Philippe de Gaulle: Man who fought with Royal Navy and son of military legend dies aged 102
Philippe de Gaulle, one of the last Frenchmen to fight alongside the Royal Navy in the Second World War and the son of the legendary General Charles de Gaulle, has died at the age of 102.
Admiral de Gaulle served with the Free French Naval Forces during World War Two after escaping from occupied France.
He fought to liberate his country on board the Royal Navy carrier HMS Indomitable and achieved greatness, much like his father, by taking part in the Normandy landings and later becoming an admiral.
"I am saddened to learn of the passing of Admiral Philippe de Gaulle," said the head of the Royal Navy, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key.
"He embodied a lifetime of dedication and service to France, beginning in the Free French Naval Forces, and valiantly participating in the Battle of the Atlantic and the liberation of France.
"He has been a living symbol of the profound bounds between our navies. My most sincere condolences to the Marine Nationale and the people of France."
During his military service, Adm de Gaulle led a platoon of French naval infantry during the D-Day landings and fought all the way to the German border.
He also took part in the liberation of Paris and Strasbourg, and was wounded six times during his career. However, he never stopped fighting.
After the war, he served in operations against communist forces in Indochina (modern-day Vietnam) and fought alongside the Royal Navy during the Suez Crisis in 1956.
His father, General Charles de Gaulle, was the head of the Free French government after the country’s occupation by Germany, and he later became the head of the provisional government after the liberation.
On the Admiral's 100th birthday in December 2021, President Emmanuel Macron called him "one of the great servants of our country".
Mr Macron said of Adm de Gaulle: "There are lives where the history of France can be read even better than in books."
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