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Programme of the commemorations

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Summary :

5 Editorial

6 - 9 Our venues

10 - 11 A brief history

12 - 13 The St-Symphorien military cemetery and the Mons municipal cemetery

14 - 15 The commemorations on 4 August 2014

16 - 21 The commemorations on 23 August 2014

22 - 23 The Angels of Mons, 3D screening

24 - 25 Getting to know the British soldiers of 1914

26 - 27 Mons Memorial Museum

28 - 33 The exhibitions of the city of Mons

35 Guided battlefield tour

37 Open day CWGC

40 - 57 The projects of the partners

58 - 59 Heritage days

60 - 61 Study day

64 - 65 Summary of the programme

4Private A.F. Carter from the 4th Middlesex regiment at La BasculE © Ville de Mons

EDITOrialThis summer, the City of Mons will be playing a significant role in the commemorations of the centenary of the Great War. The history of the First World War has made Mons an important and incredibly symbolic location. It was in Mons that the first battle took place between the German and British armies. One century later, we remember all those, both civilians and soldiers, who died in Mons and elsewhere. Over the course of four years, the City will pay particular attention to the need to remember, particularly among young generations. The aim is to pass on the memories and raise awareness among the general public of the horrors of war. Through exhibitions put on by the city’s Pôle Muséal, a range of cultural, sporting and memorial activities, as well as the key events presented in this programme, you will be plunged into the history of Mons, but also of Europe.

Acting Mayor MayorNicolas Martin Elio Di Rupo

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Parc du Beffroi

• Camp for the group re-enacting the lives of British soldiers from 20 August to 23 August 1914.

• The aim of this camp is to show how British soldiers slept, ate and lived during the Battle of Mons. See p. 24-25.

Magasin de papier

• Exhibition entitled “Les Jeannines” from 4 July until 7 September.

• This exhibition will include projects and an installation connected to the release of two books about the First World War. See p. 33.

> Rue de la clé, 26 Place des martyrs

• Plaque to commemorate civilians killed in the crossfire between German and British soldiers on 23 August 1914. See p. 19.

Our venues

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Boulevard Fulgence Masson

Rue de Nimy

Rue d’Havré

Rue d’Havré

Rue de Bertaimont

Grand’Rue

Boulevard GendebienBoulevard Charles Quint

Boulevard Dolez

Boulevard Albert-Elisabeth

Boulevard Sainctelette

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• 3D screening on the Town Hall about the Angels of Mons, every evening in August. See p. 23.

• Live broadcasting on a big screen of the commemorations taking place at St. Symphorien Military Cemetery on 04/08. See p. 14.

• Commemorative ceremonies on 23 August. See pp. 18 to 20.

Salle Saint-Georges •Exhibition entitled “Fritz Haber, A mind at war» from 12 July until 16 November. •This exhibition uses cartoons by David Vandermeulen to explore the life of the Jewish-German chemist, winner of the Nobel Prize for chemistry and the inventor of mustard gas. See p. 31

> Grand-Place

• Planting of the Centenary tree in memory of those who died in the Battle of Mons on 23 August at 2pm.• Commemorative monument dedicated to the soldiers of Mons who died for their country during the two World Wars: 1914-1918 and 1940-1945.See p. 16 à 21.

Mons Memorial Museum

• Museum, interpretation centre, a space for reflection and analysis, due to open in spring 2015.

• Photography exhibition on the esplanade on Boulevard Dolez: “La mémoire de la Grande Guerre à Mons: paysages, patrimoine et souvenirs” (The memory of the Great War in Mons: landscapes, heritage and memories) from 28 June until April 2015. See p. 26-27.

> Boulevard Dolez

BAM • Exhibitions entitled “La bataille de Mons: les objets témoignent” (The Battle of Mons: objects bearing witness), “Signes des temps: œuvres visionnaires d’avant 1914” (Signs of the times: visionary art from pre-1914), “The first and the last” from 22 August until 23 November. See p. 29 à 32.

> Rue Neuve, 8

• Exhibition dedicated to the Battle of Mons from 3 August to 11 November.

• This exhibition showcases 3 war diaries kept by residents of Mons at the time of the conflict, as well as period photos… See p. 40.

> Rue des Sœurs Noires, 2

Musée des Sciences naturelles

• Exhibition looking at a number of themes connected both to its natural science collections and the importance of remembrance, from 22 August until 11 November.See p. 41.

> Rue des Gailliers, 7

4Grand’ Place

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Maison de la Mémoire

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Boulevard Fulgence Masson

Rue de Nimy

Boulevard Churchill

Boulevard Kennedy

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Nimy

Chemin de la Procession

Route d’obourg

Chaussée de Binche

Obourg

Saint-Symphorien

Mons

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N6

N90

N539

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N544

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Grand Large

Canal du Centre

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DIRECTION BINCHE

DIRECTION SOIGNIES

DIRECTION SAINT-GHISLAIN

Quiévrain

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A7

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Our venues

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500 m

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Obourg

Saint-Symphorien

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Mons Municipal Cemetery

It is here that soldiers, of all nationalities, who died during the Great War, are buried: Belgians, Brits, Canadians, Romanians, Frenchmen, Russians, New Zealanders… It is also the final resting place of Charles Simonet, a patriot shot by the occupiers. Commemorations at the municipal cemetery take place every year on 11 November at 11am. See p. 13.

St. Symphorien Military Cemetery

The cemetery was opened by the Germans in 1917 and still belongs to the family of the man who donated the land for this use, the Houzeau de Lehaie family. It is a place for contemplation, home to the graves of German, British and Canadian soldiers involved in the Battle of Mons on 23 August and the liberation of the City of Mons on 11 November 1918. The first and the last British soldiers to die in the Great War are both buried here. The commemorations take place on Saturday 23 August at 5.30pm. See p. 18 à 20.

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1> Chemin de la Procession

> Rue Nestor Dehon

Obourg station

It was here that the Battle of Mons began on 23 August 1914. Troops of the 4th Middlesex regiment were occupying the former Obourg station. The fighting was very violent, and the British were forced to retreat. One of them, whose name we do not know, stayed on the roof of the station, thus protecting his compatriots. Obourg station was demolished in 1981, apart from one part where the commemorative plaque now hangs. The commemorations take place on Saturday 23 August 10am (limited access) See p. 19.

> Rue de Beauval 14 et rue des Fabriques 23

Camp for the group re-enacting the lives of British soldiers from 1914, on 23 August from 10am to 5:30pm. Here you will be able to admire a training exercise by British cavalry from that period.

The aim of this camp is to show how the British soldiers slept, ate and lived during the Battle of Mons.Voir p. 24 à 25.

4 UCL Mons (FUCAM) > Chaussée de Binche, 151

Two commemorative monuments can be found here. • The Celtic cross unveiled by John French in 1923. It is in memory of the 2nd Royal Irish, which took part in the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914.• The memorial at La Bascule. This monument made up of two pillars in memory of all those who died in the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914 and the liberation of the City of Mons on 11 November 1918.

The commemorations take place on Saturday 23 August at 5pm. See p. 19.

5 La Bascule> Chaussée de Binche 44

Casteau Monument Two commemorative monuments can be found here, for the First and the Last of the Great War. • Monument to the first confrontation between the British cavalry and the German soldiers on 22 August 1914. • Monument to Canadian troops after the liberation of the City of Mons on 11 November 1918 (plaque on the “Medicis”).

The commemorations take place on Friday 22 August at 4pm. See p. 18. et p. 52.

> Chaussée de Bruxelles 1 (Soignies)6

Nimy Railway Bridge

This was where the first two Victoria Crosses were awarded, the first to Sergeant Dease and the second to Private Godley of the 4th Royal Fusiliers. A plaque commemorates their courage here on the bridge that crosses Nimy canal. The commemorations take place on Saturday 23 August at 10:40am (limited access)See p. 19.

> Quai des Anglais 287

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Following on from the Germans’ decision to

attack France in accordance with the Schlieffen

Plan, the Belgian border was breached on 4

August 1914. After this breach, the United

Kingdom decided to come to our aid. The B.E.F.

(British Expeditionary Forces) started to gather

together, made their way to the continent and

headed to Mons. On 22 August, the British

soldiers took up their positions at the Canal du

Centre and the Canal de Mons in Condé.

The battle itself took place over several days, and

the fighting was focused along the front line by

the canal. On 23 August, the fighting at Obourg

station was brief, but the most violent skirmishes

took place in Maisières and Nimy. At around

2:30pm, no British soldiers were left in Nimy, as

they had all retreated towards Mons. When the

Germans arrived in the village, they forced a few

residents out of their homes and started to use

them as a human shield.

> A brief history: The Battle of Mons

#1. Arrival of the British troops in Mons on 21 August, Avenue Reine Astrid

#2. Re-enactment of the Battle of Mons at Nimy canal by the German troops

#3. The British troops in the Grand’Place in Mons, 23 August 1914

#1. © Ville de Mons.

#6. © Ville de Mons.

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After this, the invaders headed to Mons, and when they arrived via Rue de Nimy, they took more civilians hostage. When they got to the Grand’Place, the Germans added the Mayor, Jean Lescarts, to their group of prisoners. At around 4:10pm, they headed to the Trou Houdart at the top of Rue de Bertaimont. It was here that the British decided to take on the Germans. During the shooting, the distraught civilians threw themselves to the ground, ran away and crawled along the front of the buildings, looking for any shelter they could find, but the Germans, positioned behind them, shot and killed four people and injured several more, one of whom died in hospital.

However, the Battle of Mons was not yet over. The British and the Germans were still fighting in the village of Hyon, in Jemappes and throughout the Borinage. The British troops went on to demonstrate their efficiency at La Bascule. Here, a handful of British soldiers gave the B.E.F. the opportunity to withdraw by preventing the Germans from surrounding them. It was quite possibly here that the famous “Angels of Mons” appeared.

#3. © Yves Bourdon.

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22 August 1914, in Mons:

In the afternoon, infantry and cavalry groups crossed the city and everybody cheered them on. They belonged to elite regiments. The Scottish soldiers stood out. As they passed by, the crowds gave them cigars, cigarettes, cakes and sweets. Everybody admired the good condition of the men, the beauty of the horses, the smartness of their khaki uniforms and equipment, the perfection of their weapons. We could hear them march to the sound of fifes and drums. (Diary kept by a

22 August 1914, at La Bascule:

I will never forget that sun, setting in a sea of purple clouds, I will never forget that vision of two hundred foreign soldiers stretched out along the road, singing a hymn in unison which, in this peaceful natural setting, sounded like a hymn of peace about the beauty of nature. It was late in the evening when the soldiers tucked themselves in under their covers and we went to bed, filled with confidence about the outcome of the next day’s battle. (Diary of G. Licope, the attack at Mont-Panisel)

23 August 1914, in Mons:

In many parts of the city, shrapnel rained down on rooftops, in courtyards, against the fronts of buildings, ripping branches from trees and falling into the road. The streets were soon deserted, but all of a sudden, a terrifying piece of news was flying from house to house: the Germans were coming, they were on the outskirts of Mons. (E. Dony, La bataille de Mons, Mons, 1919, p.15.)

