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Division General Gabriel Bablon, 4th Commander of the 13th DBLE
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Gabriel Bablon was born on September 1, 1905, in Domfront, Orne. He enlisted in the army at age 18, and was posted in the 17th Regiment of Algerian Riflemen on occupation duties in Germany, following the First World War. He was then posted to Morocco, where he was severly wounded by a shot to the knee in May of 1925, at Me Sila. He had been promoted to sergeant in August, 1924, and was accepted as an officer candidate at the Saint-Cyr Academy in 1926. Commissioned as a "sous-lieutenant", 2nd lietenant, in October of 1928, he was posted to the 30th Battalion of Foot Chasseurs. Made a full lieutenant in Octover of 1930, in 1932 he transfers to the Foreign Legion, serving with the 1st REI, then, in February 1933, with the 4th REI.
He continues service in Morocco, where he is made a captain in June of 1937. He remains in Morocco through the outbreak of World War Two and Battle for France. Following the French defeat, he is placed on leave. Refusing to accept defeat, he reaches London by way of Gibraltar on January 6, 1941, and joins the Free French forces. He is assigned to the 13th DBLE, and joins the unit in Lebanon via Cameroon in October of 1941. He is placed in the 2nd Battalion, and is wounded in January of 1942 by a shell, and then again on June 11, 1942, in the leg by a mine, during the breakout from Bir Hakeim. Both times he was distinguished for valor. Promoted to major in September of 1942, he is made commander of the 2nd Battalion, and is commended again for valor during the attack from Himeimat, at El Alamein on October 23-24, 1942. Following Almikhvari's death on October 23, he is made commander of the 13th.
He remains as commander of the 13th DBLE through its arrival in Italy. Wounded again by a grenade on May 17, 1944, in San Giorgio, Italy, he continues with the unit into Southern France, on August 31, 1944. In September he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and is named as the commander of the 5th Infantry Regiment. He returns as commander of the 13th DBLE in January of 1946, and leads the unit to Indochina in March. In April of 1948, he assumes command of the 4th DBLE, which is later turned into the 4th REI. He is then posted to Germany, where is made a full colonel in April of 1953. He retires early a year later. Taken severly ill in early 1956, he dies on March 27, 1956, in Anost, Saone et Loire. He was buried in Vendargues, Herault.
During his miltiray career, Gabriel Bablon received the following awards/decorations:
• Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur • Compagnon de la Liberation - decret du 28 mai 1945 • Croix de Guerre 1939-45 (2 citations) • Croix de Guerre des TOE (3 citations) • Medaille Coloniale avec agrafes "Sahara", "Maroc", Syrie", "Bir-Hakeim, "Libye", "E-O" • Medaille Commemorative 39/45 • Paz del Marrueco (Espagne) • Commandeur du Ouissam Alaouite • Commandeur du Nicham Iftikar • Distinguished Service Cross (USA)