Opening of the monument 3 novembre 1920 (≈ 1920)
Consecration by Bishop Tissier in the presence of the Farnsworths.
28 décembre 2017
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 28 décembre 2017 (≈ 2017)
Full registration by official order.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
In total, the cemetery of the Foreign Legion-Monument Farnsworth, a national necropolis, as shown on the attached plan (Box A3): inscription by order of 28 December 2017.
Key figures
Alexandre Marcel - Monument architect
Designer of the Ossuary Monument in 1920.
Monseigneur Tissier - Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne
Consecrated the monument in 1920.
M. et Mme Farnsworth - Benefactors or donors
Present at the inauguration in 1920.
Origin and history
The Foreign Legion-Monument Farnsworth Cemetery, located in Souain-Perthes-lès-Hurlus, is a national necropolis erected to honour the veterans of the Foreign Legion during the First World War. This monument, often nicknamed "American Monument" or "Farnsworth Monument", is distinguished by its imposing size (17 meters by 22 meters) and the quality of its construction. The stones used, from the same quarry as the Arc de Triomphe, were transported by river and then by road despite the roads devastated by the war. The monument was completed in just six months, thanks to a collective mobilization.
On November 3, 1920, the Ossuary Monument was inaugurated in the presence of M. and Mme. Farnsworth, then consecrated by Monsignor Tissier, bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne. Designed by the architect Alexandre Marcel, it incorporates two black marble plates paying tribute to the Legionaries fallen for the defense of republican values. Its architecture and history bear witness to the commitment of foreign soldiers to the conflict.
The site, which is entirely listed as a historical monument by decree of 28 December 2017, also symbolizes the logistical and human challenges to honour the memory of the fighters. Its location, in an area marked by the battles of Champagne, reinforces its heritage and memorial importance.