22 août 1914, à Mons : Dans l’après midi des groupes d’infanterie et de cavalier traversent la ville et sont acclamés. Ils appartiennent à des régiments d’élite. On remarque des Ecossais. Sur leur passage la foule leur distribue des cigares, des cigarettes, des gâteaux et des douceurs. Tout le monde admire le bon état des hommes, la beauté des chevaux, la belle ordonnance des uniformes kaki et de l’équipement, la perfection des armes. On entend des marches au son des fifres et des tambours (Journal du notaire Hambye).

22 août 1914, à la Bascule : Jamais, je n’oublierai ce soleil se couchant dans une mer de nuages pourpres, jamais, je n’oublierai cette vision de deux cents soldats étrangers étendus sur la chaussée et chantant en cœur un hymne qu’au milieu de cette nature sereine on eut pu prendre pour un hymne de paix destiné à chanter les beautés de la nature. La soirée était très avancée lorsque les soldats s’enroulèrent dans leurs couvertures, et que nous allâmes nous coucher pleins de confiance dans l’issue de la bataille du lendemain (Journal de G. Licope, l’attaque du Mont-Panisel)

St. Symphorien military cemetery is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the organisation responsible for counting, identifying and maintaining the graves of soldiers from Commonwealth countries who died during the two World Wars. It was set up at the end of the Great War to manage soldiers’ tombs. A team of gardeners from the Mons region is responsible for all the Commonwealth cemeteries in Wallonia (apart from those at Ploegsteert) and works on getting the site to look its best week in, week out.

St. Symphorien military cemetery was established by the Germans in 1916 on a plot of land that belonged to Jean Houzeau de Lehaie, a leading Belgian naturalist. He wanted to avoid his land being requisitioned, so he offered the use of his plot free of charge as a military cemetery to the municipalities where there were soldiers’ graves. The only condition stipulated by the owner was that this cemetery would be for soldiers from both countries who took part in the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914. This solution, also negotiated with the local authorities, meant that all those who fought could be buried together in the same resting place, whatever their nationality. This desire to bring together the different soldiers on the same site is a highly symbolic move in times of war.

The CWGC now works with the British government’s department of Culture Media and Sport and would like to inform you that, given the extent of the preparations and the limited access to the site, St. Symphorien military cemetery will be closed to the general public from Thursday 31 July until the morning of Wednesday 6 August 2014 inclusive.

#1. Grave of Private J. Parr, the first British victim of the Great War

#2. German graves

#3. Ceremony, 11 November 2013

#4. Bust of the Roi Chevalier, Albert I of Belgium, in the municipal cemetery

#1. © WBT JPRemy.

#2. © S. Santarelli.

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St. Symphorien military cemetery: a unique, symbolic site

St. Symphorien military cemetery is a unique and incredibly symbolic site: it is here that the first and the last British soldiers who died in the First World War are buried. It is also unusual in that it contains almost the same number of British and German graves.

Mons was in the hands of the German army from 23 August 1914 until it was liberated by the Canadian Corps on 11 November 1918. After 1914, the military authorities in place decided to create an extension to the north of the Mons municipal cemetery.

It was in this extension that military victims, of all nationalities, would be buried. When the city was liberated, the Canadians decided to open a new cemetery, just opposite this one. In the end all the remains of the soldiers would be brought together in the municipal cemetery of Mons and reorganised after the war by two British Architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens and William Harrison Cowlishaw. Here, soldiers from Russia, France, Italy, Rome, Belgium and the British Empire lie side by side. Shortly after 1918, the bodies of a number of Italian soldiers and 14 French soldiers were repatriated to their home countries.

The memorial lawns at Mons cemetery In this cemetery, it is not only the military victims that we commemorate, but also the civilians who died during the First World War.

Opposite the memorial lawn for Belgian soldiers, the monument dedicated to King Albert towers over the military graves. Not far from the Cross of Sacrifice, the emblem of the cemeteries run by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, is a lawn dedicated to deportees. This is where the bodies of men and women who died because of the awful living conditions inflicted on deportees are buried. These people were requisitioned by the German army and sent to Germany to consolidate the workforce there. Near this lawn, the grave of Charles Simonet, shot down for being part of an intelligence network, sits imposingly among the graves of civilians who died during the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914.

#3. © C. Rousman.

#4. © C. Rousman.

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Mons municipal cemetery

St. Symphorien military cemetery, around which the 4 August ceremonies are organised, is one of three sites chosen by the British Government to launch the commemorations of the outbreak of the First World War. The two other venues are Glasgow Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. The British Government decided to hold this ceremony at St. Symphorien on 4 August partly because it was on this day, a century ago, that, after the Belgian border had been breached, the British Empire declared war on Germany, and partly because it is at St. Symphorien military cemetery that the graves of the first and last British death of the Great War can be found.

This ceremony, organised by the British Government, will be a private one. Only around 500 guests will attend, as the position of the site and its protection obliges the British Government to limit visitor numbers. With the help of the City of Mons, a big screen will be set up in the Grand’Place so that residents of Mons and visitors will be able to play an active role in the Commemorations. We will be projecting live images produced especially for the event by the BBC via a number of cameras and broadcast by the RTBF. The ceremony will take place in the evening at around 8:30pm, and will last about an hour. The theme will be remembrance, and the ceremony will include readings of poems, songs and moments of contemplation.

We already know the prestigious guests to the ceremony: from Britain, there will be the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, better known as William and Kate, accompanied by Prince Henry of Wales, better known as Prince Harry.

After the ceremony, in the Grand’Place, the City of Mons will be organising a vigil similar to the one that will be held at Westminster Abbey. To link the two events, the big screen will broadcast the service taking place in London. This vigil, during which candles will be lit in the Grand’Place, will begin at around 10pm and end at around 11pm. It will commemorate the end of the British ultimatum made to the Germans on 4 August after Belgian soil had been breached and the Great War began.

The commemorations on 4 August 2014> The commemorations of the start of the First World War

at St. Symphorien military cemetery

#1. © Santarelli.#1. © Santarelli.

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#3.

#2. © Privée.

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#1. Entrance to St. Symphorien military cemetery #2. Inauguration of the military cemetery by the Germans in 1917

#3. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Australia on ANZAC Day.

The commemorations on 23 August 2014

For this centenary year, the City of Mons really wanted to

mark its commemorations by making a real commitment

to the occasion. This starts with repairing commemorative

monuments such as those at Maisières, Ghlin, La Bascule

and the municipal cemetery. Secondly, it involves

engaging youngsters in a commemorative project from a

local perspective. Children from schools in Cuesmes have

been studying the life of Joseph Delsaut, a patriot shot by

the Germans. There will also be a programme of

exhibitions connected to the Great War and a number of

activities will be put on to help visitors come to Mons to

reflect on events in the city, and last but not least, an

ambitious series of commemorative ceremonies. The

highpoint of these commemorations will be the planting

of the centenary tree.

Since 1919, and more specifically every year on 23 August,

commemorative ceremonies have taken place at the sites

of the Battle of Mons. Before long, monuments and

plaques were put up throughout the municipality, either

by locals, or by the British regiments themselves. During

the commemorations for the fiftieth anniversary, the

number of former soldiers had already been dramatically

reduced, so no major commemorations were organised.

Subsequently the City of Mons decided to take on the

responsibility of organising annual commemorations to

honour the British soldiers who fought in Mons. The

Échevin at the time, Jacques Hamaide, bolstered by the

twinning of Mons with Sefton, insisted on annual

commemorations in Mons on 23 August.

#1. #2. #3.

Commemorations on 23 August

# 4 «Plantation

of the Mons oak in Sydney »

# 5 « The Mons oak ».

#1. © Santarelli.

#2. © Santarelli.

#3. © Santarelli.

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Planting the centenary tree

The City of Mons is only organising commemorative ceremonies at sites within the region, but

will also be taking part in celebrations connected to the Battle of Mons outside the municipality.

In our region, it will be the Railway Bridge at Nimy, La Bascule, the Town Hall, the Place des

Martyrs and St. Symphorien Military Cemetery that will be honoured this year.

The highlight of the Commemorations

of the Centenary of the Great War will be

at the Place du Parc on 23 August

2014 at 2pm when the Centenary tree is

planted. This ceremony is an act of

reconciliation in memory of all the

civilians and soldiers who died a century

ago during the Battle of Mons. The tree

that has been chosen is an oak tree,

whose Latin name is Quercus Imbricaria.

This tree has been chosen in connection

with the Mons oak in the botanical

garden in Sydney. It was important for

the authorities of the City of Mons to

mark the Centenary with the creation of

a new commemorative monument, and

the tree, as a symbol of life and long

A commemorative plaque will be unveiled on the day,

bearing the following information: Centenary Tree. Battle of

Mons. 23 August 1914. This oak tree was planted on 23 August

2014 in the presence of the Municipal Authorities of the City of

Mons and representatives of the former warring countries in

order to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Mons

and in memory of everyone who suffered in this conflict.

Remember as you pass by.

During this ceremony, different representatives of the

countries that were at war with each other at the time will

be given the chance to speak. We are expecting

representatives from Great Britain, Germany, France and

Ireland as well as Belgium. The tree will be planted by

youngsters from Britain, Belgium, France and Germany,

accompanied in this gesture by the

authorities who will also be

represented there. Music, poetry

readings and the words of soldiers

and civilians who witnessed the

Battle of Mons will punctuate the

ceremony.

#5. © The royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. #4. © Ville de Mons.

> 23 August 2014 at 2 pm, Place du Parc

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Detailed timetable21, 22, 23 & 24 august 2014

21 August> 10am : Opening of a re-enactment camp of British soldiers at the Parc of Belfry

> 6pm : Closing of the re-enactment camp at the Beffroi

> 10pm : 3D screening about the Angels of Mons on the front of the Town Hall

22 August> 10am : Opening of a re-enactment camp of British soldiers at the Parc of Belfry

> 10am : First opening of the exhibitions at the BAM (Les objets témoignent – Objects bearing witness /

Signes des temps – Signs of the times / The First and the Last)

> 4pm : Commemorative ceremony in Casteau

> 6pm : Closing of the re-enactment camp at the Parc of Belfry

> 8pm : Site of the Waux-Hall: Mons aperitif dedicated to the commemorations

> 10pm : 3D screening about the Angels of Mons on the front of the Town Hall

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23 August The City of Mons is organising a full day of commemorations.

