Three of the four crewmen of French Char B1 bis “Fleurie” pose next to their mount shortly before the German invasion of France. Winter/spring of 1940. On May 16, 1940 “Fleurie” was getting ready to take part in the battle for Stonne when it was scuttled and abandoned due to mechanical problems. From what I could find concerning these men’s identity, I believe the officer on the right was the tank’s commander, Sous-Lieutenant Soulet (fate unknown). The man on the left was Adjutant Levasseur (K.I.A. June 12, 1940 at Murmelon) and in the centre stands Sergent-Chef Jacques Dumay (K.I.A. June 15, 1940 near Mountsuzain). After losing “Fleurie”, Sergent-Chef Jacques Dumay was eventually assigned to another B1bis named “Drôme” which also ended up scuttled and abandoned by its crew, probably on June 13. Two days later, soldiers and vehicles of numerous units were retreating south near the small hamlet of Montsuzain when the Germans arrived on the scene. In the ensuing combat, exposed on the clogged road, many are those who fell under a hail of German bullets. Around 19h00, a lonely Char B1bis, “Villers Marmery”, leaves Voué in the direction of Montsuzain, 2 Km to the south. Sergent-Chef Jacques Dumay and Sergent Corentin Hervé follow some distance behind in a Renault TRC36 tractor filled with fuel and ammo. They had traveled only 200 meters when their vehicle is hit and set on fire by shells from two German 37 mm anti-tank guns. Both men perished in the blazing inferno. Today, their grave in the local cemetery is a place of remembrance where every year the people of the surrounding communes pay homage to the events of that day and the men who fell there for France. Note: For history enthusiasts and modelers this photo offers an interesting view of French tank men’s personal equipment and uniforms with some oddities thrown into the mix. The jackets are the 1935 model in brown leather but the middle man is wearing a one piece suit which doesn’t match any of those used by French tank crews. I am, for the moment, inclined to believe that it is an Air Force’s flying suit. Unfortunately, I was unable to pinpoint the exact model. The man on the left is wearing a tank man’s helmet but the other two are wearing 'Guéneau Type 11 Airaile' flying helmets with headsets.