[2] In 1939, Terrane and Leyton returned to live in Barbizon and with the help of the French director and producer Roland Tual he became an actor and starred in Jacques Feyder's film La Loi du Nord alongside Michèle Morgan.
He boarded the Westernland along with Charles de Gaulle to participate in Battle of Dakar where it is reported he fought in a boxing match on deck against the European champion Francis Jacques.
[5][6] He participated in the East African campaign fighting with the 1st Free French Division as a motorcycle reconnaissance notably during the battles to take the towns of Keren and Massawa in Eritrea in April 1941.
The telegram signed by de Gaulle on 2 August 1941 informing of his death reads "Adjutant Legion Jacques Tartière blessé neuf [sic] juin au cours mission périlleuse reconnaissance exécutée avec bravoure décédé hôpital Sarafand Palestine suite blessure STOP a gagné admiration de tous par courage et résignation sort fatal" (French for 'Adjutant Legion Jacques Tartière wounded 9 [sic] June during perilous reconnaissance mission carried out with bravery died hospital Sarafand Palestine following wound STOP won admiration of all by courage and acceptance fatal destiny').
[11] His uncle Thierry de Martel who was the chief surgeon at the American Hospital in Neuilly on the outskirts of Paris committed suicide on June 14, 1940 as he could not stand the idea of living under Nazi occupation.