French Polynesia (Tahiti) 50th Anniversary of the WWII "Tamari'i Volunteers"

FRENCH POLYNESIA (TAHITI) on 21 April 2001 offered a First Day Cover stamp marking the 50th Anniversary of the Pacific Battalion formed from French Polynesia during WWII. The stamp and cachet featured the ship that carried the volunteers and their military insignia. The cancellation postmark originated from Papeete, Tahiti.

The Pacific Battalion was a unit of the Free French Forces formed in French Polynesia in 1940, and belonging to the 1st Free French Division of General Pierre Kœnig. He fought in particular in North Africa, Italy and France. The battalion's soldiers are nicknamed the "Tamari'i volunteers", which means volunteer children ("tamari'i" means "children" in Tahitian).

The battalion was created on the initiative of Félix Broche, then captain, who was promoted to commander, then lieutenant-colonel before being killed at the Battle of Bir Hakeim. He was affectionately nicknamed by his men “ metua” (the father).