Wednesday 11 November 2009

Les soldats de la grande guerre au cimetière des Gonards I


A pause in the Wednesday Doorway series because today we celebrate the end of World War I. There are a great many French soldiers who were laid to rest at Gonards cemetery. The wall honours those men and reminds us of the worst battles: Somme, Marne, Verdun... Three of my great-grandfathers died between 1915 and 1917 during that butchery, on both German and French sides.
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Une pause dans la série des portails du mercredi car aujourd'hui nous célébrons l'Armistice de la première guerre mondiale. Au cimetière des Gonards, il y a des cantons réservés aux soldats de la grande guerre. Le mur rappelle les tristement célèbres batailles : Marne, Somme, Verdun... Trois de mes arrière-grand-pères y laissèrent leur vie, et des deux côtés : allemand et français.

25 comments:

VP said...

Touching memorials of almost a century ago. It is good to see that these tombs are well kept, respected and still honored.

A l a i n said...

Merci pour les photos, cela évoque en moi un sentiment de révolte je me dit pourquoi pour les nouvelles génération possible , des soldats si jeune pris en tenaille par une machine, sans âme, qui a pris ces jeune comme de la chaire à canon, beaucoup de respect pour eux.

Lowell said...

Monuments to the price we all pay for human stupidity!

Mesmerizing, Ciel.

tapirgal said...

What a sad history, Ciel. Your photos are a nice remembrance.

Clueless in Boston said...

It's good to remember and not forget the price our predecessors paid for freedom.

Leif Hagen said...

Great "Veterans Day" photo to remember the soldiers!

Bob Crowe said...

Quite beautifully depicted. Sadly, France has more opportunity for such memorials than many other countries. But, always, you survive and flourish.

akarui said...

Toutes ces croix pour ceux qui sont tombes a la guerre, impressionnant!

Dave said...

Its very sad and those rows and rows of crosses of loved ones who never returned.

Small City Scenes said...

We also celebrate Nov. 11 the end of WW1. In the US it was called Armitice Day but now it is honored as Veterans Day--the wars keep going on.
Sad but true.

Hey I am German and French too. MB

Hilda said...

A very touching tribute, Ciel. What makes it so sad for me is that we didn't seem to learn…

Suburban Girl said...

Thank you, it is important to remember those who gave their lives, who sacrificed everything.

Sharon said...

A lovely tribute for today!

B SQUARED said...

Such a shame man never learns from history.

Sharon said...

Thank your for this post, Ciel. Your photography is beautiful and I appreciate your remembering veterans. My father was a pathfinder at DDay and he loved your beautiful country.

Sharon

Tammie Lee said...

I find war endlessly sad~ We teach our children not to fight, to find a civil way to work through conflict and yet war is the grown up way of addressing conflict. My heart deeply rebels at this. I am sorry for your grandfathers lost to war!

Unknown said...

Many of us who live on North American soil have only a vague idea of what living in the midst of battle must be like. It's good for us to be told at least once a year to help us understand.

brattcat said...

Such a moving post, CQ. Thank you.

tapirgal said...

It sounds like Private Stahlberger got into a bit of a fracas before he "fell into the water" and drowned.

Cezar and Léia said...

So many graves, you did a beautiful homage with your post!
Léia

EG CameraGirl said...

Great post. On November 11, Canadians celebrate Remembrance Day to remember everyone who has served in any foreign conflict. Over the past few years, the celebration in Ottawa has grown, perhaps because Canada is involved in Afghanistan and has lost many there.

Halcyon said...

J'aime bien ces photos. Il faut jamais oublier.

Dina said...

Your great grandfathers were killed in those battles we only know about from history books--how sad and tragic.
Your two posts are wonderful tributes.

Copenhagen said...

Rest in peace.

Owen said...

Heureusement que tes arrière-grandparents ont pu avoir des enfants avant de disparaître dans cette folie de guerre... sinon, on n'aura pas Versailles Daily Photo animé par Ciel...