For the sake of security, access to Obourg station and the

Nimy Railway Bridge will be limited.

Commemorative ceremonies> 10am : Commemorative ceremony at Obourg station

> 10:40am : Commemorative ceremony at the Nimy Railway Bridge

> 11:15am : The commemorative parade sets off for Place Reigner at the Long Col (at the bottom of Rue de Nimy)

> 11:30am : Arrival of the commemorative parade in the Grand’Place in Mons.

> 11:45am : Commemorative ceremony in the Grand’Place in Mons and at the entrance to the Town Hall in Mons

> 2pm : Major commemorative ceremony marking the planting of the Centenary tree in the Place du Parc.

This ceremony is the main focus of our commemorations. We are inviting all local citizens to come and

be part of this symbolic gesture, which will be attended by young people and official delegations from

the countries at war with each other at that time. This ceremony will combine poems, music, memories

and contemplation.

> 4pm : Commemorative ceremony in the Place des Martyrs

> 5pm : Commemorative ceremony at the La Bascule monuments (Carrefour UCL Mons)

> 5:30pm : Commemorative ceremony at St. Symphorien Military Cemetery.

#5.

#2.

#2.

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24 August The municipality of Saint-Ghislain offers you the opportunity to explore a British military

camp re-enactment on the site of the Municipal Authorities, Rue de Chièvres, Tertre. From

10am, you will be able to see a field ambulance, a photo studio and an enrolment office, as well

as learning about camp life and much more.

The municipality of Quiévrain invites you to Audregnies from 10:30am, for the official

commemorative ceremonies and the unveiling of a new memorial. Then you can come and

explore the “British Village”.

23 August Activities > From 10am until 4pm: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is organising an open day at St. Symphorien

Military Cemetery. The CWGC invites you to find out about the different skills used within

their association, including stone engravers, gardeners, historians, tree surgeons and bronze

workers.

> From 10am until 5:30pm: An additional educational camp will be open, with representatives from the British infantry

and cavalry, in UCL Mons’ fields next to the commemorative sites at La Bascule. Throughout

the day visitors will be able to watch training exercises involving the horses.

> 9pm: Military music concert in the Grand’ Place in Mons including the participation of Pipe Bands

(Celtic Passion from Mons and the Somme Battlefield Pipe Band) and a unique performance by

the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.

> 10:30pm:3D screening in the Grand’Place in Mons, with stunning pyrotechnics in memory of the

legendary appearance of the Angels of Mons.

#1. #2. Commemorations on 23 August,.#1. #2.

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Commemorative concert on 23 August 2014

The commemorations of the Battle of Mons will close

with a concert on the Grand’Place in Mons. Visitors

are invited to come and discover three different music

groups with a very British twist. From 9pm each group

will take it in turns to perform, and the concert will end

with a combined performance involving all three

groups at around 10pm.

The bands include two Pipe Bands, one from Mons,

Celtic Passion, and the other from France, the Somme

Battlefield Pipe Band and one regimental band from

the Queen’s Own Buffs Regiment, straight from Great

Britain, the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.

Celtic Passion: founded in 2008, this band aims to

nurture a shared passion for Celtic passion and for

Scottish bagpipes. This pipe band is based in the Mons

region and performs regularly.

Somme Battlefield Pipe Band: founded in 1989, this

band is keen to promote the music and history of

Scottish soldiers, whose sacrifice during the war had a

significant impact on the department of the Somme.

The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment: this band,

part of the British army, is the only reserve group in

Kent (southern England). It serves both the general

public and the military in Great Britain and abroad.

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#1. The Angels of Mons during the Procession in 2014 © Santarelli.#2. The Angels of Mons during the Procession in 1945, © Montois Cayaux.

The legend of the Angels of Mons

Legend has it that during the night of 23

August 1914, when the British army was

cornered, winged, luminous figures

appeared in the sky to help the troops.

These angels appear to have temporarily

held back the Germans, allowing the British

to organise their retreat.

There are many different possible sources

and origins for this legend, but the story was

really established by the British fantasy

author, Arthur Machen. On 29 September

1914, he published a story in the London

Evening News about how a British soldier

appealed to St. George during a battle

against the German soldiers. Helped by

archers straight from the Battle of

Agincourt, the patron saint of the British

army confounded the German army. The

author confirmed, shortly after his piece was

published, that it was pure fiction, a story

that he had written to boost his

compatriots’ morale.

The rumour spread quickly through

England. During the following months, lots

of articles and books were released relaying

witness accounts of soldiers who had taken

part in the Great Retreat. The legend took on

different forms. The angels who appeared to

the British troops were presented in

different ways: luminous clouds, on

horseback, as winged knights… Spiritualist

magazines picked up on the phenomenon,

as did the Protestant Church. Sermons

telling the story of the legend and divine

intervention were given at the front as well

as back home. Artists painted the story, and

music was composed about it. The legend

became rooted in British society, probably

supported by the Authorities, who saw it as

a way of supporting the war effort.

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#1.

#2.

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3D screening: The Angels of Mons

Practical details:

When:

from Friday 1 August 2014 until Sunday 24 August 2014

(apart from 4 August)

What time: every evening at 10:00pm

Where: Grand Place, Mons

Languages: French - English

#1. The Angels of Mons.

Every evening in August 2014, the

Grand’Place in Mons will be completely

transformed to dazzle you with the

famous story of the Angels of Mons.

Retold as a dialogue between a resident

of Mons and a British soldier, the story

will tell you what really happened on 23

August 1914.

This sound and light show will be an

unforgettable experience for young and

old alike.

#1.

24

Exclusively in 2014 as part of the Commemorations,

the City of Mons will be putting on some ambitious

immersive activities, presenting British soldiers

camps from 1914. Two sites will each host a camp,

one in the Parc du Beffroi where the main camp will

be set up, and another near La Bascule on the UCL

Mons site.

The Parc du Beffroi camp will welcome members of

the Great War Society, the British association that will

be presenting a replica of a camp from 1914. Some

members of the group will be wearingBritish

uniforms while others will in German uniforms. More

than 150 participants will be demonstrating the

equipment and living conditions of soldiers from

1914.

The camp at La Bascule will be specifically dedicated

to the cavalry. There we will meet a group associated

with the Great War Society with a focus on the British

cavalry in 1914. A number of horses will be at the

site, and different events will be put on throughout

the day to show visitors how they are trained to

prepare for military action. Another group, the Rifles

Living History Society will also be there to present a

military camp.

This group is from Kent in the south of England, and

they will also be demonstrating the equipment and

living conditions of British soldiers in 1914.

Getting to know the British soldiers of 1914

Practical details:

> Parc of Belfry

Open from Wednesday 20 until Friday 22 August:

10am until 6pm

Open on Saturday 23 August: 1pm until 6pm

> La Bascule siteOpen on Saturday 23 August: 10am until 6pm

#2.

25

#1. British cavalry in 1914 © Andy Smerdon.

#2. The Great War Society in Mons in 2004 © Ville de Mons.

Mons Memorial Museum

A museum, a space in which to reflect and ask questions…

There are so many ways in which we could describe the

future Mons Memorial Museum. This new museum

space will open its doors in spring 2015, on the site of

the former Machine-à-Eau, in Mons, right in the heart of

Europe. Its ultimate goal is to be a venue for

inter-generational interaction, at the heart of a heritage

region marked by the two World Wars that devastated

the 20th century.

This new museum will invite visitors of all ages to

question the complex, multiple realities of wartime

experiences. A massive permanent exhibition will give

members of the public the opportunity to learn more

about the unique history of the city as well as the

international events of the two World Wars and the

periods before and after each one. Visitors will be

immersed in the day-to-day lives of soldiers and

civilians in times of war through the stories of the men

and women who witnessed these events.

#1. #2. #3. #4. ©Atelier d’architecture Pierre Hebbelinck

#5. © Mons Memorial Museum

#1.

#3.

#2.

26

Collections put under the spotlightThe objects on display, selected from the 5,000 in the City of Mons’ military

history collections, are designed to raise questions.

The permanent layout of the Mons Memorial Museum will be punctuated with

different testimonies that will guide the visitor through the experience. Letters,

notebooks and interviews will bring the exhibits to life, offering a sensitive

perspective on the events covered.

British, American, Canadian and Belgian accounts will be on display alongside

German stories, adding real depth to the international events described in the

museum.

Mons, at the heart of the conflict

The name of Mons will forever be associated with major battles. One example is

the conflict that took place in August 1914, in which British and German

soldiers fought against each other for the first time in the Great War. The Mons

region is also the now symbolic place in which Georges Lawrence Price died on

11 November 1918, at 10.58am. This Canadian soldier is generally considered to

be the last soldier to be killed in the Great War. His remains now lie in St.

Symphorien Military Cemetery, not far from the future Mons Memorial

Museum.

Another example that bears witness to the region’s tumultuous past is the

“Poche de Mons”; a series of clashes that allowed American troops to put

several thousand German soldiers hors de combat. The City of Mons was

liberated on 2 September 1914 after more than four years of enemy occupation.

Practical details> Opening spring 2015

Site of the former Machine-à-Eau,

Boulevard Dolez - 7000 Mons Belgium

Quadrilingual exhibition:

French, English, Dutch and German

Areas accessible to those with impaired mobility

Educational activities

Activities available, by appointment

#5.

#4.

27

1914-1918 Remembrance route > The Great War. Bodies, weapons and peace.

Because of the key role that it played in the battle of 23 August 1914 and in the last

skirmishes of the war on 11 November 1918, the City of Mons is at the heart of a real

First World War heritage region. Monuments, memorials and symbolic sites are

scattered throughout the region. Thanks to a remembrance route that will be

accessible from August 2014, we are offering visitors the opportunity to (re)discover

these battle, tragedy and contemplation sites.

The fruit of a cross-border partnership, this remembrance route project is supported

by a number of partners from Mons (the City of Mons, the Tourist Information Office

and Mundaneum), the Cambrai region (the Tourist Information Office, the

Caudrésis-Catésis Community of Municipalities and the Cambrai Urban Community)

and is funded by the European Union. The overall goal of the project is to shine a

spotlight on the British retreat of 23-26 August 1914 from Mons to Le Cateau. The

lives of the residents of Mons under the occupation as well as the liberation of Mons

in 1918 are also covered by this route.

