In Bagnols-sur-Cèze, a vibrant tribute paid to the 280 young volunteers who followed Commandant Vigan-Braquet 80 years ago

The original starting square was recreated by the civilian and military corps, without forgetting the youth and the crowd, as on September 14, 1944, the day the Vigan-Braquet commando left Bagnols. Midi Libre – C. C.

Also very moving was the performance by the Bosquet College choir of “La Marseillaise”, “Chant des partisans” and “On écrit sur les murs”. There were fifty-five volunteer middle school students, from 6th to 3rd grade, who responded. Photo Claude Masse

Among the highlights, the laying of wreaths by Mayor Jean-Yves Chapelet, surrounded by Raymond Masse, elected to the veterans' council, members of the youth municipal council, and the grandson of Commander Vigan-Braquet. C. C. – Midi Libre

A solemn ceremony to pay tribute to the 280 young recruits of the Vigan-Braquet commando, who left from this same Place Mallet on September 14, 1944. Midi Libre – C. C.

Avec les spécialistes de la reconstitution historique dans le Gard rhodanien, les bénévoles de la Guilde de l'histoire. Midi Libre – C. C.

This Saturday, September 14, a solemn and reconstitutive ceremony, 80 years to the day after, took place on Place Auguste-Mallet where there was a crowd. Descendants of these young men and of Georges Vigan-Braquet were present, and particularly moved. A historic day.

This Saturday, September 14, 80 years to the day after their departure from Place Mallet, a vibrant tribute was paid to the 280 recruits of the Vigan-Braquet commando who participated in the liberation of France, in the Rhine-Danube campaign."Grandiose", will entrust a flag bearer at the end of a solemn ceremony.

Reconstruction of the original square  

A commemoration during which the original starting square of the commando recruits was recreated by soldiers from the Foreign Legion, police officers, gendarmes, firefighters, the Red Cross, many elected officials, the new generation via the municipal council of children and young people. Among the participants in this duty of remembrance, there was also the presence of elected officials from the territory, volunteers from the Guilde de l'Histoire association, and of course the flag bearers, representatives of veterans' associations. Not forgetting the descendants of these recruits, Bagnolais and residents of the surrounding area, who were very moved. Also exceptional was the presence of sixteen descendants of Commander Georges Vigan-Braquet (who had a house in Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres). “All the vital forces of the Nation were present, the defense class of the Sainte-Marie high school symbolizes youth, the firefighters represent health, that is to say the entire team of Doctor Arène, and the entire crowd behind, that is how it happened. The crowd was there to see the commando leave”, Colonel Alain David summarized after the event.

A historical fact

Under one of the arches of the town hall, one could read this message engraved on a sign: “On September 14, 1944, twenty days after the liberation of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Commander Vigan-Braquet left here with nearly 280 men from Gard aged around twenty to go and fight from the Vosges to Austria.”  “This commemoration was very moving,  Guy Marignane, president of the Orsan Historical Weekends association, said.  Commenting on the departure of the Vigan-Braquet Commando is a historical fact that is very often forgotten. This was the beginning of the integration of former resistance fighters into the regular army,” he continued.
Other highlights punctuated this commemoration. In particular, there was the call to the dead soldiers by Colonel Alain David, president of the committee of the Legion of Honor of the Gard rhodanien. At each name, the children of the municipal youth council, impressed but so proud, declared "Died for France."
"This day will remain in memory",will conclude on the sidelines of the ceremony Jean-Claude Mougenot, president of the Bagnols-sur-Cèze veterans. This Saturday, Mathilde Bonfils, a 17-year-old teenager who lives in Rasteau in the Vaucluse, attended this remembrance ceremony, proudly wearing a beautiful uniform from the army of yesteryear with a nurse's red cross on her left shoulder. The young woman comes from a family of historical reenactment enthusiasts. The pediment of the Town Hall was also adorned with ribbons. The tricolor cockades spoke volumes about the gravity of the moment. Place Auguste-Mallet was draped in solemnity and period military attire.
What to remember from this event?