Formed in France, the Independent Highland Rifle Brigade was sent to Norway on 8 May 1940, where it took part in the Battle of Narvik. As a result of the difficult situation on the front in France, the Allied forces withdrew from Norway and the Brigade was sent to Brittany, where it took part in heavy fighting on the Franco-German front in defence of the so-called 'Breton Redoubt'. In the final stage of the fighting, it was assigned to defend the communication routes to enable the withdrawal of the Allied troops.
Three Polish riflemen were killed on 18.06.1940 at a place called Ville-Montaise in La Fontenelle. They were: Edmund Górski, Józef Juszczak and Jan Ptasiński. According to accounts from local residents, these soldiers showed exceptional courage and sacrifice to stop the German attack as the Brigade retreated. They rest in the local cemetery, and in the 1950s the French side erected a magnificent monument in the form of a tall column on their grave, while a commemorative stone was placed at the site of their death. Ceremonies are held annually in La Fontenelle with the participation of the 21st Brigade of Podhale Riflemen named after Brigadier-General Mieczysław Boruta-Spiechowicz, which arrives from Poland.

Compiled by R. Piątek / MKiDN, X 2025