Dates: Route accessible from August 2014.

Contact: Tourist Information Office: 065/33.55.88

partners

© Patrick Tombelle

© Patrick Tombelle

28

.be

Practical details

Dates:

From Friday 22 August until Sunday 23

November.

Where: BAM.

Prices :

combined tickets for the BAM and the Salle

St-Georges : 9€.

Only the Salle St-Georges : 2€ »

More info: www.polemuseal.mons.be

#1. © Rino Noviello

Through this exhibition, visitors will have the chance to explore the key events

of the Battle of Mons, which took place in August 1914. Chronologically, it

follows on from the “Signes des temps” (Signs of the times) exhibition. The

events of the early days of the war will of course be covered to introduce the

facts surrounding the Battle of Mons.

As this exhibition is at a fine arts museum, the idea will be to put the objects or

historic artefacts right at the centre of the reflective experience, without

magnifying it. The perfect design, or rather the mise en scène, will look at the

Battle of Mons from an historic or chronological angle, as well as in the form of

history being unveiled using the exhibits as starting points.

A fantastic opportunity to discover the philosophy of the future Mons Memorial

Museum, with the focus on a number of objects, accounts and photographs that

will be on display in the future museum.

The Battle of Mons Objects bearing witness

#1.

29

An exhibition organized by

THE CITY OF MONS

Practical details

Dates:


November.

Where: BAM.

Prices :


St-Georges : 9€.



#1. © Collections of the city of Mons / SABAM 2014

Reflecting on the pre-war period, this exhibition entitled

“Signes des temps” (Signs of the times) looks at the general

climate of social unrest, which is so strikingly manifested in the

arts. Visions of fear, threats and the apocalypse stand alongside

projects imagining utopias and idyllic versions of the world.

The exhibition is based on a number of themes to help visitors

explore the boundaries and the links between naturalism,

symbolism and expressionism in order to reveal the signature

of visual arts left by a period marked by economic, social and

political upheaval.

The works of art on show include paintings, sculptures, graphic

pieces and photographs by German, French, Swiss, American

and Belgian artists, from international public and private

collections.

Signs of the timesVisionary art from pre-1914

#1.

30


THE CITY OF MONS

Practical details

Dates:

From Saturday 12 July until 16 November.

Where: Salle Saint-Georges.

Prices :


St-Georges : 9€.



#2. © Editions Delcourt / David Vandermeulen

This exhibition tells the story of Fritz Haber, a Jewish-German chemist

who was a paradoxical figure, a friend of Einstein and the inventor of

mustard gas, which was used as a weapon during the Great War.

It tells the story of the 1918 Nobel Prize for Chemistry and is

illustrated by the Belgian artist David Vandermeulen. He received the

2008 historic cartoon prize, awarded by the Rendez-Vous de l'Histoire

de Blois and the Château de Cheverny for the second volume in his

Fritz Haber series, called Les héros.

The series was launched over 10 years ago; this year, the author will

publish his fourth album. Critics recognise his rigorous work and

impeccable historic methods, backed up by an academic background

that is essential when it comes to tackling this sort of controversial

subject: the responsibility of the Jewish-German scientific and

political elite during the First World War.

Working with ink wash and using sepia ink, David Vandermeulen has

a very specific technique that makes his work so original. He manages

to develop an almost photographic realism, while also introducing

contrasting effects with shadows in different shades of brown.

An unflinching project, which will be laid out by his very own team of

designers. An exhibition that is likely to haunt you thanks to the

subject matter, the work and the atmosphere that will fill the Salle

Saint-Georges, a former chapel that has been converted into an

exhibition space.

Fritz HaberA mind at war

31


THE CITY OF MONS

An exhibition organised in collaboration with Arts², WBT and Central

Saint Martins College in London

As part of the centenary of the First World War, the Wallonia-Brussels

Tourism London office has launched a commemorative art competition

with the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in

London.

Modern-day students, who would have been soldiers in 14-18, express

what the Great War represents for them, and what emotions it evokes in

them. Through artistic expression, they build a bridge between two eras,

two generations.

The same project was launched at the Mons-based college Arts²,

triggering a peaceful, cultural confrontation with their English

counterparts.

MONS14 18

THE FIRST AND THE LASTCOMMEMORATIONS

Practical details

Dates:


November.

Where: BAM.

Prices :


St-Georges : 9€.



#1. © Gauthier Aelvoet

The first and the last

#1.

32


THE CITY OF MONS

Practical details

Dates:

From Friday 4 July until Sunday 7 September.

Where: Magasin de Papier.

Prices :

combined tickets for the BAM and the Salle St-Georges :

9€.



#2. © Edition Les Jeannines

The Magasin de Papier has never worn its name so well as

it opens its doors to fans of all kinds of paper, whether it’s

used for collages, music or history.

This summer, the venue goes underground and becomes

Mons’ desktop publishing hub, “Les Jeannines”.

It will be everything it has achieved, including an

installation connected to the release of two booklets

about the First World War. “Louis Olivier” and “La rivière”

are the imaginary stories of our great-grandparents,

offering a sensitive interpretation of this tragic time.

Through pictures, writing and music, these accounts ask

complex questions about individual freedom, memory

and survival during a conflict that dramatically changed

the world, ushering in a new era.

Les Jeannines#2.

33


THE CITY OF MONS

34

visitMonsGrand-Place, 22 - 7000 Mons

+32 (0) 65/33.55.80 [email protected]

www.visitMons.be - /visitmons

© M

T M

ons

- Sop

hie

Dem

eest

er

Our full range of Mons 14-18 souvenirs is available at the Mons Tourist Office! Pin badges, umbrellas, bags, keyrings, earrings, history books… Treat yourself and take a little bit of history back home with you!The souvenir shop is open from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 11am to 5pm on Sundays and public holidays.

EN pub A5 14-18 marchandesign.indd 1 12/06/14 17:31

Practical details

Dates:

From Saturday 28 June until Sunday 14 September: every Saturday and Sunday, from 2pm until 5pm.

4 August and 23 August from 10am until 1pm and 2pm until 5pm.

Departing from: Grand’ Place, Mons.

Prices:

• Individuals: €18 /adult and €12 /child (between 6 and 12);

• Group prices available by request from the City of Mons Tourist Information Office.

From Saturday 28 June until Sunday 14 September, the City of Mons Tourist Information Office will be

offering you a guided tour of the “Mons Battlefield”. This unique battlefield tour will take place on a

double-decker bus, painted in the “Mons 14-18” colours.

The guided tour is open to everyone, and a commentary is provided in French and English by official tour

guides from the City of Mons Tourist Information Office. Departing from the Grand-Place in Mons, this

3-hour route will show you around the whole battlefield.

Guided battlefield tour

To commemorate the centenary of the Great War, Visitmons is giving you

the opportunity to explore the Mons battlefield

in a double-decker bus!

35

ST. SYMPHORIEN MILITARY CEMETERY

> OPEN DAY SATURDAY 23rd AUGUST 2014Rue Nestor Dehon - Coordonnées GPS : Longitude 04°00'38", Latitude 50°25'57"

© C. Rousman

© C. Rousman

36

Come and see how the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) remembers the servicemen buried and commemorated at St Symphorien Military Cemetery.

The event will be held on Saturday 23

August, from 10am to 4pm.

Gates open at 9.30am.

Free entry.

Guided Toursof St Symphorien Military Cemetery

10:30 / 11:30 /12:30 / 13:30 / 14:30 & 15:30 – ticket required (40min)

HistoryA presentation on the History of the CWGC and the Battle of Mons

11:00 / 12:30 / 14:00 & 15:30 – ticket required (40min including a Q&A session)

Tree SurgeryMeet our team and learn about the importance of trees in CWGC cemeteries

Stone DemonstrationSee our stonemasons at work and have a go at letter cutting

Carpentry, Re-bronzing and metalworkMeet some of our craftsmen and see examples of their work

Static Machinery DisplaySee the equipment our teams use to keep the cemetery in excellent condition

Children’s activitiesHeadstone rubbing, iSpy & trace a casualty

ExhibitionInformation and exhibition stand where staff are available to give additional information on the

CWGC

All events are free of charge but some are ticketed. Tickets are available on the day from the

Information Tent.

Visit the Information Tent on arrival for a diary of events, map of the cemetery, tickets to events

and children’s activities.

Parking There is limited on-site parking, including spaces reserved for disabled badge holders, with further

parking available in the meadow at the rear of the cemetery.

Site conditions Please note that the tours cover parts of the cemetery which include grassed areas. These may be

difficult to negotiate with wheelchairs/pushchairs and, in the case of rain, will be muddy underfoot.

Tel: +32 (0) 57 22 36 36 - www.cwgc.org - [email protected]

37

© S.A. IPM 2014. Toute représentation ou reproduction, même partielle, de la présente publication, sous quelque forme que ce soit, est interdite sans autorisation préalable et écrite de l'éditeur ou de ses ayants droit.

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l Édito

Mario Draghi faitla sourde oreilleYves Cavalier

S tatu quo sur toute la ligne du côté de laBanque centrale européenne. Alors que lamonnaie européenne flirte avec la barre

d’1,40 dollar, Mario Draghi a préféré retenir lessignes d’amélioration de la conjoncture euro-péenne plutôt que de répondre aux craintes dedéflation et, surtout, aux appels répétés des

politiques européens qui plaident pour unaffaiblissement de l’euro. C’est que lamonnaieunique a gagné 7,5% par rapport au dollardepuis un an et demi. Selon quelques indus-triels forts en voix, c’est autant de perte decompétitivité sur lesmarchés internationaux etdonc autant demarchés qui risquent de dispa-raître à jamais pour la zone euro. C’estd’ailleurs ce qui a largement alimenté un récentdiscours du nouveau Premierministre français,Manuel Valls. Cela dit, les propos du Françaisont été aussitôt critiqués par Berlin, qui estimequ’un Etat n’a pas à dicter sa politique à laBanque centrale de tous les pays de la zoneeuro.

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Supplément à La Libre Belgique du lundi 5 mai 2014

l Intrigues

Vagabonder, c’est vivre�Dans les rues d’une ville livrée aucarnaval, un chauffeur de taxi récolteles clients et leurs histoires.

�Une humanité bigarrée et pleine desurprises prend alors forme sous laplume singulière de Rawi Hage.

