Home » News » Research notice at the Lycée François-Ier in Le Havre on the occasion of the centenary of its war memorial

Research notice at the Lycée François-Ier in Le Havre on the occasion of the centenary of its war memorial

The François-Ier high school is looking for documents on the victims of the two world wars closely linked to the past of the establishment, whose name is inscribed on the work of the sculptor Alphonse Saladin.

A titanic site! The president of the Association of former students of the Lycée François-Ier in Le Havre, Bertrand Vittecoq, and the principal of the establishment, Marie-Pierre Pillet, prefer to see only a tribute.

They intend to find the descendants of the students and staff of the establishment, killed during the First and Second World Wars, whose names are inscribed in golden letters on the war memorial, erected within the establishment. A call has just been launched on social networks.

This research is part of the centenary of this marble sculpture, celebrated this year.

From Jean-Paul Sartre to Laurent Ruquier

“This is the whole history of Le Havre. Some victims were part of the list of 500 Le Havre who joined General de Gaulle, indicates Marie-Pierre Pillet who collects the information. The idea is to receive photos, letters … We know that in some attics, there are still documents. “

The objective is to constitute a portrait gallery, which can be consulted digitally, and could be the subject of an exhibition. And to complete the rich history of the establishment frequented in particular by Jean-Paul Sartre, Pierre Janet, Christine Lagarde, Michel Galabru, Arthur Honegger, Georges Braque, Jean Dubuffet, Laurent Ruquier …

Much of the work has already been done for the victims of WWI, thanks to the establishment’s guestbook. The 188 victims were listed there. It therefore remains to continue for the period 39-45 and the 53 deaths linked to the school, killed in the bombardments, resistance fighters, deportees, civilians, soldiers, including “Big names in the city of Le Havre”, enhances the president of the association who is also seeking to expand the ranks of the latter.

241 names to highlight

Names that have also faded over time … The Alumni Association wants to restore the 2,149 letters that make up the 241 surnames. A subsidy request has been made in this regard.

Beyond the work of memory, it is also a question of restoring its luster to the monument to the dead signed Alphonse Saladin (see elsewhere), therefore erected a hundred years ago this year. Alphonse Saladin could also be the subject of a conference as part of the centenary of his emblematic sculpture. Another could be given on the victims. To highlight their tragic destiny and highlight a page in the history of the city and the school.

Practical information

To reach the messaging service of the François-Ier high school in Le Havre: [email protected]

The work of Alphonse Saladin

The sculptor Alphonse Saladin (Épinal 1878-Le Havre 1956) produced other works visible in the Le Havre conurbation, including the bathers who adorn the facade of the municipal swimming pool of Le Havre, cours de la République, the statue in front of the church of Sainte-Adresse, the monument of Sanvic. We also owe him the monument on avenue Jean-Lorrain in Fécamp.

The statue of the Lycée François-Ier, which represents a woman in tears leaning over the body of a soldier, is one of the only examples of war memorials in a school establishment.

In François-Ier, he was spared during the Second World War by being locked between four brick walls and then silted up. He had again experienced a period of darkness, in 2009 and 2017, due to the restoration of the high school.

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