Monument to the dead

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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Anse-Bertrand is a cenotaph erected in 1935 in memory of the soldiers of the commune who fell during the First World War. It is located at the corner of Victor Schœlcher Street and National Road 6, in the département of Guadeloupe. This monument, of metropolitan style, consists of a white concrete base surmounted by a bronze entitled Le Poilu au reste, work by sculptor Léon Leyritz (1888-1976), made in 1932 and produced in series by the Durenne Metallurgical Society. It is completed by an original bas-relief by Louis Robert Bate (1898-1948), representing a winged Victoire guarding a gisser, with the inscription " 1914-1918 — To Our Dead".

Ordered by the commune of Anse-Bertrand, this monument was inscribed in historical monuments by order of 24 April 2018. It is distinguished by the absence of engraved names, unlike many other monuments to the dead. The bronze Le Poilu at rest is also present on the monument to the dead of Saint-Louis at Marie-Galante, illustrating its serial character. The monument is installed in front of an esplanade with benches, facing the town hall, in the heart of the central roundabout of the city.

The choice of a metropolitan model for this Guadeloupe monument reflects a desire for universal homage, while integrating local elements such as the bas-relief of Bate. Its recent inscription (2018) in historical monuments underscores its heritage importance, both for its artistic aspect and for its memorial dimension. The monument remains a place of collective recollection and memory, marking the commitment of the Guadeloupian soldiers during the Great War.

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