13 Facts About Henri Sautot

Henri Camille Sautot was a French colonial governor.

Henri Sautot studied at the Nancy-Universite before carrying out national service.

Henri Sautot became an Indigenous Affairs clerk in 1909, before becoming a colonial administrator in 1915.

Henri Sautot was appointed chief of staff of the Governor of Dahomey in 1925, before becoming Acting Governor of St Pierre and Miquelon in 1929, serving until 1932.

Henri Sautot was appointed Resident Commissioner of the New Hebrides in 1932, a post he held until becoming Acting Governor of Tahiti in 1935.

Henri Sautot returned to his post in the New Hebrides in 1937.

Henri Sautot sailed to New Caledonia and, greeted by large crowds on his arrival, went straight to Government House and removed Colonel Denis from office.

Henri Sautot subsequently set up the Bataillon du Pacifique which sailed in May 1941 to fight in North Africa and Europe.

Henri Sautot was made a companion of the Order of Liberation on 1 August 1941, later becoming a Commander of the Legion of Honour and an Officer of the British Empire.

However, after the new French High Commissioner in the Pacific Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu arrived in 1942, disagreements between the two led to Henri Sautot being deported to Auckland in New Zealand in May 1942.

Later in 1942 Henri Sautot was appointed Governor of Ubangi-Shari by de Gaulle, a post he held until retiring in 1946.

Henri Sautot then returned to New Caledonia with his New Caledonian wife.

Henri Sautot entered local politics, and served as mayor of Noumea between 1947 and 1953.