How many stories could this plaque tell? The Plaque commémorative de l’école Fuon Cauda War memorial stands as a silent yet powerful testament to the ravages of war. This memorial serves as a poignant reminder of sacrifice and remembrance. It echoes the sentiment found in war memorials across France.
You can find war memorials in every French city. Each village has their own. Most were built after World War One. Young people from everywhere in France died during this terrible war. It was a collective massacre. Over 1.5 million French victims died. Over 9 million victims in all perished. In the 1920s, the Third French Republic decided every municipality had to build a monument to remember them.
Let’s consider the War Memorial of Nice. It is a really huge and impressive one. It was built from 1924 to 1928. The location was carefully chosen. It was placed where nobody can miss it. So, it was built into the rock of the Old City hill. It faces the sea and the port. The massive construction is 32 meters high. It has columns in a temple style. It remembers the memory of 4,000 people from Nice. They died during the war. Afterward, it was also used to write on this monument the names of the people of Nice. They were victims of the Second World War. They also died in the decolonization wars in Indochina. Those conflicts occurred from 1945 to 1954. Victims also perished in Algeria from 1954 to 1962.
Every year ceremonies honor their memory. These occur on the 11th of November and the 8th of May. You can easily find the monument. Just go to the port. Follow the Promenade Des Anglais until Rauba Capeu. You can’t miss it.
The war memorial of Nice is located on the route of the old chemin des Ponchettes. It was dug directly into the rock of an old stone quarry. This quarry built the harbor quays in the 18th century. It also built the pier in the 19th century. Construction was completed in 1927. This was after three years of work. The architect was Roger Séassal. He won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1913. The niche is framed by an arch. The reliefs symbolize war and peace. They also represent violence and appeasement. Alfred Janniot sculpted them. He also created the Sun Fountain on Place Masséna.
An inscription lies between the reliefs. It reads: “The City of Nice to its sons who died for France: Remember the works that your fathers accomplished in their time and you will receive an immortal name and glory.” The eagle, symbol of Nice, is just above this inscription. Five steps lead to the niche. They represent the five years of the First World War. An enormous urn is in the middle. Engraved are the names of the main campaigns of the war. Somme, Marne, Verdun, and Artois are among them. The names of 4,000 Nice residents who died for France are inscribed on the wall below.
Steles adorn either side of the forecourt. Bas-reliefs represent the artillery, air force, cavalry, engineers, infantry, and navy. Marshal Foch inaugurated it on January 29, 1928. English, American, and Italian naval officers also attended. Families of the victims placed identity plaques in a bronze reliquary. It was sealed in the funeral urn during the ceremony.
In late October 2018, a bronze eagle-shaped reliquary was discovered. It weighed 31 kg 500 and measured 28 cm high and 42 cm wide. It was scanned after cleaning. Inside were rings, bracelets, and almost 2,000 plaques of soldiers.
The bronze eagle was exhibited at the Nice town hall. After ceremonies, the eagle-shaped reliquary returned to its discovery place. It received the “Patrimoine du XXe siècle” label on November 28, 2000. It also won first prize at the Trophées de l’aménagement urbain in 2004. It has been listed as a historic monument since May 24, 2011.
This memorial commemorates the residents of Nice who died in the First and Second World Wars. It also honors those who died in Indochina and Algeria. Take a moment to reflect on their sacrifices. Let’s carry their memory forward.