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Origin and history

The Bethune Mine Memorial in Bully-les-Mines was erected as a tribute to the 935 Bethune Mine Company miners who died at the front during the First World War. These miners resided in the city of Brebis, a workers' district built by the mining company to house its employees and their families. The bronze work, made by sculptor Paul Capelaere, was inaugurated in October 1924. The commemorative plaques, dated 1923 and signed by the artist, were initially fixed on the walls of the two schools surrounding the monument.

The Compagnie des mines de Béthune, founded in 1850, played a major role in coal mining in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin. It operated several pits, the first of which was opened at Bully-les-Mines in 1852. The company also built mining towns, schools, churches and infrastructure for its workers, forming entire communities around its mining sites. The monument, located in Place de la Marne, also includes grid elements from the entrance to the city, symbolizing the strict control exercised by the company, especially during strikes.

The iconography of the monument highlights two main themes: the courage of the fighting soldiers and the merit of the miners who remained behind to support the war effort. This monument is a poignant testimony of the sacrifices made by mining workers during the conflict. He was inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 8 November 2011, thus recognizing his heritage and memorial importance.

The Bethune Mine Company ceased operations after World War II, when its assets were nationalized and integrated into the Bethune Group. The pits gradually closed between the 1960s and 1970s, marking the end of an industrial era that had profoundly marked the region. Today, the monument remains a symbol of the working-class memory and mining history of the Hauts-de-France.

The sculptor Paul Capelaere, author of this work, was able to capture the essence of the sacrifices of miners, both on the front and in the mines. The commemorative plaques, integrated into the monument, recall the names of the missing and highlight the importance of their contribution to the national effort. This monument, with its location and symbolism, embodies the resilience and solidarity of mining communities in the face of adversity.

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