Chasseurs d'Afrique Memorial

This memorial to the Chasseurs d'Afrique is twofold and was inaugurated on September 1, 1910 near the place where General Margueritte, Commander of the 1st Reserve Division of the Cavalry was wounded.

It was originally founded for the disastrous losses of the French Cavalry during the Battle of Sedan in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and the participation of the Chasseurs d'Afrique in this conflict. Later the 1st, 2nd World Wars and the decolonization conflicts occurred. North Africa included.

It consists of a central monument for the cavalry with stelae for the 12 regiments of African Hunters on either side.

The central monument with the inscription "In Honor of the French Cavalry" is by the sculptor Emile Guillaume and was restored in 1983-84 by the 12th Rifle Regiment.
The relief reflects the chaos of the cavalry charge with the inscription below the relief: "To all African Hunters who have died since 1831 on the battlefields of the world for the greatness of the Nation". Finally, on the base is a plaque with the regiments that participated in the Battle of Sedan in 1870.

The stelae of the regiments show the unit insignia, the battles in which they participated and the honorable awards received.

In 1950, a mass grave was added for Lieutenant Colonel De Liniers, Commander of the 3rd Regiment and 150 officers and cavalrymen who died during the cavalry charge. Until then, they were buried at the oldest oak in Sedan, which is still a memorial site "Fond de Cazal" near the St Charles cemetery in Sedan.

This memorial is also called the monument of "Les Braves Gens" (the brave warriors) after a statement by Wilhelm I who witnessed the heroism and slaughter of the French cavalry and described it as: "Ach, Die tapferen Krieger". It is also a symbol of National importance, which is also reflected in the naming of the street: "Path to the Altar of the Fatherland".

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar.com
• Photos: Francky de Rous