combat.14 February 1846: 1st battalion is garrisoned at Philippeville, 2nd battalion is at Sétif. Operations in the region against the tribes in Boutaleb.12 June 1846: the 1st battalion leaves for Djidjelli, the 2nd is in operation against the Amouchas.30 April 1847: the 3rd battalion is in operation in Kabylie and subduing the Beni Brahim. The regiment then leaves for Batna then Bône, their new garrison post. Until March 1849, they worked on creating agricultural centres and in pacification.October-26 November 1849: the Siege and capture of the oasis of Zaatcha. The operation was conducted with the 1st battalion of the Foreign Legion and the 4th company of the 3rd Battalion of the Bat' d'Af (BILA).May–June 1850: An Infantry battalion is formed and fight in the region of Tébessa against the Nementcha tribe.6 January 1851: Embarkation on the Vauban, disembarking at Toulon and continued to Langres.September 1851: The regiment is stationed at Paris.2 December 1851: The regiment takes part in police operations following the coup d'État.24 September 1853: The regiment leaves for Mâcon (E-M, depot, 2nd battalion), Lons-le-Saulnier (3rd battalion), and Châlons (1st battalion).January 1854 - 17 June 1856: Crimean War (Sevastopol): the regiment lost 879 men out of 3,350 engaged which included 500 from disease.1859: Italian Campaign (Magenta, Solférino): the regiment lost 8 officers and 145 NCOs and enlisted men.Successive Garrisons: Bourg-en-Bresse (30 August 1859), Lorient (28 September 1859), Lille (15 September 1861), Amiens, Péronne, Ham (1868)1870: Franco-Prussian War:18 August: Battle of Gravelottefighting with the Army of the Loire and Nord (under the name 69th Provisional Infantry Regiment)23–24 December: Battle of Hallue1871:3 January: Battle of Bapaume19 January: Battle of St. Quentin3 September: a new 43rd is created by amalgamating 4 battalions of 6 companies each: garrisoned at Lille30 August 1881: the 4th battalion moves to Tunisia and disembarks at La Goulette on 13 September 1881.14 September 1883 the regiment returns to France.Maintaining order in cities: Douai area (1878), Armentières (1880), Premesques (1889), Halluin (1890).1 October 1887: The regiment provides its 1st battalion to the 147th Infantry Regiment as part of the reorganisation of the corps, which created infantry regiments of three battalions.AssignmentsAugust 1914 to 26 October 1916: 1st Infantry Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps27 October 1916 to November 1918: 162nd division of infantry.Constitution in 1914: 3 battalions (72 officers, 164 NCOs, 3,174 men, 219 horses)
10–28 August: Battle of the Frontiers near Charleroi:HastièreAnseremont (16 August)OdinatSaint-Gérard (21–23 August)Marienbourg (25 August)then the retreat:Le Hérie-la-Viéville (Battle of Guise) (28–29 August).First Battle of the Marne (5–13 September):Seuregion of EsternayOrnesReims-Saint-Brice-CourcellesCourcyCholera FarmBerry-au-BacSapigneulFirst Battle of the Aisne (13–28 September):Chavonnes,Vailly,Soupir-Montsapin.Rested at Courcelles-Sapicourt.15 December: depart for Champagne.Champagne:Beauséjour Farm (16 –23 February)Bois Oblique (13–14 March)Bois de Pareid (5 April)Aisne (24 April-22 June):TrésauvauxGodat FarmCormicyBouffignereux (16 July-3 August)Fighting in Aisne cost the regiment 23 officers and 511 men.
Aisne (January–February):La NeuvilleSapigneul (gas attack on 6 February)Battle of Verdun (27 February-5 April):Côte du PoivreRavin de Bras-sur-Meuse.Aisne (6 April-10 August):Craonnelle,Blanc Sablon.Battle of the Somme (August–September):MaurepasMaricourtPriez Farm (in September)Champagne (1 October-20 December):Butte de Souain.Aisne (7 January–March):Le Blanc Sablon.Second Battle of the Aisne (offensive on 16 April):Plateau of Vauclerc.Flanders (5 July-19 November):Passeur House.Battle of Passchendaele (4 August): Chaudière sector (27 September-19 November).Third Battle of the Aisne10 January - March: La Ville-aux-Bois, JuvincourtApril - May: Ferrières, Pérennes, Abbémont3 June - 27 July: Third Battle of the Aisne, Soissons sectorAugust: Nouvron-Vingré, Fontenoy, Tour-Vingré Farm21–28 September: Château of Vaucelles, Gerbau FarmVosges Sector (29 September):the regiment is stationed at Fresse and Le Thillot until 11 November 1918.The First World War cost the regiment 85 officers, 243 NCOs, and 2,790 men.In January 1919 the regiment guarded the Rhine at Mainz.There is no information in the book The 43rd R.I. the regiment of Lille
In 1939–1940, constantly bombarded by enemy aircraft, the regiment moved to contact the German army in Belgium (fighting on the Dijle) leading to fierce fighting along the Scheldt (Bruille-Saint-Amand). The regiment then regrouped and fought at Dunkirk before being ordered to disarm in Normandy after losing 231 killed and 600 wounded.Shortage of time nearly led to the loss of the regimental flag. On 21 June 1940 Colonel Gaillard decided, in the face of the German danger, to hide his flag in the basement of Le Mesnil-Rainfray rectory. The flag was returned at the end of the winter of 1941 by Lieutenant Mourgant and Sergeant Menet on the instructions of Lieutenant Vallat, formerly of the 43rd Infantry Regiment. The unit became the 43rd Alpine Infantry Regiment stationed in Marseille and Digne (one battalion). The regiment recovered the flag which was solemnly presented on 3 May 1941 before the unit was disbanded in 1942 after the invasion of Vichy France by the Germans. It was restored by the Maquis of Nord and Cher and ended the war on the front in the pockets of the Atlantic.The regiment detached the Marching battalion of the 43rd Infantry Regiment between January 1947 and June 1948 and participated in particular in Operation Lea.
