On Friday August 23, the members of the “les Amis de La Martinerie” office, Bruno, Francine, Jean-Jacques and Roland, met at the shared house "Ages et Vie" in Mongivray, to celebrate André NOIZAT's 100th birthday.
They were accompanied by two Gendarmerie cadets, Alex and Jessy, who are passionate about history.
After welcoming the participants, his wife Nicole, his family, and the friends of André Noizat, including Ms. Hélène Charrier, deputy mayor of Montgivray, and Mr. Alain Descout, president of the La Châtre committee of the ANACR, then in the absence of Mr. Thierry Lanxade, prefect of the Indre department who, due to the change of date and place, could not attend the event, the president of “les Amis de La Martinerie” explained the story of the meeting with Mr. Noizat.
The president mentioned the first contact with Ms. Jouhanneau at the beginning of 2023. Through her, he learned about Mr. Noizat's decision, on the one hand to financially support “les Amis de La Martinerie”, and on the other hand to present the pennant of the 5th BCP, so that it can be preserved and honored in the flag room of “la maison départementale de la mémoire militaire”.
Very honored by this decision, the president mentioned that the celebration of Mr Noizat’s 100th anniversary was initially schedule for June 16, 2024, after a visit to “la maison départementale de la mémoire militaire”, but the vagaries of life did not allow us to do so..
Before discussing Mr. Noizat's journey, the president specifies that we are gathered not only to celebrate a special anniversary but above all, to say THANK YOU to Mr. Noizat and his comrades whom he represents for their action, their determination and their commitment so that we remained French.
“Mr Noizat, you joined the resistance at the beginning of 1944, you were not yet 20 years old, to join the Indre-Est group based at the Château de Puybardeau. »
“On July 14, 1944, you had to leave the castle which had become too small and moved to the Berry countryside where several groups were formed, notably those of Aigurande and Neuvy Saint-Sépulchre, with which you ended up with”.
“When the department was liberated on September 10, 1944, you enlisted, with many comrades, for the duration of the war, within the 5th Battallion de Chasseurs à Pied (5th BCP). This battalion, dissolved in 1940, was recreated in Le Blanc with numerous volunteers from the Resistance.
“On January 7, 1945, you left, with many of your Berrichon comrades, to continue the fight within the 1st Army and allow the liberation of the Colmar pocket. At that time, you had two enemies, the cold (minus 25 degrees) and the Germans.”
It was on January 20 that the major offensive against the pocket of Colmar took place, a symbol of the Germans' desire not to give in to the push of the units of the 1st Army. The 5th BCP distinguished itself, first on the road to Cernay and then on the heights of the village of Thann.
After the liberation of the village of Vieux Thann, the 5th BCP left the 1st Army to join Le Croisic and Pornichet to take part in the liberation of another pocket, that of Saint Nazaire.
On March 3, 1945, you arrived in Redon to reinforce the units already employed in the liberation of the Saint Nazaire Pocket, again a symbol of the German resistance. The 1st, 5th and 17th BCP constitute the 4th Chasseur à pied demi-brigade.
In August 1945 you embarked on Le Sestrières to intervene in Algeria, and you were demobilized at the end of November 1945 and returned to France via Toulon.
On January 1, 1946, you returned to your civilian life to work in the tax administration.”
At the end of this tribute to his career, Mr. Noizat, visibly very moved, officially presented the pennant of the 5th BCP veterans association to “les Amis de La Martinerie”, as well as a financial donation.
The NR article
L'Echo du Berry article
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Photo credit: Axel, Edith, Frédéric, Jean-Jacques et Marie-Claude
