A great historic day of commemoration to celebrate the Vigan-Braquet commando which left Bagnols-sur-Cèze eighty years ago

On September 14, 1944, the VIgan-Braquet commando left from Place Mallet. 280 young men from Gard were part of it. Photo City of Bagnols-sur-Cèze

Quatre-vingts ans après, une grande cérémonie solennelle et historique rappellera le départ du commando depuis la place Mallet. Photo Ville de Bagnols-sur-Cèze

Saturday, September 14, invitation to an intense program that the municipality has been preparing for a year with a colonel, patriotic associations, the Guild of History… Solemn and reconstitutive ceremony, camp, show, popular ball, exhibition and conferences, the population of the territory is invited to participate in large numbers.

He was born twenty days before the Liberation. Raymond Masse, three terms as an elected representative for veterans, has just celebrated his 80th birthday. The Bagnolais is very involved in the organization of the commemoration of the City of Bagnols. “On September 14, 1944, twenty days after the liberation of Bagnols, the Vigan-Braquet commando left here, with nearly 280 Gardois aged around twenty, to go fight from the Vosges to Austria.” For Christian Baume too, elected to security and president of the local committee of the Souvenir Français, the memories of the post-war period are forever marked. “I was born in 1957. The former members of the commando, those who came back alive and who lived in Bagnols or the surrounding area, had created a friendly society. Vigan-Braquet's daughter lived in Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres. They were friends of the family”, he confides. “The city is proud to commemorate, in these difficult times, the 80th anniversary of the Liberation”, continues the deputy for security.

A reconstruction of the departure with the military authorities on Place Mallet

On Place Mallet, Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., a large ceremony will be held to reenact the departure of the Commando with, “to represent the civil and military protection forces”, detachments of the 1st Reg, the gendarmerie, the municipal police and the national police, the firefighters and the Red Cross. As well as elected officials from the territory, students from the defense class of the Sainte-Marie high school, elected officials from the youth municipal council, the Bosquet choir. “We will form a square on the square with a military commemorative scenario.” The members of the patriotic and veterans associations will be in the front row. The two elected officials invite the public to come in period dress, with “a cap, a white shirt” for example.

Solemnity, history, and celebration

“Come and discover the history of the commando that marked Bagnols and the region at a very complicated time. More than ever, we must not forget”, invite Raymond Masse and Christian Baume. There will be a drawing workshop for children from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A wine of honor will be served at the end of the ceremony. At 3 p.m., the Guilde de l'histoire will share a historical narration, a stroll. At 6 p.m., it will offer a unique show. At the end of the day, a popular aperitif will be offered. Then it's time for joy with a grand Liberation ball in the evening on Place Bertin-Boissin. The orchestra will play post-war songs and variety, the musicians will be dressed in period costumes.

Military vehicles, camp… on Lacombe Boulevard

All day long, on Lacombe Boulevard: exhibition of military vehicles (including two period tanks), camp, and jeep initiations, by associations specializing in reconstructions. On the Posterlon side, there will be activities for the little ones.
Schoolchildren, middle school students, and high school students are also invited to participate, to visit the exhibition, and to attend the conferences (read below).
This historic event, certified by the State, has been prepared by the City of Bagnols services for a year, with patriotic associations, Colonel David, the Guild of History, etc.

A march on September 11

Finally, a second reconstitutive march (the first took place last week) will take place on September 11, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., from Rochefort-du-Gard to Bagnols, in stages of 10 to 12 km. Registration and information at 06 70 39 92 96. Arrival at Desnos Square, where a ceremony will be held.

An exhibition and a series of conferences for all generations

The exhibition “Between courage, virtue and heroism, the Vigan-Braquet commando at the heart of the Liberation” will be on display at the Mallet cellar from September 10 to 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. It will feature photos and objects from Vigan-Braquet from the collection of Éric Grieu, a passionate and fascinating local historian. On September 20, the latter will be signing his book Avec ou sans uniforme.
A series of conferences is organized. On September 13, at 6 p.m., in the multicultural room, the Lascours Academy presents the talk of Alain David, president of the committee of the Legion of Honor of Gard rhodanien, on the theme “Go for it and avenge it”.
At the Léon-Alègre media library: on November 21, at 6 p.m., Michel Boissard, historian and biographer, will talk about the Gard resistance and Aimé Vielzeuf, Gard resistance fighter, teacher and author. On November 28, Jean-Marie Guillon, professor emeritus at the University of Aix-Marseille, president of the scientific council of the Memorial of the Landing and Liberation of Provence of Mont Faron in Toulon, will discuss the landing in Provence. On December 5, there will be a discussion of Marshal Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, by Philibert de Loisy, president of the De Lattre de Tassigny Foundation and military writer.