Portside

Two rectangular plaques honoring the men of the First Special Service Force, an elite American-Canadian unit, who fought to liberate Port-Cros between August 15 and 17, 1944. The upper plaque provides a brief history of the battle, while the lower plaque lists the names, ranks, nationalities, and exact locations where these soldiers gave their lives.

The liberation of Port-Cros, a small island off the coast of Southern France, was part of the larger Allied operation known as Operation Dragoon, which aimed to liberate Southern France from German occupation. The mission specifically targeted Port-Cros between August 15 and 17, 1944, just as Allied forces began advancing inland from the beaches of Provence.

The First Special Service Force (FSSF), a highly trained joint American-Canadian commando unit, played a central role in securing the island. Led by Brigadier General Robert Frederick, the FSSF was tasked with neutralizing German defenses on Port-Cros and neighboring islands. Known for their specialized training in amphibious and mountain warfare, the FSSF soldiers infiltrated the island, encountering and overcoming fortified German positions, including bunkers and artillery that posed a threat to Allied naval operations. The commando unit succeeded in capturing key positions on Port-Cros, forcing German troops to surrender and thus securing a crucial point in the Mediterranean for the Allies. Their efforts contributed to clearing the way for subsequent operations on the French mainland and the liberation of key coastal areas, such as Toulon and Marseille. In the process, several members of the FSSF died in the battle.

Source of information: warfarehistorynetwork.com, arsof-history.org

Source of photos: www.memorialgenweb.org

First Plaque:

IN MEMORIAM

A 01 00 15 AOUT 1944, LE US-CANADIAN FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE DEBARQUA EN BATEAUX PNEUMATIQUES SUR LES ILES DE PORT CROS ET DU LEVANT DANS LE BUT DE DESTRUIRE LES AVANT-POSTES DE L'ENNEMI EN PREPARATION DU DÉBARQUEMENT PRINCIPAL DES ALLIES

DES L'AUBE, LES EMPLACEMENTS DE L'ENNEMI FURENT ENTOURES ET

APRES UNE INTENSE BATAILLE, LEUR RESISTANCE FUT BRISEE

PENDANT CETTE ACTION, ET LES BATAILLES JUSQU A LA FRONTIERE ITALIENNE QUI LIBERERENT LE SUD DE LA FRANCE. 73 FORCEMEN PERIRANT ET PLUS DE 300 FURENT BLESSES CE MEMORIAL EST ERIGE POUR PERPETUER LE SOUVENIR DE CES CAMARADES COURAGEUX

FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE ASSOCIATION

24 MAI 1994

English Translation:

IN MEMORY

AT 01 00 15 AUGUST 1944, THE US-CANADIAN FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE LANDED IN INFLATABLE BOATS ON THE ISLANDS OF PORT CROS AT SUNRISE TO DESTROY ENEMY OUTPOSTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAIN ALLIED LANDING

AT DAWN, THE ENEMY LOCATIONS WERE SURROUNDED AND

AFTER AN INTENSE BATTLE, THEIR RESISTANCE WAS BROKEN

DURING THIS ACTION, AND THE BATTLES UP TO THE ITALIAN BORDER WHICH LIBERATED SOUTHERN FRANCE. 73 FORCE MEN PERISHED AND MORE THAN 300 WERE INJURED THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF THESE COURAGEOUS COMRADES

Second Plaque:

EN HOMMAGE AUX HOMMES DE LA FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE MORTS AU COMBAT

POUR LIBEREE LA TERRE DE PORT-CROS ENTRE LE 15 ET LE 17 AOUT 1944

CAPT. WILLIAM H. MERRITT - USA - FORT DE L'ESTISS AC

SGT. JOHN L. WALKMEISTER - USA - FORT DE PORT MAN

T4. REYNOLD J. KING - USA - FORT DE L'EMINENCE

T4. FRANK J. TOMASOSKI - USA - FORT DE L'ESTISSAC

PVT. GEORGE NIXON - USA - FORT DU MOULIN

English Translation:

IN TRIBUTE TO THE MEN OF THE FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE WHO DIED IN COMBAT

TO LIBERATE THE LAND OF PORT-CROS BETWEEN AUGUST 15 AND 17, 1944