Bernard LELAY (1911-1975)

• A former typographer for the newspaper "l'Humanité"
• Mobilised in 1939, he rapidly joined the Resistance after being demobilised
• He replaced Captain BEAULIEU at the head of the Chabanais maquis in July 1944 upon the order of the general staff of the 5th FTP region. This maquis then took the name of "BERNARD"..
• He took part in the fighting at Chabanais, Exideuil, Oradour-sur-Vayres, Aixe-sur-Vienne, the taking of Limoges and the Liberation of Angoulême.
• Promoted lieutenant-colonel at the Liberation, he was given the command of the military subdivision of Angoulême while at the same time he was following his regiment which was engaging the enemy on the front in Royan.
• After withdrawing to Chazelles, he returned to Paris in about 1953 where he resumed his work as a typographer with l'Humanité.
• He died in 1975 at Bagnolet.

He was interred in the crypt at the Memorial on 11th November 1977.

Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur.