Memorial at Torcé Viviers

The commune of Torcé Viviers en Charnie used to be two separate villages, Torcé and Viviers, but they were small, and so close together as to be almost connected. So they became one, at some time in the past.

Normally, 11th November is the traditional date for memorial service for the great war 1914 - 1918. The monuments to the war dead at Torcé Viviers have been renovated over recent months, and so today, since all the memorials are being re-dedicated, this war, plus the war of 1938 - 1945, and other conflicts are being remembered. The Harmonie of St Suzanne came along to play the fanfares and marches.

It was cold, and drizzly. We stood around trying to keep warm so that our fingers would move on our instruments at the required time.

The service was long. Mostly because they read out the name, age and place of death, of everyone whose name was carved into the monuments. Torcé Viviers between them lost 8 people during the second world war, and eighty-four in the first. I find it hard to get my head round that number, from such a small village. And today, there are services like that everywhere in France.

Here are the monuments. I have posted the pictures in high enough resolution that if you click on them you can read the names.