A citation for the Marching battalion of the 43rd Infantry regiment:
"An elite Regiment, a worthy heir of the Royal des Vaisseaux, presented themselves on their arrival in Indochina, faithful to the finest traditions of their forebears. Engaged for eight months in the sub-sector of Gia Lâm (Tonkin) they have carried out, under the fiery leadership of their chief - Commandant Lejosne, the conquest and pacification of a difficult area between the Canal des Rapides and the Red River. Called on to participate in the liberation of Hà Đông during the freeing of Nam Định, their cleaning-up operation north of the Rapids bridge won admiration for their energy, their offensive spirit which never shrank from the hardest sacrifices. On 14 May 1947, after a daring raid on the Red River, they seized Việt Trì. Engaged without a moment's rest in the autumn campaign, they once again demonstrated their bite. Placed in difficult conditions on the Claire River at Phu Doan, Lang-Quang, Tuyên Quang, and Sơn Dương, they coped magnificently. They inflicted heavy losses in men and material on the enemy. They are assuredly one of our best Units".
The regiment participated in operations in Morocco and in Algeria from 1952 to 1962 at the cost of 2 officers, 3 NCOs, and 57 men killed.
On 1 July 2005 the regiment was reorganised to create the 6th RCS of Douai which had: 21 officers, 106 NCOs and 227 voluntary enlisted men divided into two active units: 1 Command & Support (CAS) and 1 CDC.
The 43rd Infantry Regiment, deployable to any of the forces is subject to the Commandement des Forces Terrestres. Its mission is to ensure the support of various Headquarters in the Lille garrison. It contributes, in compliance with NATO criteria to support the deployment of the Headquarters Rapid Reaction Corps – France (RRC-fr) during its operational preparations and during engagements.
1 company for command and logistics (CCL) 1 company for administration and support (CAS) 1 company for Reserve (5CIR)
The main materials are interconnected modules that allow rapid provision of mobile headquarters command posts with transport vehicles with trailers to provide movement (a semi-trailer is 38 tons).
The reserve unit: 5th USR company delivered its flag in December 2010.
Its flag had the name "AFN 1952-1962" inscribed on it.On 31 December 2010 the 43rd Infantry Regiment was dissolvedOn 1 January 2011: It became the GSBdD (Group for Support of the Defence Base) of Lille, a joint agency of the EMA with a mission to provide general administrative and common support tasks for the benefit of all formations of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs based in Nord and Pas de Calais. The GSBdD was entrusted with the custody of the Flag and Hall of Honour for the 43rd Infantry Regiment.It has sewn in gold letters in its centre strip, the entries shown in the picture below:
The tie is decorated with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with 3 citations (30 October 1916, 5 October 1917, and 29 September 1918) at the order of the army (three palms). The 43rd Infantry Regiment also holds the Gold Medal of the City of Milan following its participation in the battles of Solferino and Palestro in 1859.
The regiment detached a Marching battalion in Indochina between January 1947 and June 1948. Its pennant bears the Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'opérations extérieurs with a citation (9 June 1948) at the order of the army (one palm).
They wear a fourragère in the colours of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918.The Blue Star of the Regiment is worn on the focused on the fourragère.1780: Louis-Joseph Nompar de Caumont (1768–1838), lieutenant in the Royal-Vaisseaux in 1780, Field Marshal (1814), son of Charles Pierre Hyacinthe, Count of Ossun, commanding officer.1792: Marshal Bertrand Clauzel as chief captain.1797: Major-General Jean-Baptiste Broussier as brigade commander.1909: Paul Maistre, General of Division.1982: Daniel Pihen 
