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Origin and history

The so-called infirmary and Premier Zouave quarries, located near Berny-Rivière in the Hauts-de-France, are ancient limestone farms dating back to the Middle Ages. They were reused as military cantonment by French soldiers between September 1914 and November 1918 during the First World War. Their "turned pillars" structure provided sufficient stability to house hundreds of men, protecting them from frequent bombings in the Soisson region, a strategic area close to the front.

The career of the Premier Zouave derives its name from the coat of arms of this unit, engraved at its entrance by the 1st Zouave regiment in 1916. Inside, some 60 traces (graffitis, regimental inscriptions) remain, including a chapel called "of Father Doncoeur", immortalized in a painting by Louis Tinayre, The Midnight Mass at Confrécourt (1914). This work, exhibited at the Soissons Museum, bears witness to the religious life of the soldiers. A second chapel, "des Bretons", adorns the career of the Infirmary, set up as a relief post by regiments such as the 216th RI.

The careers housed a complex military organization: dormitories, kitchens, command posts, and even entertainment rooms. Their almost continuous occupation until 1918 made it a major place of memory. The ruins of the nearby farm of Confrécourt, destroyed during the war, as well as the quarries, were inscribed in historical monuments in 1990 for their testimonial value. Today, the site is managed by the Soissonnais 14-18 association, which organizes visits and commemorations, such as the Centennial Mass in 2014 and 2018.

The site also inspired cultural works: the film Le Secret de Confrécourt (2013), shot on the spot by the Guides and Scouts of Europe, and Through Irene (2022), evoking the arrival of Marie Curie with her mobile radiography units. Descendants of historical figures, such as painter Louis Tinayre or Father Donsoeur, visited careers to honour the memory of their forefathers. The career of the Premier Zouave, temporarily closed for security (2021-2022), reopened in April 2023 after work.

The entire site — quarries, ruins of the farm and monument of the Rompua Cross — illustrates the adaptation of soldiers to the trench war. The graffiti, medical coats and underground altars make this a unique testimony of daily life at the front. The careers of Confrécourt, although partially collapsed, remain accessible for some parts, providing a poignant overview of this historical and memorial heritage.

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