On November 21, 2026, the French Navy’s reserve flotilla in Lorient will officially take the name of Jean Moncorgé, honoring the birth name and military service of screen legend Jean Gabin fifty years after his passing, Le Figaro reported.
The unit’s renaming acknowledges the actor’s combat service during World War II.
Lorient Naval Reserve Flotilla Adopts Moncorgé Name
- The naval reserve flotilla based in Lorient will be officially celebrated under its new name, Moncorgé, during a November 21 ceremony in Royan.
- The renaming falls shortly after the fiftieth anniversary of the actor’s death.
- Mathias Moncorgé requested the change from the original plan to use his father’s stage name, ensuring the military honor went to the family name.
Honoring Jean Moncorgé in Royan
The renaming of the reserve unit, created in 2024 within the Maritime Force of Marine Fusiliers and Commandos in Lorient, took effect at the end of September. The formal celebration is scheduled for November 21 in Royan, as reported by Le Figaro. Attendees will include Rear Admiral Alain Thomas, commander of the marine fusiliers and commandos force, alongside Royan mayor Patrick Marengo.
The tribute coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the actor’s death. Le Figaro said that Gabin once remarked in his distinct cadence that “la guerre, c’est pas du cinéma” after witnessing the reality of combat.
From Hollywood Exile to Tank Commander
Born Jean-Alexis Moncorgé in Paris in 1904, the future star completed his early military service with the marine fusiliers in Lorient, according to France TV. In 1943, after emigrating to the United States to refuse working under German occupation, he enlisted in the French Fighting Forces, serving aboard the Elorn off North Africa before becoming a tank commander.
In April 1945, “le second maître Jean-Alexis Moncorgé (…) combattait avec le régiment blindé de fusiliers marins pour libérer la poche de Royan,” the Moncorgé reserve flotilla said in its communications, as reported by Le Figaro. His wartime service earned him the Médaille militaire and the Croix de guerre 1939-1945.
Preserving the Family Name
The decision to use the actor’s legal surname rather than his famous moniker came directly from his family.
“Les fusiliers marins vont donner le nom de “Moncorgé” à une flottille FMR (Forces maritimes de réserve). À l’origine, elle devait s’appeler “Gabin”, mais j’ai demandé au capitaine s’il était possible de changer ce nom, car c’est sous celui de Moncorgé qu’il s’était engagé dans l’armée,” Mathias Moncorgé told Moustique.
:format(jpeg)/4/h/q/phpj6nqh4.jpg "Photo: France TV")
He added that his father “n’était pas nécessaire d’y revenir” regarding his wartime experiences, maintaining strict privacy about his military record at home. Director Thierry Klifa, who is preparing a biographical film about the actor, observed that “il n’a jamais parlé de cette période de la guerre, qui appartenait davantage à Jean Moncorgé qu’à Jean Gabin,” according to Le Figaro.
| Milestone | Date / Period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 1904 | Born Jean-Alexis Gabin Moncorgé in Paris. |
| Wartime Service | 1943 – 1945 | Enlisted in Free French Forces; fought at Royan. |
| Flotilla Creation | 2024 | Reserve unit established within the Lorient marine fusiliers. |
| Renaming Ceremony | November 21, 2026 | Official celebration in Royan to honor the unit’s new Moncorgé designation. |
The ceremony takes place on November 21, 2026, in Royan.
