Abbe Rene Paulin de NAUROIS, MC, Aumonier, HQ Section

Father (Captain) Rene de Naurois was the French Troops' Padre (Aumonier).
Abbe Rene became involved with smuggling Jews from France across the border into Spain. He provided false papers and refuge to those needing assistance and hid Jewish families in the mountains and in Catholic institutions. In 1941 he joined the Resistance and fought with a number of Jewish resistance fighters. He was also outspoken against the Vichy Government. Wanted by the Gestapo, he fled France in 1942.
He joined the Free French Naval Forces and, although in poor health, he asked to join the commandos as chaplain,
He was assigned to French Troops, No10 (IA)Cdo and was among the 177 French Commandos who took part in the D-Day Landings. When the Troops' Medical Officer (Capt R Lion) was KIA, he voluntarily took over as MO. Abbe Rene de NAUROIS passed away, aged 99, on 12 January 2006 and was buried, in the cemetery at Ranville, along with his fellow Commandos, according to his wishes.