The first use of Sherman tanks by a French unit appears to have been with 1ère Compagnie Autonome de Chars de Combat (1ère CACC), it was merged with the French Army Corps Reconnaissance Group (GRCA), and was known as the "Free French Flying Column".
It was part of the British Eighth Army, and fought from El-Alamein to Tunisia.
The tank company was attached to "Force L (Leclerc)" and later became the 1st Company of the newly organized 501ème Régiment de Chars de Combat, 2ème Division Blindée.

Free French Forces were created after invasion of North Africa, and used all major versions of the M4.
Report indicates France received 656 Sherman Medium Tanks (new production 274 M4A4s and 362 M4A2s plus 20 remanufactured M4A2s), being the third largest recipient of the Sherman.
Tanks were provided by the U.S. under Lend-Lease.
French armored divisions were organized and equipped the same as U.S. Army's "light" armored division table of organization and equipment of 1943.
Each division was equipped with 165 Shermans.
In 1943, the French decided to create their new army in north Africa, and had an agreement with the Americans to be equipped with modern US weapons.
The French 2nd Armored Division (French: Division Blindée, DB) entered the Battle of Normandy fully equipped with M4A2s.
The 1st and 5th DB, which entered southern France as part of the First French Army, were equipped with a mixture of M4A2 and M4A4 medium tanks.
M4A3(76) and M4A3(75)W tanks were later received as replacements to make up for M4A2 losses in combat.
The French were also issued M4A3(105)Shermans, not under Lend Lease but since their units served under US Army command, additional equipment was provided from US Army stocks.
The 2ème DB received a few M4(105)s at the end of July 1944 while still in the UK.
The 3rd DB, which served as a training and reserve organization for the three operational armored divisions, was equipped with roughly 200 medium and light tanks.
Of these, 120 were later turned in to the U.S. Army's Delta Base Section for reissue.
Subsequent combat losses for the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Armored Divisions were replaced with standard issue tanks from U.S. Army stocks including M4, M4A1, and M4A3 models.
In the final weeks of the War in Europe, French units received supplies of M4A1(75)s, remanufactured in the US before shipment overseas.
The first use of Sherman tanks by a French unit appears to have been with 1ère Compagnie Autonome de Chars de Combat (1ère CACC), it was merged with the French Army Corps Reconnaissance Group (GRCA), and was known as the "Free French Flying Column". It was part of the British Eighth Army, and fought from El-Alamein to Tunisia. The tank company was attached to "Force L (Leclerc)" and later became the 1st Company of the newly organized 501ème Régiment de Chars de Combat, 2ème Division Blindée. 
Free French Forces were created after invasion of North Africa, and used all major versions of the M4. Report indicates France received 656 Sherman Medium Tanks (new production 274 M4A4s and 362 M4A2s plus 20 remanufactured M4A2s), being the third largest recipient of the Sherman. Tanks were provided by the U.S. under Lend-Lease. French armored divisions were organized and equipped the same as U.S. Army's "light" armored division table of organization and equipment of 1943. Each division was equipped with 165 Shermans. In 1943, the French decided to create their new army in north Africa, and had an agreement with the Americans to be equipped with modern US weapons. The French 2nd Armored Division (French: Division Blindée, DB) entered the Battle of Normandy fully equipped with M4A2s. The 1st and 5th DB, which entered southern France as part of the First French Army, were equipped with a mixture of M4A2 and M4A4 medium tanks. M4A3(76) and M4A3(75)W tanks were later received as replacements to make up for M4A2 losses in combat. The French were also issued M4A3(105)Shermans, not under Lend Lease but since their units served under US Army command, additional equipment was provided from US Army stocks. The 2ème DB received a few M4(105)s at the end of July 1944 while still in the UK. The 3rd DB, which served as a training and reserve organization for the three operational armored divisions, was equipped with roughly 200 medium and light tanks. Of these, 120 were later turned in to the U.S. Army's Delta Base Section for reissue. Subsequent combat losses for the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Armored Divisions were replaced with standard issue tanks from U.S. Army stocks including M4, M4A1, and M4A3 models. In the final weeks of the War in Europe, French units received supplies of M4A1(75)s, remanufactured in the US before shipment overseas.
Lend-Lease Sherman tanks