Early Life and Military Beginnings

Louis Rivié was born on 25 March 1911 in Souk El Arba, Tunisia. His father was a gendarme, a type of police officer in France’s colonial territories.

Childhood and Early Military Service

From 1924 to 1929, he was a child soldier in Autun, a town in France. Voluntarily enlisted in 1929 under the 56th Regiment of Artillery, he was promoted to Mdl, a junior rank, and entered as an aspirant at the Artillery Officer School in Poitiers in September 1937.

Military Career During World War II

As a second lieutenant in the 108th Regiment of Artillery in 1938, he participated in the French campaign as a firing lieutenant. He was wounded on 12 June 1940 during the retreat from Rethel, a town in northeastern France.

Refusal of Armistice and Joining the Free French Forces

Refusing the armistice between France and Nazi Germany, he attempted on several occasions to join the Free French Forces in London. In October 1940, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and requested to be assigned to the Middle East, joining the Tcherkess Group of Commandant Collet in Syria.

Contributions to the Free French Resistance

There, he took command of a squadron and participated in contacts with emissaries of Free France. He also facilitated the passage of several resistants to Palestine but received orders from Commandant Collet to remain at his post while continuing to prepare a mass rallying. After the rallying failed, he joined the Free French Forces in Palestine on 25 May 1941, taking with him the entire Tcherkess squadron.

Post-War Military Service and Decorations

After the war, he was assigned to Madagascar, then from September 1947 to June 1952, to the EM of the FFA. Appointed Commandnat, he was assigned to Tunisia as head of the 1st Bureau until 1957 and then posted to the 9th Regiment of Artillery in metropolitan France until 1960.

Later Career and Death

As a lieutenant colonel, he was assigned to Algeria, in the Aurès, until 1962, at the head of the 1st Regiment of Artillery, where he received two citations from the Division. He ended his career with the rank of Colonel as DMD of the Pyrénées-Orientales. He died on 29 October 1994 in Perpignan, where he was buried.

Awards and Honors

He was awarded the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, Companion of Liberation, Croix de Guerre 39/45 (5 citations), Croix de la Valeur Militaire (2 citations), Medal of Resistance, and several other military and commemorative medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross from the United States.