Bombardment of Sainte-Cécile

by , Grasset Jacques

Bombardment of Sainte-Cécile

On July 24, 1944, at 11:44 a.m., a squadron of 28 flying fortresses opened their hatches and poured out their cargo.
Perhaps Villedieu-les-poêles was the target, but unfortunately it was the tiny commune so close to Sainte Cécile that was hit.
The toll was heavy, with twenty casualties. On July 25, there was another bombing raid, which caused only material damage.

This stele bears the names of the twenty innocent victims, so as not to forget them.

Text and photo credits: Grasset Jacques.

Bombardment of Sainte-CécileOn July 24, 1944, at 11:44 a.m., a squadron of 28 flying fortresses opened their hatches and poured out their cargo.Perhaps Villedieu-les-poêles was the target, but unfortunately it was the tiny commune so close to Sainte Cécile that was hit.The toll was heavy, with twenty casualties. On July 25, there was another bombing raid, which caused only material damage.This stele bears the names of the twenty innocent victims, so as not to forget them.-Léonie BASNIER née LEFEVRE                    57 years old                -Maurice LEMAITRE                                      31 years old-Christian BELGRAND                                      7 years old                -Rosa LEMAITRE née LEPROVOST               62 years old-Marie BELGRAND née REICHMANN          60 years old                -Félicia LEPROVOST née SAVIGNIEN          87 years old-Annick CHRETIENNE                                       5 years old                -Gisèle REESTE                                              10 years old-Germaine CHRETIENNE née ERNAULT     28 years old                -Pierre LAMY                                                  19 years old-Jacques CONSTANDOPOULO                         2 years old                -Victorine LEHIDEUX née THOMAS            67 years old-Gisèle CONSTANDOPOULO née LESUR      27 years old                -Armand LIGOT                                               55 years old(Mayor)-Emile LHERMITTE                                          35 years old                -Gilbert POTEY                                                  6 years old-Bernadette LEMAITRE née MAHERAULT   29 years old                -Jules SAGESSEMAN                                       59 years old-Lucienne LEMAITRE                                        6 years old                -André MENARD                                              33 years oldText and photo credits: Grasset Jacques.