In Saigon, capital of French Indo-China (Vietnam), British, Indian and French troops mark the first Armistice Day since the end of the war.

Four senior officers pass camera. Two officers lay wreaths. General Philippe Leclerc (commander French Far East Expeditionary Corps), Major-General Douglas Gracey (commander of 20th Indian Division garrisoning southern Indo-China) and Rear Admiral Thierry d'Argenlieu (Free French Navy and High Commissioner for Indo-China) salute the colours. The officers inspect a guard of honour from the RAF Regiment. Admiral d'Argenlieu presents a man, who has his leg in plaster and is sitting in a wheelchair, with a medal and kisses him in the Gallic fashion. Another medal is presented. March past by men of 114th Field Regiment Royal Artillery. March past by men of 1st Battalion 1st Gurkha Rifles. Gracey, d'Argenlieu and Leclerc saluting. Contingent of the RAF Regiment passes. A French (?) detachment passes. Unit of French infantry with sailors behind. A band plays as infantry pass in front; they twirl their instruments.

Notes

The medal recipients were apparently French civilians being decorated for resistance activities during the Japanese occupation.

With the Japanese surrender in August 1945 southern French Indo-China came under the responsibility of South East Asia Command. 20th Indian Division arrived in September 1945 charged with recovering Allied prisoners of war and internees, disarming and repatriating tens of thousands of Japanese troops and maintaining law and order. They were withdrawn and responsibility handed over to the French by the beginning of February 1946, after sporadic violence between the European population and Vietnamese nationalists.

For related photographs, held by the Imperial War Museum's Photograph Archive, see related items.