Bretislav Kincl
During the First Czechoslovak Republic he operated a dining car on an express train on the Belgrade–Paris line. He later sold the dining car in France, but lost the money in a casino in Monaco.
Together with a friend, they hired a ship in Marseille, and an epidemic broke out on the ship, they disembarked in Alexandria.
He later joined the Foreign Legion, returning home after five years.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
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He married, after the beginning of the occupation he formed a group of people from Tuřany and the surrounding area, they went to France via Hungary and then to England.
His wife and two children remained at home. He had a friend, a police officer, who advised Mrs Kincl to report to the police that she and her husband had argued, and he had left. This managed to cover her from the real reason for leaving.
WORKSOP (RETFORD ROAD) CEMETERY Section 19 Grave 338.
In October 1939, France and Czechoslovakia (through the government-in-exile in London) signed a Treaty of cooperation, and consequently the 1st Czechoslovak Infantry Division was formed and included in the French OOB on 1/1/1940.
The Division had two infantry regiments, with a combined strength of 5,000 men. However, the Division had no artillery, only a handful of mortars (81mm) and only two anti-air guns (25mm), rendering its combat usefulness limited.
During the campaign for France in 1940, the unit was involved in heavy fighting against the German 16th Panzer Division and steadily driven back, until most of its personnel were evacuated to Britain. Discharged on 25/4/1940 in Marseille. Arrived in Britain.
The British reformed the approximately 3,300 remaining Czechs into the 1st Czechoslovak Mixed Brigade Group in July 1940. This brigade consisted of two infantry battalions, one artillery battalion, as well as smaller specialist units (communication, engineers etc). Also formed was the 200th Czechoslovak Light AA Regiment, with some 1,500 men.
In September 1943 the two units were merged to become the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade, with around 4,000 men in operational strength.
The brigade had two armoured battalions, a motorised infantry battalion, an artillery regiment, an anti-tank battalion, and a reconnaissance battalion. Captain Břetislav Kincl, personal number: Z; F-3111 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade from 27/4//1940 to 22/12/1943. 22/12/1943 died Worksop Hospital of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Unknown
Photo of Bretislav Kincl
Photo of Bretislav Kincl
Photo of Bretislav Kincl