I l est des livres touchés par une magie particu-lière, alliant poésie, fantasque, tendresse et créa-tivité. C’est le cas de “Carnival City” de Rawi

Hage. Né au Liban qu’il a quitté en 1992, celui qui separtage entre l’écriture et les arts visuels vit depuis àMontréal. Son troisième roman (après “Le Cafard” et“DeNiro’s Game”) place le lecteur dans les pas de Fly,atypique chauffeur de taxi. Ce dernier classe ses sem-blables en deux catégories : les araignées (qui atten-dent l’appel du répartiteur) et lesmouches (qui navi-guent au hasard des rues, avec l’espoir qu’une mainse lève). Comme son nom l’indique, Fly est un vaga-bond, un intrigant, qui roule sans trêve et sans but,espérant l’averse qui précipitera le client vers lui. Deson enfance dans un cirque, où une femme à barbe apris soin de lui après la fuite de son père (pilote de ta-pis volant), lamort de samère (trapéziste) et la faillitede la compagnie, il a gardé un goût immodéré pour ladifférence et l’étrangeté. Jusque dans la ville sansnom où il a émigré, après avoir traversé l’Atlantique.Cette cité que Fly sillonne est prise dans les fastes

du carnaval. Mais cette toile de fond est discrète enregard des spécimens qui défilent dans sonhabitacle.Sans déguisement mais non sans particularités. Dea-lers, prostituées, gens ordinaires, pressés ou à la dé-rive, ils ont souvent unehistoire à raconter, un objet àoublier. Un coup d’œil suffit à Fly pour “distinguer lesanimaux errants et le tracé de leur existence lou-voyante”. Attentif à chacun, voisin de palier ou clientrégulier, justicier quand il le faut, Fly est aussi unamoureux de littérature, elle qui a investi les moin-dres recoins de son appartement selon un classe-ment basé sur son “impression subjective du livre et dela vie de ses personnages principaux”.Du cirque au carnaval, les singularités et autres bi-

zarreries se cultivent sans ambages. “Jamais nous neles laissons voir que nous lisons des livres, que nousaimons tout le monde et que nous acceptons tout, quenos corps sont libres, que nous voyageons, résistons etluttons, que nous offrons l’asile aux prisonniers et auxrévolutionnaires, que nous avons sauvé des Gitans et desJuifs.” Dans ce roman à la plume enjouée qui célèbreavec philosophie et lucidité toutes les saveurs del’humanité, s’invitent aussi de belles rencontres et desincères amitiés. Qui ne gomment ni les noirceurs, niles tragédies. Car derrière les masques, il n’y a pasque des anges.Geneviève Simon

Carnival City Rawi Hage / traduit de l’anglais (Canada)par Dominique Fortier / Denoël & D’ailleurs / 344 pp.,env. 21,50 € FE

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ILLUSTRATION GAËLLE GRISARD

l Édito

Mario Draghi faitla sourde oreilleYves Cavalier

S tatu quo sur toute la ligne du côté de laBanque centrale européenne. Alors que lamonnaie européenne flirte avec la barre

d’1,40 dollar, Mario Draghi a préféré retenir lessignes d’amélioration de la conjoncture euro-péenne plutôt que de répondre aux craintes dedéflation et, surtout, aux appels répétés des

politiques européens qui plaident pour unaffaiblissement de l’euro. C’est que lamonnaieunique a gagné 7,5% par rapport au dollardepuis un an et demi. Selon quelques indus-triels forts en voix, c’est autant de perte decompétitivité sur lesmarchés internationaux etdonc autant demarchés qui risquent de dispa-raître à jamais pour la zone euro. C’estd’ailleurs ce qui a largement alimenté un récentdiscours du nouveau Premierministre français,Manuel Valls. Cela dit, les propos du Françaisont été aussitôt critiqués par Berlin, qui estimequ’un Etat n’a pas à dicter sa politique à laBanque centrale de tous les pays de la zoneeuro.

MaisMario Draghi continue à faire la sourdeoreille et préfère en rester à son rôle de gardiende l’inflation. Une posture qui devrait pourtantl’inciter à baisser les taux –ou ce qu’il en reste–puisque l’inflation de 0,7% est largement infé-rieure à l’objectif historique de 2%. Mais onpeut imaginer que le président Draghi ne sou-haite pas donner l’impression d’agir sous lapression. Il a annoncé une nouvelle évaluationpour lemois de juin et veut clairement s’entenir à son calendrier. C’est aussi unemanièrede rappeler implicitement son discours debanquier central : “La BCE a fait ce qu’elle avait àfaire depuis la crise; désormais, la balle est dans lecamp des gouvernements”.

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N°272 SUPPLÉMENT HEBDOMADAIRE À LA LIBRE BELGIQUE DU 12 AVRIL AU 18 AVRIL 2014

http://momento.blogs.lalibre.be/

H.H.

AVEC LES GRILLES TÉLÉ COMPLÈTESDU WEEK-END ET DE LA SEMAINE


Supplément à La Libre Belgique du lundi 5 mai 2014

l Intrigues

Vagabonder, c’est vivre�Dans les rues d’une ville livrée aucarnaval, un chauffeur de taxi récolteles clients et leurs histoires.

�Une humanité bigarrée et pleine desurprises prend alors forme sous laplume singulière de Rawi Hage.

I l est des livres touchés par une magie particu-lière, alliant poésie, fantasque, tendresse et créa-tivité. C’est le cas de “Carnival City” de Rawi

Hage. Né au Liban qu’il a quitté en 1992, celui qui separtage entre l’écriture et les arts visuels vit depuis àMontréal. Son troisième roman (après “Le Cafard” et“DeNiro’s Game”) place le lecteur dans les pas de Fly,atypique chauffeur de taxi. Ce dernier classe ses sem-blables en deux catégories : les araignées (qui atten-dent l’appel du répartiteur) et lesmouches (qui navi-guent au hasard des rues, avec l’espoir qu’une mainse lève). Comme son nom l’indique, Fly est un vaga-bond, un intrigant, qui roule sans trêve et sans but,espérant l’averse qui précipitera le client vers lui. Deson enfance dans un cirque, où une femme à barbe apris soin de lui après la fuite de son père (pilote de ta-pis volant), lamort de samère (trapéziste) et la faillitede la compagnie, il a gardé un goût immodéré pour ladifférence et l’étrangeté. Jusque dans la ville sansnom où il a émigré, après avoir traversé l’Atlantique.Cette cité que Fly sillonne est prise dans les fastes

du carnaval. Mais cette toile de fond est discrète enregard des spécimens qui défilent dans sonhabitacle.Sans déguisement mais non sans particularités. Dea-lers, prostituées, gens ordinaires, pressés ou à la dé-rive, ils ont souvent unehistoire à raconter, un objet àoublier. Un coup d’œil suffit à Fly pour “distinguer lesanimaux errants et le tracé de leur existence lou-voyante”. Attentif à chacun, voisin de palier ou clientrégulier, justicier quand il le faut, Fly est aussi unamoureux de littérature, elle qui a investi les moin-dres recoins de son appartement selon un classe-ment basé sur son “impression subjective du livre et dela vie de ses personnages principaux”.Du cirque au carnaval, les singularités et autres bi-

zarreries se cultivent sans ambages. “Jamais nous neles laissons voir que nous lisons des livres, que nousaimons tout le monde et que nous acceptons tout, quenos corps sont libres, que nous voyageons, résistons etluttons, que nous offrons l’asile aux prisonniers et auxrévolutionnaires, que nous avons sauvé des Gitans et desJuifs.” Dans ce roman à la plume enjouée qui célèbreavec philosophie et lucidité toutes les saveurs del’humanité, s’invitent aussi de belles rencontres et desincères amitiés. Qui ne gomment ni les noirceurs, niles tragédies. Car derrière les masques, il n’y a pasque des anges.Geneviève Simon

Carnival City Rawi Hage / traduit de l’anglais (Canada)par Dominique Fortier / Denoël & D’ailleurs / 344 pp.,env. 21,50 € FE

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The Via Dolorosa project gives you the chance to retrace the steps of the retreating Belgian

and British armies in 1914. A hundred years after the tragic events that marked Belgium, four

municipalities (two Walloon and two Flemish) have decided to join forces to pay tribute to

and commemorate the story of the men and the sites destroyed by the conflict in those early

months.

With this in mind, the municipalities of Mons, Zonnebeke, Comines-Warneton and Diksmuide

have put together an ambitious programme combining the opening up of sites, exhibitions,

commemorations and concerts. An exhibition bus will be travelling through the whole

country during the summer.

The commemorations of the First World War are a major cultural, tourist, educational and

remembrance challenge for Belgium and the other countries involved in the 1914-1918 war.

Keen to focus on remembrance, respect and loyalty to historical facts, this collaboration is

committed to promoting universal values.

Check out the full programme and the Via Dolorosa bus route

at www.viadolorosa.be

> The exhibition bus will be in Mons on:

• 4 August 2014

• 23 August 2014

• 14 September 2014

• 11 November 2014

Via Dolorosa

39

©WBT J.P. Remy.

Informations pratiques

Dates:

From Monday 3 August until Tuesday 11

November

Where: Maison de la Mémoire: 2,

Rue des Sœurs Noires, 7000 Mons

© A. Fhaeres

From August to November 2014, the Maison de la Mémoire will be opening its

doors to host an exhibition entitled “1914-2014 La Bataille de Mons vue par les

Montois” (The Battle of Mons as experienced by the people of Mons). The aim of this

project launched by the Maison de la Mémoire is to commemorate this battle by

working with the Military History Interpretation Centre to put on an exhibition

based on photographs and personal diaries. The 3 personal diaries kept at the time

describe the day-to-day lives of citizens of Mons during the battle in August 1914

and the beginning of the occupation of Mons from 1914 to 1918. These are

accompanied by remarkable photographs selected from the Mons Photographic

Archive kept by André Faehrès. The Chapelle des Sœurs Noires will host an

exhibition looking at the contemporary vision of the “Angels of Mons” through

visual art and music (an original composition). This project will be backed up by

other events focusing on the same theme, including talks and guided tours of the

city.

The exhibition is keen to have an international appeal, so will be fully bilingual to

attract lots of British visitors who will be coming to Mons for the centenary of the

Battle.

This project, organised by the Maison de la Mémoire, will continue after 2014. A

second exhibition is planned for 2016, looking at day-to-day life during the

occupation, and a third in 2018 on the liberation and the first commemorations.

These exhibitions will all take the same approach.

1914-2014: The Battle of Mons as experienced

by the people of Mons War diaries and period photos.

oranized by «la maison de la mémoire»

40

As part of the commemorations for the centenary of the First World War, the

Muséum régional des Sciences naturelles – SPW – Mons (Regional Museum of

Natural Sciences) will be putting on an exhibition covering a number of themes

connected both to its natural science collections and the duty of remembrance.

