Following the German breakthrough at Sedan and crossing of the Meuse River in 1940, the 24e RTS was transferred westwards to the Somme, arriving near Amiens on 20 May 1940.

This effort was successful but immediate and determined German counterattacks obliged the regiment to withdraw under cover of darkness that night.

[8] The regimental commander, Lt. Col Favre, attempted to hold Angivilliers with 300 men to cover the retreat of the rest of the unit.

Captain Moïse Bébel, an Afro-Caribbean officer of the third battalion from Guadeloupe, attempted a breakout with 60 men during the night of 9 June but was captured and executed near Erquinvilliers.

Captured by the German Grossdeutschland Regiment the next day, the survivors were marched to a woods near Cressonsacq in the Oise Departement, where 8 French officers and 64 African tirailleurs were executed in the Bois d'Eraine massacre.