Portuguese Memorial La Couture

This beautiful memorial commemorates the Portuguese soldiers who died in France in World War I.

From 9 to 11 April 1918, on a front from Touret (Richebourg) to Zelobes (Vieille-Chapelle), Portuguese troops (13th and 15th divisions), British troops (11th Cyclist Regiment, 1/5th King Own Royal Lancasters, Kings Eduard Horses) and Scottish troops (4th Seaforth Highlanders) tried to stop the German advance.
At the rear of the first line, the reduit, a concrete and barbed-wire fortress was defended by Captain Bento Roma's troops. At 4.30pm, the Germans were in front of the reduit. The white flag was raised shortly before noon on 10 April. 168 Portuguese and 77 British soldiers remained.

The Portuguese monument stands on a 25sq m plot, which was donated to Portugal by the municipality. It was inaugurated in 1928 in the presence of Portuguese authorities and Marshal Joffre. The bronze and marble sculpture is the work of sculptor A. Teixeira Lopez.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries & Frank Wauters
• Photos: Patrick Mestdag