These themes include animals in the Great War and the discovery of different

species of animals that kept soldiers company in the trenches, as well as

symbols of different countries (in collaboration with the Musée Royal de

l’Armée). Other themes include the transformation of landscapes at the end of

the fighting, and the use of natural resources in 1914 and 1918. An illustration

of the sacrifices made by forest wardens during this war will be made by

showcasing a monument dedicated to them in the Forêt de Soignies. The

exhibition is also keen to have a local feel by focusing on the Battle of Mons.

This exhibition will also provide an opportunity to showcase the work done by

the pupils in years 5 and 6 at 5 primary schools in Mons, as part of the project

entitled “Quand les élèves commémorent …” (When pupils commemorate…), a

project launched by the Conseil de la transmission de la Mémoire de la

fédération Wallonie Bruxelles. This project is intended to be both historical and

educational.

Exhibition at the Museum of Natural Sciences


Date:

From Wednesday 22 August until Tuesday 11 November

2014

Where: Muséum régional des Sciences naturelles – SPW –

Mons – 7, Rue des Gailliers, 7000 Mons

Tel.: Pasture Bertrand – Manager +32 (0)65 40 11 40

Fax: +32 (0)65 34 86 75

41

42

During the Battle of Mons, when British and German

troops came into contact with each other for the first

time, Jemappes was bombarded with shells: the

church, the station and 197 homes caught fire, and the

British Royal Scots Fusiliers were overwhelmed by the

German regiments, and made their way back to the

higher ground of Flénu and Frameries towards the end

of the day. A Victoria Cross was awarded to Corporal

Jarvis from the Royal Engineers for destroying a

drawbridge over the Mons-Condé canal under enemy

fire. This achievement will be commemorated in the

former Town Hall in Jemappes with an exhibition of

photos and period exhibits illustrating the events. A

logbook detailing the First World War written by a

brigadier from the Guides will also be on display. The

graves of British soldiers in the cemetery in Jemappes

will be decorated with flowers.

Jemappes: The Royal Scots Fusiliers in turmoil on 23 August 1914.


Date:

From Saturday 23 August until Sunday 14 September.

Where: Salle Réghem – Bibliothèque Ville de Mons Rue

Réghem, 1, 7012 Jemappes.

Open only : Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday

from 2PM to 6PM. During the week only on

Appointment: 065/56.22.20

#2.

#1.

organized by CCJ

#1. #2. German officers in the ruined church © Ville de Mons.

43


Date: From Saturday 23 August until Tuesday 11

November.

Where: Nimy Museum – 31, Rue Mouzin, 7020 Nimy.

Price: €2.50.


31 July at 8pm : “Les murs de Dinant”

5 August at 8pm “Les villages contre l’oubli”

Info and tickets:

Plaza Art cinema, 12, rue de Nimy, Mons

Tél : 065/35.15.44

Collective memories> Nimy Museum

As well as a collection focusing on the key events of the Battle of Nimy,

through reports written by villagers who experienced the awful day of 23

August 1914, the museum will be exhibiting an array of items related to

the tragic events that will remain engraved on people’s memories forever.

Weapons, documents from that time, unusual objects found on the sites

of the battle, photos, outfits, tin solders, cartoons, books and posters will

be sure to arouse visitors’ curiosity.

Sand was taken from the riverbed of La Haine to fill bags used to build the

barricade just the other side of the bridge to hold back the Germans, who

were on their way from Maisières, along the little hedge-lined path called

Bocage Vincart.” Extract from “Souvenirs de guerre 14-18” by Pierre Defoy,

from Nimy.

Bocage Vincart, with Nimy’s Town Hall in the background.

Plaza Art cinema

The Plaza Art will be putting on two one-off screenings of the

documentaries “Les murs de Dinant” and “Les villages contre

l’oubli” by André Dartevelle, preceded by an unseen film

about the Battle of Mons that was found in the archives of a

museum in London.

These documentaries tell the story of the massacre of civilians

by the German troops in August 1914. The descendants of the

victims’ families tell their tragic stories.

A legacy passed down from one generation to the next. Their

accounts reveal the indelible marks that these crimes against

humanity have left.

44

20 Ghost Club

Sir John Boothman Stuttard and the 20-Ghost Club, a British group of Rolls Royce collectors dating back to before 1940, will

be in the Mons region for the commemorations, with 20 exceptional vehicles. You will be able to examine and admire these

magnificent old beauties, each one about 6 metres long, on Friday 1 August from 11am until 2pm in the Grand-Place in

Mons.

Website :

www.20-ghost.org

“Driving the Retreat” is an international rally with MORGANs, these famous British sporting cars. The rally will follow the

trail of the legendary British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who, after the Battle of Mons on 23th August 1914, were forced to

undertake a three month’s retreat from Mons to Ypres.

On the morning of 15th August 2014, the Morgan rally will start at the SHAPE headquarters. The first stretch goes to

Casteau, in order to commemorate the first and last British gunshots of the war. The rally follows its trail to the railroad

bridge at Nimy and to the old station at Obourg. Around 10:40 hr, a stop is scheduled at the Saint-Symphorien cemetary.

The 62 participating Morgan cars and their teams will be welcomed around 11:40 hr at the Grand Place of Mons where the

cars will stay until 14:15 hr. The rally will then proceed towards Le Cateau.

Website : www.morganownersgroup.be

Ride a horse or walk around these sites to remember the British soldiers’ retreat after the Battle of Mons in 1914. Charged

with history, these are still very special places for British families, where the focus is on paying tribute to the soldiers who

died in our country. Come and follow the procession with its four cavalrymen.

Website : http://mons2marne.com/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Mons2Marne2014

© Ghost club.

© Morgan owner group.

Driving the Retreat

Ride the Retreat: Mons to the Marne Centenary 2014

The Battle of Audregnies – Saving the guns, by Richard Caton Woodville.

Cercle Royal Mars & Mercure-Club

The Cercle des Officiers de réserve de Mons et région and the Cercle Royal Mars & Mercure-Club de Mons have put together a project

dedicated to the theme of remembrance for pupils in their final year of secondary school in Mons. The idea behind the project is to

bring the First World War soldiers back to life, with a particular focus on those involved in the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914. The

goal is to encourage the pupils to think about this global conflict in which so many military and civilian victims died. The results of the

project are available on www.mons-2014.org. An exhibition entitled Ils avaient 18 ans en 1914, Mons se souvient (They were 18 in

1914, Mons remembers) will be organised at the Ateliers des Fucam, rue du Grand Trou Oudart, 7000 Mons, from 15 November until 30

November 2014.

Contacts:

Alain KICQ, President of the Cercle Royal des Officiers de réserve de Mons

Email: [email protected] – Tel.: 065/35.42.85.

François VERDIER, Secretary of the Cercle Royal des Officiers de réserve de Mons

Email: [email protected] – Tel.: 0478/30.92.14

Concert by Jean-Claude Glineur and Anne Verschoore Baritone Jean-Claude Glineur and pianist Anne Verschoore are delighted to invite you to their recital based on authors and composers

involved in the First World War.

The programme includes works by the following composers:

George Butterworth – killed on the front line in the Somme on 5 August 1916 – with his series based on “A Shropshire Lad”.

Ralph Vaughan-Williams – enlisted as a private in the Royal Medical Corps.

Gabriel Fauré – for his song cycle “L’horizon chimérique” based on poems by French author and poet Jean de la Ville de Mirmont, who

was killed during the Great War on 28 November 1914.

In the spirit of reconciliation, German-speaking authors will also appear on the programme, namely, Hugo Wolf and Gustav Mahler.

There will also be two sung prayers using texts by Maurice Carême, with music by the Belgian composer René Bernier.

Date and time: Monday 10 November 2014 at 8pm.

Where: St. Symphorien Church.

© Glineur

45

The Angels of Mons © F. Mahy

The Levant (an equestrian site in Mons-Cuesmes) warmly welcomes you to its

equestrian show based on the theme of

(The Legend of the Angels of Mons – The Wings of Freedom).

In dark, gloomy times, the luminous wings of freedom appear, in all their

glory.

Practical details

Where:

Domaine du Levant - Rue de Flénu, 1, 7033 Mons

Date: Saturday 16 August from 7:30pm until 9pm

Contact: Frédérique MAHY

Email:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Tel.: 0477/ 32 72 77

« La Légendes des Anges de Mons – Les Ailes de la Liberté ».

46

Twin towns, Mons and SeftonFor 50 years, the City of Mons and the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton (originally Bootle near Liverpool) have been twin

towns.

This union is based on a shared history, and in particular on the events of August 1914.

An English delegation, led by the Mayor, Kevin CLUSKEY, will be coming to pay tribute to the British soldiers who died in

Mons on 23 August 1914.

A delegation from Mons visited Sefton in May 2014, on the initiative of Byng House (Royal British Legion).

WV Beatles Day

For the commemorations organised throughout this year, 2014, the organisers of Beatles Day will be putting on a number of activities in

collaboration with the Kiwanis from Mons-Borinage, the Club Oldtimer in Mons and the English towns of Southport and Sefton, the

second of which has been twinned with Mons since 1964.

Come and enjoy a classic car rally with English and French motors, where lots of vehicles belonging to Belgian and international

collectors are due to take part in an adventure that takes in all the sites of the Battle of Mons, which took place in August 1914. A French

ambulance from 1914 will also be taking part. Official guides will be providing comprehensive commentaries of the tragic events that

took place in our region. Period vehicles will be on display in room “C” of Lotto Mons Expo.

There will also be an exhibition of children’s drawings (8-12 years old) from schools and establishments in Mons as well as in Southport

and Sefton (GB).

Information: [email protected]

Date: Saturday 11 October

Where: Lotto Mons Expo

Information:

Tel.: 0472/70 68 24

47

« Le premier choc, La Bataille de Mons 23-24 août 1914 »(The first clash, the Battle of Mons, 23-24 August 1914)Author: Yves Bourdon

In this very well documented work, the author describes with unflinching

accuracy and solemnity the comprehensive actions of all the battalions of

the BEF (British Expeditionary Force).

He highlights the courage, the self-sacrifice and the suffering of the soldiers

from both camps, making sure we remember their spectacular actions.

48

« Tu signais Ernst K. » (You signed Ernst K.) Author : Françoise Houdart

This novel, Françoise Houdart’s tenth, is all about the unfairness of war: war that forces men and

women to confront their truth, their extreme feelings and their terrible destiny.

