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BZ to a hero
OK, this guy was now in the French Gendarme but was ex-forces and in 2007 was awarded the French Military Cross. And who selflessly exchanged himself in place of a civilian hostage. I wish I had a tenth of his courage.
RIP chap... https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...nch-siege-dies |
Brave indeed and will be remembered by the women hostage for the rest of her life.
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Just a FWIW from someone who lives quite close to where this all unraveled, .. and apologies before hand for being picky, but the Lt Col Beltrame was not really strictly “ex-forces”...I know the U.K. media uses policeman in referring to him but the Gendarmarie National is a military organisation tasked with civil law and order (unlike the Police Municipal, who are more like the U.K. police)...
Pickyness aside I do agree completely with the sentiments of the OPs post though..we were aware of all this unravelling yesterday via local news, couldn’t help but admire the bravery displayed when we heard he had swopped with the female hostage and were hoping.........maybe once and for all we can put an end to the various flag and reverse gear jokes....one can but hope. |
Very sad news indeed.
SALUER |
This was bravery of the highest order - done in cold blood - it deserves the highest praise. A true hero.
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Top man!
From the BBC: He graduated in 1999 from France's leading military academy in Saint Cyr and in 2003 became one of just a handful of candidates chosen to join the gendarmerie's elite security response group GSIGN. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and was later awarded the Cross for Military Valour for his peacekeeping work. On his return to France, Col Beltrame joined the country's Republican Guard and was tasked with protecting the presidential palace. In 2017, he was named deputy chief of the Gendarmerie Nationale in the French region of Aude, home to the medieval town of Carcassonne, where Lakdim began his deadly shooting spree on Friday. |
A truly selfless and heroic action which is worthy of the highest accolades and praise.
We salute Col Baltrame and his like. |
Couldn't agree more.
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I thought courage like that only existed in the movies, not in reality. A real hero.
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Highest respect for him. He saved at least one lady. And he knew how dangerous it was before and still did what he did. What a great Gentleman.
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Also being discussed on JB where the subject of a medal came up. I would think that a posthumous award of the Legion of Honour would be most likely, although I am not sufficiently familiar with the French system to know if there is perhaps a more appropriate award.
maybe once and for all we can put an end to the various flag and reverse gear jokes....one can but hope. |
Originally Posted by the_flying_cop
(Post 10095518)
I thought courage like that only existed in the movies, not in reality. A real hero.
I suggest that you read some of the citations for bravery in recent years to those who have been awarded decorations. |
I know a few coppers in the UK and all I'd say is they'd all do the same...............
cold blooded bravery A very brave man........ |
Tricolours were all at half-mast today in my home town. It's deservedly huge news here.
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Greater love hath no man....
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Bravo Zulu, indeed. Hat is off and salute. RIP.
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I can’t imagine the fear he must of felt as he swapped places, yet he pressed on, a true hero. RIP.
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Originally Posted by Tankertrashnav
(Post 10095536)
Also being discussed on JB where the subject of a medal came up. I would think that a posthumous award of the Legion of Honour would be most likely, although I am not sufficiently familiar with the French system to know if there is perhaps a more appropriate award.
Hear hear. |
Originally Posted by papajuliet
(Post 10095271)
This was bravery of the highest order - done in cold blood - it deserves the highest praise. A true hero.
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This action went well above the call of duty and reached an order of self-sacrifice that warrants high honour and recognition from the French Government.
He deserves his place among military heroes. IG |
All very well said. This officer represents the very best of mankind and his killer the worst.
I suspect that the killer agreed to the exchange in order to take down a member of the Gendarmarie National. A final act... God bless this man... |
A truly incredible selfless act.
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No Words can suffice
Well said ImageGear.
There are so very few men who would act as Lt Col Arnaud Beltrame did. His selfless act does him, his family,his friends the Gendarmerie and indeed France Geat Honour. I salute your Valour and humanity. My sincere condolences to All that knew Lt Col Arnaud Beltrame. Per Ardua Ad Astra. |
I have followed the many fine tributes posted here and I thought of another French citizen who made the ultimate sacrifice to help and protect others -- Violette Szabo.
Before she embarked on her mission she was given a poem written by Leo Marks, writer, and in WWII the Head of Cryptology at the SOE, to enable her to send messages in code. The poem will be forever linked with her. The opening six lines encapsulate the actions of this Officer in a far better way than any words of mine. The life that I have Is all that I have And the life that I have Is yours. The love that I have Of the life that I have Is yours and yours and yours. |
John 15:13 (KJV)
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Hand salute Taps |
In the ceremony attended by several former French presidents, Mr Macron awarded the officer France's highest accolade, the Legion d'Honneur.
Trèbes attack: Paris ceremony for hero policeman Arnaud Beltrame - BBC News |
Very right and proper. I feel sometimes the word "hero" is overused. "Football hero scores winning goal" I tend to define a hero as someone who had a safer, easier option, but chose the difficult, honourable one.
Well done, SIR. |
I haven't seen any reference but I hope we were represented at the ceremony in Paris today. I think it would have required the attendance of the British ambassador, if not a senior government representative, to show that we are all together in fighting these scumbags.
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Edward David Gerard Llewellyn, Baron Llewellyn of Steep, OBE, PC Her Majesty's Ambassador to France, tweeted that it was an honour to attend the ceremony this morning.
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I am doing my bit to draw attention to the fact that in the 21st century Governments and the agencies they are responsible for communicate by twitter. Facebook used to be used too, but given the data misuse scandal, I guess that is no longer popular.
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Thanks for the info, Roving :ok:
Edward David Gerard Llewellyn, Baron Llewellyn of Steep, OBE, PC Her Majesty's Ambassador to France |
They should have taken the funeral cortege through Seine-Saint-Denis.
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