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As early as 20 June 1940, aged 17 years and 10 months, Louis GUYOMARD created in Brittany a kind of escape network (later named Craonne) for British, Polish and French prisoners of war (52 in total). With his younger brother, he produced forged identity cards using the official stamp of the town hall of their native village.

He also gathered strategic intelligence, drew up plans of German defences and had them forwarded to London through an agent of the Confrérie Notre Dame (C.N.D.).

Denounced and arrested by the Gestapo, he managed to escape on 15 March 1941. After many ordeals and an extraordinary journey, he joined the French army in Morocco.

On 8 November 1942, while on leave in France at the time of the Allied landings in North Africa—when it was forbidden to leave metropolitan France—he decided to return to Morocco by his own means.

After returning to Morocco, he was selected for a clandestine mission. He underwent specialised training before being assigned to intelligence operations linked to the Sussex Plan.

Interned in the notorious camp of Miranda at Girona and tortured as he tried to protect comrades and escape lines, he later continued his commitment until he was able to resume his mission.

Thanks to his work, he greatly facilitated the action of American troops in liberating the city and sent 25 radio messages to London.

This intelligence enabled several bombings (a concentration of locomotives, the Brevennes fuel depot, and also the identification of the S.S. “Adolphe Hitler” Division).

For this mission, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal (U.S.) by the staff of General Eisenhower.

He subsequently carried out new missions in Lorraine, in Belgium (during the German Ardennes counter-offensive) and in Germany, helping to liberate concentration camps as part of the inter-Allied unit “Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force” (S.A.A.R.F.).

After the German capitulation, Louis GUYOMARD volunteered to serve with the “Conus” commando fighting in the Far East.

He took part in all of this shock unit’s operations—in Cochinchina, Laos, Cambodia and South Annam— against Japanese and even Chinese troops.

Released at his own request from the Army on 31 December 1946, he had accumulated five French citations: one at Army level, three at Division level, and one at Regiment level.

While later working in various professions (forest operator in Cameroon, manager of agricultural unions in Morocco, director and then managing director of companies in France), he continued to serve the duty of remembrance.

Following the Agadir earthquake on 29 February 1960, after being among the first to assist the victims, he created a mutual-aid and organisational structure to improve relief efforts.

As his strength declined—right up to shortly before his hospitalisation—Louis GUYOMARD continued to work tirelessly for the recognition of his comrades’ заслуги and for passing on their story to younger generations.

Invited to numerous patriotic gatherings, he took part with conviction and presence, as far as his physical means allowed, in ceremonies, conferences and other events.

As founding president and unifying figure of the remaining “Conus” and “Sussex” network groups, he kept alive a duty of remembrance: publications, testimonies, meetings and talks.

He donated many souvenirs relating to his mission to the Sussex collection at the Musée du Pays de la Zorn in Hochfelden. He also donated radio equipment to other collections/museums.

His actions—when he was not yet twenty—remain a reference point for young people of the 21st century, helping them understand the image of Free France in those years.

Main awards

• Officer of the Legion of Honour
• War Cross 1939–1945
• Volunteer Combatant of the Resistance
• Medal for Escapees and Interned Resistance Members
• Silver Star Medal (U.S.)
• Honorary First-Class Legionnaire