February 1917. Juliette looked at the young German soldier in front of her, armed with a requisition order to stay under her roof, with a

strange feeling, a combination of fear and pity. He had walked into the house with his costume of a temporarily suspended war: now

the enemy had a name. He would share the intimate family space. He would sleep in the next room; so close that life would go on with

the same rhythm as his footsteps on the stairs and on the floor of his bedroom…

« 1914-1918 : Autour des batailles de Mons » (1914-1918: Around the battles of Mons) Author : Alain Jouret

Until now, there has not been a book offering a detailed iconography of the “battles of Mons”. Keen to

fill this gap, Alain Jouret has collected more than two hundred engravings, postcards, maps and

photographs, many of which have never been seen before.

As well as lots of anecdotes, it includes plenty of detailed explanations. The reader will learn about fierce fighting, getting to know

soldiers and civilians and learning about their day-to-day lives. They will explore the region of Mons, and last but not least, they will

experience the euphoria of victory…

« Mons 1914-1918 : The Beginning and the End » Author: Don Farr Mons 1914-1918: The Beginning and the End is a book by Don Farr, written to tell the story of the lives

of British soldiers in the two battles of Mons in the Great War. On 23 August 1914, the British soldiers

met the German troops for the first time, and on 11 November 1918 the same soldiers liberated the

City of Mons after several dozen months of occupation. This book also looks at the withdrawal of the British armies to Le Cateau. This

historic publication is interspersed with maps and contains lots of well-documented historic details.

« Les Ailes de l’Espoir » (The Wings of Hope) Author : David Cockney

This novel tells the story of the Battle of Mons and the famous legend of the Angels, through the eyes

of a British soldier.

“A page of history, an unforgettable myth, a reflection on faith: Les Ailes de l’Espoir is all of these things.

A fascinating, disturbing story, marked with a beautifully peaceful message.”

49

50

Saturday 23 August10:30am: Remembrance ceremony –

Welcome by the municipal and British

officials at the Royal West Kent

monument, rue de la Verrerie,

Saint-Ghislain.

12:30pm: Tribute to Major Holland and

the soldiers who died in 1914: Place des

Combattants, Saint-Ghislain.

12:45pm: Concert of Military Music, “The

Band of The Princess of Wales's Royal

Regiment”

Grand-Place, Saint-Ghislain.

1:30pm: Reception at the Foyer Culturel,

Saint-Ghislain.

Sunday 24 AugustFrom 10am: Re-enactment of a British

military camp (Rue de Chièvres, 17, 7333

Tertre). More than 100 British actors will

introduce you to the lives of their

ancestors who came to fight on the

Western Front in August 1914.

This day will include: a field ambulance with

entertainment (in English with a

simultaneous translation into French)

lasting around 45 mins. At 10am, 11:15am,

12:30pm, 2:15pm and 3:30pm, an

enrolment office, a photo studio, camp life

and old-fashioned games for children; find

out all about infantrymen, cyclists and

cavalrymen from that time, songs, dances

and music (from 1:30pm until 4pm,

traditional songs, musical entertainment,

dancing with “Le Quadrille 1900”).

10:30am: Remembrance service at

Hautrage Military Cemetery in the presence

of Belgian and British officials.

11:30am: Remembrance and dedication

service involving Belgian officials and

representatives from Britain at Tertre Town

Hall.

Exhibition:

From 10am until 4pm: Exhibition

entitled La Bataille du Canal – Tertre 1914

(Espace Ockeghem)

Dates: From Saturday 23 August until

Friday 19 September

Where: Espace Ockeghem (Tour de la

Ville), Grand-Place, 7330 Saint-Ghislain

Price: Free of charge

More information:www.saint-ghislain.be

Saint-Ghislain town> Commemorations

#1.

51

In 2014, the commemorations for the

centenary of this battle will be jointly

organised by the association of history

enthusiasts ‘Centenaire Bataille

d’Audregnies’ and by the Quiévrain local

authorities. The focus will be on

remembrance, education and peace.

Saturday 23 August In the evening (from 9pm): “British Night”

in the Place d’Audregnies – An evening of

dancing to the sound of British pop and

rock music, with guests of honour, a

military delegation from the Mercian

Regiment.

Sunday 24 AugustFrom 10:30am: Remembrance parade

through the streets of the village, in the

presence of a number of allied military

delegations, British veterans from the

Cheshire Regiment and local Belgian and

French officials. Official ceremonies at the

municipal cemetery in front of the

Commonwealth graves and unveiling of a

memorial on the battlefield site.

From 1pm: “The British village” where

there will be entertainment, exhibitions,

games and tasting stands. The village of

Audregnies will be transformed into a

British village, plus guided tours of the

battlefield.

Exhibition:

Throughout the weekend of 23 August, a

major exhibition entitled “1914 à

Audregnies et dans le monde” (1914 in

Audregnies and around the world) will be

offering visitors a clear, informative

explanation of the Battle of Audregnies. It

will also have the unique feature of

describing local life in our villages in 1914

and will also encompass the key events in

political, diplomatic and military history

that turned our ancestors’ lives upside

down. Bilingual exhibition, in French and

English.

Quiévrain municipality> Commemorations

#1. © Rousman. #2. The Battle of Audregnies – Saving the guns, by Richard Caton Woodville.

#2.

52

22 August at 4pm: Ceremony marking the first shot fired by

Corporal Thomas. Presence of British

groups and descendants of Corporal

Thomas, the man who fired the first shot

on 22 August 1914 and of Captain

Hornby, who led the 1st British cavalry

charge.

Where: monument on the road between

Brussels and Casteau (The First and the

Last)

8 November at 11am, commemorations

of the deportation of people from

Soignies to Soltau,

Where: Parc Pater, 1, rue Mademoiselle

Hanicq, 7060 Soignies

11 November (late morning), armistice

commemorations.

Where: Monument, 32, Place Verte, 7060

Soignies

Exhibitions:

“Une châtelaine dans les tranchées”

(A lady of the manor in the trenches),

according to the autobiography by the

Châtelaine of Louvignies at that time,

Maria de Villegas de St-Pierre, published

by Racines, telling the great historic saga

of this conflict.

Dates: From Sunday 8 June until Sunday

26 October

Where: Château de Louvignies, 1 rue de

Villegas, 7063 Chaussée-N-D-Louvignies

The Canton of Soignies Cercle Royal

d’Histoire et d’Archéologie has decided to

get involved in the commemorations for

the centenary of the Great War by

publishing a book and putting on an

exhibition. The exhibition will include

unseen photos, objects and documents

that local residents have agreed to lend

us. They will help us understand more

about the lives of civilians and soldiers

from Soignies, both on the front and as

prisoners.

Dates: From Friday 31 October until

Sunday 16 November

Where: Office communal du Tourisme, 2,

rue du Lombard, 7060 Soignies

more informations : www.soignies.be

Soignies town> Commemorations

© J.R. Remy.

53

Quévy municipality A permanent signposted walk in the centre of Havay, reminding

us of the drama of 1918.

Where: 7041 Havay

Date: from Saturday 13 September

Exhibition:

“Mobilisation and Liberation”, this exhibition gathers together

military memories to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the

beginning of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of the

Liberation in September 1944. A collection of memories and objects

will be on display, including medals, insignias, bayonets, helmets,

uniforms, trench craft and much more.

Dates: From Saturday 13 until Sunday 28 September

Where: Salle Roi Baudouin – 14, rue de Malplaquet, 7040 Aulnois.

AND

Dates: From Monday 6 until Friday 10 and Monday 13 until Friday

17 October

Where: Hall du DELTA-HAINAUT – 102, Avenue Général De Gaulle,

7000 Mons

more informations : www.quevy.be

As part of the 1914-2014 commemorations, Honnelles municipality is

offering you the opportunity to visit an exhibition where you will be able to

see:

- Old photos illustrating the war, living conditions, the villages affected and

their wounded

- Screenings of period films

- Period maps of the region on canvas

- Ration cards, military costumes and lots more information about life

during these difficult years

Date: exhibition (open to everyone) on Saturday 1 November and Sunday 2

November from 10:30am until 5pm – Days exclusively for schools in

Honnelles on 3 and 4 November.

Where: Administration communale de Honnelles – 1, rue Grande, 7387

Honnelles (Autreppe village) – Tel.: 065/75.92.22

Plus d’informations : www.honnelles.be

Honnelles municipality

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11 November: 10am: Laying of flowers at the Monument, Place Brouez, Wasmuël. 10:20am: Laying of flowers at the Quaregnon

Monument, cemetery with the involvement of L’Harmonie. 10:45am: Te Deum at Saint-Quentin Church.

Activities:

Friday 7 November, 7pm at the Maison Culturelle: Readings of extracts from the book entitled ERNST K. by the author, Françoise

HOUDART.

Saturday 8 November

• 3pm: Unveiling of a commemorative stele: presence of descendants of British and Belgian servicemen killed in the Quaregnon

area.

• 6pm: Town Hall: Variation on remembrance, singing, music and texts from the era by the Academy of Music and a performance of

the play “Boue” (Mud) by Simon FIASSE by the company SeenZenVie (also on 9 November at 4pm in the same location).

Exhibition in the hall of Quaregnon Town Hall including exhibits from the war such as texts and manuscripts from that time.

Dates: From Friday 7 november until Tuesday 11 November Memorial to the victims of the 1914-1918 war

more informations : www.quaregnon.be

22 august:

14:00 - 16:00 : « Péronnes dans la tourmente » - Guided tour in English (Free access but reservation required at the Tourist Office

by phone at 064/336.727 or by e-mail at [email protected])

10:00 - 21:00 : Exhibition « Binche lors de la première Guerre mondiale » (From Friday, August 15, 2014 until Sunday 24, 2014 at

Péronnes ‘s primary school - 53 rue Gravis 7134 Péronnes-lez-Binche - from 10:00 to 17:00 ; Nocturne on Friday, August 22, 2014

until 21:00).

18:30 - 21:00 : « Péronnes dans la tourmente » - Lantern parade with iPad animation in French (Departure from Péronnes’s

primary school every 10 minutes by small groups ; free access).

21h30 : Cheval de guerre ‘s projection on big screen

more information : www.binche.be

Binche town> Commemorations

Quaregnon municipality> Commemorations

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Le Cateau-Cambrésis town> Commemorations

Commemorative ceremony of the Battle of Le Cateau: a religious service will be held, followed by a parade, a weapon demonstration, laying of flowers and a speech in the presence of

patriotic associations.

Date: Tuesday 26 August from 10:30am.

Where: Le Cateau Memorial, Chemin de Reumont.

Planting of the centenary tree: Witness the planting of the centenary tree in the International Military Cemetery, Chaussée Brunehaut.

