Francis de Noyelle

Francis Deloche de Noyelle (December 9, 1919, in Paris – March 30, 2017, in Paris) was a French diplomat. He was French ambassador to Nepal between 1980 and 1984.

During the Second World War, after spending two years in the office of the Prefect of Hérault, Francis de Noyelle played an important role in the French Resistance, particularly in Isère and Paris. A member of the Goélette network, his mission was to recruit partisans and find addresses to store all the documents stolen from the Nazis during the Occupation. He received several distinctions for his acts of resistance.

After the war, he embarked on a 40-year diplomatic career. As a secretary at the New Delhi embassy, he was a member of the famous 1950 French Annapurna expedition led by Maurice Herzog, which conquered Annapurna. Thereafter, Francis de Noyelle alternated between posts in the central administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and positions in the French embassies in Czechoslovakia, Morocco, Canada and, finally, Nepal.

After being awarded the Légion d'honneur and the Ordre national du Mérite, he was, at the time of his death in 2017, the last survivor of his Himalayan expedition.

Biography

Youth and the Resistance (1919-1945) Francis de Noyelle grew up right next door to the Prunier restaurant. Francis Deloche de Noyelle, born on December 9, 1919, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, is the son of diplomats: André Deloche de Noyelle, Minister Plenipotentiary, and Jeanne née de Geer. He grew up at rue de Traktir, right next door to the Prunier restaurant. He studied at the Lycée Janson-de-Sailly, then at the faculties of literature and law in Paris, Poitiers, Montpellier and Grenoble. addresses, where all the information obtained (photographs, plans, and stolen documents) could be stored before being sent to General de Gaulle's intelligence service in London. After the liberation of Grenoble in August 1944, he became “liaison officer interpreter for the leading battalion commander of the liberating troops”.

Then second secretary at the New Delhi embassy since 1948, After negotiating with the Nepalese authorities to obtain the necessary authorizations, he took part, as liaison officer, in the 1950 French Annapurna expedition led by Maurice Herzog, which successfully climbed Annapurna, the first of the world's fourteen 8,000-meter peaks. His mission was to facilitate the transfer of equipment, recruit Nepalese porters and obtain weather reports. He took part in the ascent, but went no further than the second camp, located at an altitude of 5,600 m. During the ascent, he was the only one to try out an oxygen mask, for medical purposes only. Alongside the expedition's cinematographer Marcel Ichac, Francis de Noyelle also shot Super 8 footage of the climb, recording almost 40 minutes of footage. to celebrate their feat; the President of the Republic Vincent Auriol, five ministers and all the personalities of sport and mountaineering were present.

After the expedition, he joined the press department at headquarters devoted to American issues. he was appointed Ambassador to Nepal on September 10, 1980, replacing François de Testa. His term of office in Nepal was due to expire on March 4, 1984, but he was replaced on February 15 by Lionel de Warren and retired the following year.

The last survivor of his Himalayan expedition, Francis de Noyelle died on March 30, 2017, at the age of 97.

Private life and community involvement From an early age, Francis de Noyelle's passions were tennis and skiing, two sports he practiced until the end of his life - when he was 85 and 90 respectively. and died on December 9, 2009, was also a diplomat. Together, they had three children: Luc, Guy and Marc.

Private life and community involvement From an early age, Francis de Noyelle's passions were tennis and skiing, two sports he practiced until the end of his life - when he was 85 and 90 respectively. was also a diplomat. Together, they had three children: Luc, Guy and Marc. They lived in Paris15 and spent part of the year in their chalet in Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce (Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie). the Cercle du mardi As a member of the FFCAM, he was instrumental in setting up the International Mountain Museum in the Pokhara valley.

Prix

Prix Virginie-Hériot (1950)