Date: Thursday 28 August at 10:30am.

Where: International Military Cemetery, Chaussée Brunehaut.

Activities:

Exhibition and conference: “La Bataille du Cateau” (The Battle of Le Cateau)

On Saturday 23 August at 10:30am there will be a debate led by Mr Dancourt, followed by the opening of the exhibition at midday. This

exhibition presents the history of the Battle of Le Cateau, which took place on 26 August 1914, the first battle on French soil, with

extracts from accounts of local residents from that time.

Dates: From Saturday 23 August until Saturday 27 September.

Where: Le Cateau-Cambrésis Municipal Library, 11, rue du Marché aux Chevaux.

Music concert, “La Grande Guerre des Musiciens” (The Great War for Musicians)

La Follia – Alsace Chamber Orchestra. A diverse performance plunging the audience into the trenches, alongside musicians and soldiers.

Date: Friday 29 August at 7pm.

Where: Abbatiale Saint-Martin.

Cinema and the Great War

Saturday 30 August at 5:30pm: screening of the film “Joyeux Noël” and at 7:30pm, a talk on the lives of soldiers during the Great War.

Sunday 31 August at 2:30pm: screening of the film “War Horse” by Steven Spielberg.

Where: “Le Select” cinema, 30 Rue des Remparts, 59360 Le Cateau-Cambrésis.

more informations : www.lecateau.fr

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Activities:

“Littérature et cinéma” (Literature and cinema)

Series of readings of great texts from French and

international literature (Péguy, Barbusse, Dorgelès, J.

Romains, R. Rolland) by professional actors, plus texts by

regional authors about the Great War and the Occupation

of our region.

Where and when:

Friday 12 September at 7:30pm, in Maroilles.

Saturday 13 September at 7:30pm, in Landrecies.

Sunday 14 September at 4pm, in Croix-Caluyau.

“Mormal 14-18” sound and light show

The Forum Théâtre association will be putting on a

travelling show based on the key historic facts in the Pays

de Mormal. This show, dedicated to the daily lives of

civilians, will be presented over three evenings.

Where and when:

Friday 19 September at 8:30pm, at Familles rurales in

Amfroipret.

Saturday 20 September at 8:30pm, in Sepmeries.

Sunday 21 September at 8:30pm, in Robersart.

Exhibition entitled “14-18 les 100 ans” (“1914-1918, the

100 year anniversary), by the Cercle Historique section of

the “La Rhônelle” association in Villereau.

Dates: From Friday 19 September until Sunday 21

September (also open on 11 November)

History walk

Historical re-enactment of six major scenes in the history of

the town between 1914 and 1918, connected by a costume

parade.

Dates: Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September at 4pm, in

Landrecies.

Wilfred Owen: Dramatic performance by the Théâtre du

Bimberlot

A British soldier and poet during the Great War, Wilfred

Owen was killed in Ors on 4 November 1918, as he led his

men in an attack on the Sambre canal. On the same day, a

group of soldiers from New Zealand liberated the town of

Le Quesnoy. Wilfred was 25 years old. Seven days later, the

armistice was signed.

Where: Théâtre des Trois Chênes, Le Quesnoy

New Zealand: every year, Quesnoy municipality organises

commemorative activities on 4 November, as the town was

liberated on that day in 1918 by New Zealand troops. In

April, Anzac Day is also celebrated in Le Quesnoy.

More information: www.cc-paysdemormal.fr

Pays de Mormal Municipal Community> Commemorations

Wilfried Owen © Théâtre du Bimberlot.

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The commemorations in Maubeuge will take place on 6

and 7 September 2014. Come and find out more about the

lives of French soldiers, and commemorate the first French

town attacked by the Germans.

Throughout the weekend, come and see:

• Historic re-enactments bringing together 15 societies and

more than 115 participants wearing period uniforms and

outfits.

• A focus on symbolic sites thanks to an original production

by the Chambre Theatre Company, combining professionals

and amateurs.

• Screenings on a big screen of a docudrama made at

Maubeuge Place Forte.

• Military ceremonies, on Saturday 6 September 2014 at the

Nécropole Nationale in Assevent, paying tribute to all the

soldiers who died during the conflict in the “Maubeuge Place

Forte” area.

Other activities will continue throughout the four years

of commemorations of the centenary.

• A route for walkers and cyclists

• Two publications telling the story of the First World War in

Maubeuge will be released: “Maubeuge, bastion de la

résistance, 1914-1918” (Maubeuge, bastion of the resistance,

1914-1918) and “L’étude inachevée des mémoires de

Georges Gay” (The unfinished study of the memoirs of

Georges Gay)

• A university discussion on 20 and 21 November 2014 in

Maubeuge on the theme of “Guerres mondiales et bassins

industriels en territoire occupé (1900-1950)” (World Wars

and industrial areas in occupied land (1900-1950))

• An afternoon of talks will be organised on 18 October 2014

in Feignies

• An exhibition entitled “Usines et travail en Avesnois et

Val-de-Sambre 1900-1930” (Factories and work in the

Avesnois and Val-de-Sambre regions1900-1930)

• An educational game available for local schools on this

theme

more informations : www.ville-maubeuge.fr

Maubeuge> Commemorations

Nécropole Nationale, Assevent

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Mons, 23 August 1914 – Battlefields,

remembrance sites – Journey between

historic facts and eye witness accounts

At the very beginning of the Great War on

23 August 1914, Mons was the stage for

the first major clash between British and

German troops. Throughout the day, the

British Expeditionary Force resisted

German attack and inflicted significant

losses on them. The armies fought all

around Mons in Casteau, Nimy, Obourg

and many other places, which served as

the backdrop to this fighting while

civilians were plunged into the heart of

the conflict.

Heritage days

© Claude Renard

59

We are offering you the opportunity to

come and explore some of the key

moments of this battle with a tour

combining historical commentaries and

readings of eye witness accounts by

soldiers and civilians: a bus will take you

from Mons to the symbolic sites of these

clashes, and a guide will provide plenty of

information about the historical context

of the battle; at certain stages of the

experience, an actor will invite you to step

into the intimate worlds of soldiers and

civilians who witnessed these skirmishes.

The stops are: Nimy Railway Bridge, Mons

cemetery, St. Symphorien Military

Cemetery, the area around the

Bois-là-Haut (Mont Panisel) and the

Grand-Place in Mons.


Date: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September,

starting at 10am, 11am, 2pm and 3pm /

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Where: Leaves from in front of the BAM – 8, rue

Neuve, 7000 Mons

Group of a maximum of 30 people

Booking essential on 065/40.53.12

[email protected]

LA GRANDE GUERRE À MONS ET DANS

SA RÉGION

1418

Journée d’étude

du 20.10.14

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Journée d’étude (Study day) : The Great War in Mons and the surrounding area

The idea behind this study day is to

present to members of the public the

results of historical research currently

being carried out on different themes

connected to the Great War in the Mons

region.

Thirteen contributions from a range of

experts on this period will be spread

across the day.

It will offer young historians and

experienced researchers alike, the

opportunity to explain some lesser known

aspects of this time both from a local and

a regional perspective. The theme of the

imaginary will be tackled by looking at St.

Symphorien Cemetery and the legend of

the Angels of Mons. Military issues will

then be covered with a description of the

Battle of Frameries and an analysis of an

example of desertion. An overview of the

province of Hainaut during the war will

then be presented, and the actions of the

provincial government during this period

of military occupation will be described.

The economic situation of the Mons

coalmining region will also be addressed.

During the afternoon, the actions of the

resistance in general and of Edith Cavell in

particular will be tackled.

The topic will then move on to

counter-intelligence and informing on the

enemy.

This fascinating day will close with the

description of the lives of Mons residents

during the last few weeks of the war and

the presence of the Canadians during the

liberation of Mons.

This study day, organised jointly by the

Mons National Archives, the Archives, the

City of Mons Pôle Muséal and the province

of Hainaut, will be open to everyone free

of charge, but prior written registration

will be required.


Date: Monday 20 October from 9am until 5:30pm

Where: At the Institut d’Enseignement Secondaire Paramédical

Provincial – 2 A, Boulevard Kennedy, 7000 Mons

Booking preferred: Pierre-Jean Niebes

Tel.: 065/40.04.66

Email: [email protected]

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63

Gardien de la qualité

Summary of the programme

1. From the 28 June to April 2015 > Photography exhibition on the esplanade on Boulevard Dolez p. 26-27

2. From the 28 June to the 14 September > Battlefield Tour p. 35

3. From the 4 July to the 7 September > Les Jeannines p. 33

4. From the 12 July to the 16 November > Fritz Haber p. 31

5. The 1 August > Rolls Royce p. 44

6. From the 3 August to the 11 November > The battle of Mons as experienced by the people of Mons p. 40

7. The 4 August > The commemorations of the start of the WW1 at St-Symphorien military cemetery p. 14-15

8. The 15 August > Driving the Retreat p.44

9. The 16 August > The Angels of Mons equestrian show at the Levant p. 46

64

10. From the 20 August to the 23 August > Getting to know the British soldiers of 1914 p. 24-25

11. From the 22 August to the 23 November > “The battle of Mons”, “Signs of the times” and “The first and the Last” at BAM p. 29-32

12. The 23 August > Commemorations of the 23 August p. 16-20

13. The 23 August > Open day CWGC p. 36-37

14. From the 23 August to the 14 September >Jemappes : the Royal Scots Fusiliers p. 42

15. From the 23 August to the 11 November > Collective Memories Nimy Museum p. 43

16. From the 3 September to the 11 November > Exhibition at the Museum of Natural Sciences p. 41

17. The 13 and 14 September > Heritage days p. 58-59

18. The 20 October > Study day p. 60-61

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66

The partners

67

AT LAST POST

Come home ! – Come home !

The winds are at rest in the restfull trees ;

At rest are the waves of the sundown seas ;

And home – they’re home

The wearied hearts and the broken lives

At home ! At ease!2nd Lieutenant WL Wilkinson

Det

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© C

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© C. Rousman.

the Poppy

Since the end of the First World War, the

Poppy has been worn by people in

Commonwealth countries to honour the

memory of soldiers killed or wounded in

conflict.

The choice of this particular symbol comes

from a text written in 1915 by John

McCrae while serving in the war. His poem,

entitled “In Flanders Fields”, refers to the

poppies as the only flowers that grew on

the battlefields, whose red colour reminds

us of the bloodbath that this war was.

For more information:

www.mons.be

www.facebook.com/VilledeMons

www.polemuseal.mons.be

[email protected]

Tél: 065/40.51.11

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esp

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sab

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Mar

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