Lille - War Memorial

The Lille War Memorial is located in the Place Rihour near the Grand Place. It was unveiled in 1927 to remember the losses and sacrifices during the First World War. It would also become a memorial for World War Two and later conflicts.

 

The monument is the focus of the citizens of Lille, civic leaders and representatives of regional government on  11 November (anniversary of the Armistice of 1918) and 8 May (anniversary of Victory in Europe Day in 1945).



Lille War Memorial
Place Rihour

Lille War Memorial

The memorial inscription reads:

« Aux Lillois, soldats et civils, la cité a élevé ce monument afin de rappeler au cours des siècles l’héroïsme et les souffrances de ses enfants morts pour la Paix ».


"To the people of Lille, soldiers and civilians, the city has erected this monument to remember the centuries of heroism and suffering of her children who died for Peace".

Lille War Memorial
Inscription

The sculptured figures on the memorial are 'La Paix', 'La Relève' and 'Les Captifs'; The Peace, The Relief, and The Prisoners. 

Lille War Memorial
Sculptures

'The Peace' commemorates the end of the First World War and the sacrifices of the Soldiers and Civilians of Lille. 'The Relief' celebrates the liberation of Lille in 1918 after four years of German occupation. It features British soldiers of the Fifth Army. 'The Prisoners' remembers that during the four years of occupation in WW1 civilians were deported to Germany for forced labour or as hostages.

In front of the memorial are a number of inscribed paving stones which remembers the French conflicts in Indo-China and North Africa.

Lille - Occupation WW1

The city of Lille was occupied by the German Army for four years from the 13th October 1914 to 17th October 1918 when it was liberated by the British Fifth Army.

On the 4th August 1914 the Germans crossed the Belgian border triggering the start of hostilities in World War One. They launched the Schlieffen Plan which would see German Army's sweeping through Belgium and engaging the French Army on the French-German Border.

The German right flank passed 80 km west of Lille as they engaged the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at Mons. The BEF and French Army were forced to retreat until they halted the German advance on the River Marne. The Germans withdrew to the River Aisne and began to dig in, the start of trench warfare on the Western Front which would come to symbolise the First World War.


German Schlieffen Plan August September 1914

To the north of Aisne was an open flank of 170 km to the English Channel. As each side looked to turn the flank of the other a 'Race to the Sea' developed and a series of battles occurred as the line began to extend north.


Race to the Sea 1914

Initially Lille was to be an open city and left undefended, however as the French Army began to block further German advances it was decided to reinforce the city on 4th October and defend it. The Germans looked to besiege the city surrounding it with 50,000 troops and artillery. The first rounds were fired on 10th October. The siege would last until 14th October. On 13th October the Germans concentrated artillery fire on the Douai gate and were able to breach the defences and move into the city.

German Army Douai Gate 1914

German Army Lille 1914

Lille 1914

 

Lille Town Hall 2018

 

Lille Town Hall Tower 2018

German Artillery Lille

German Occupation Lille Theatre

Lille Theatre 2018

German Parade Grand Place Lille

Grand Place Lille 2018

  

German Parade Grand Place Lille

German Parade Grand Place Lille

 Grand Place Lille 2018

Lille was situated 20km east of the battle front. As a communications centre many troops would pass through city. It would be a place for hospitals and recreation of troops.

German Occupation Lille

German Artillery Lille

Gare de Flandres

Gare de Flandres 2018

 As the 1918 allies offensive began to force the German Armies back, the German Army abandoned the city in September 1918. As they withdrew they blew up several bridges leaving the Pont-Neuf intact.

 



Western Front 16th October 1918.

 On the 17th October 1918 Troops of the British Fifth Army entered the undefended Lille.

British Army enter Lille October 1918

The British Army would parade through Lille  to officially liberate the city.

British troops Lille 1918

British troops Lille 1918

Royal Artillery Lille 1918

Royal Artillery Association Lille 2018

General Birdwood, commander Fifth Army, would present the Fifth Army flag to the Mayor of Lille.


General Birdwood presents Fifth Army Flag to Lille

Palais de La Biere Lille

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Lille - Column of the Goddess

Located in the Grand Place in Lille is the Column of the Goddess, a memorial commemorating  the Siege of Lille in 1792.

Goddess Memorial Grand Place Lille

Column of the Goddess
Memorial of the Siege of 1792

 

The Siege of Lille in 1792 occurred during French Revolutionary Wars. As the French Revolution spread, other monarchs in Europe feared it would lead to uprising in their own countries. The Prussians and Austrians, in particular, called for action by the monarchies of Europe to liberate the French King Loius XIV. The French Revolutionaries  encouraged Dutch patriots to rebel against their Austrian rulers. The rebellions failed and the French Legislature now looked to direct action declaring war on Austria and Prussia on 20th April 1792.

 

French Revolutionary Wars 1792 to 1802

 

 The initial battles from 1792 to 1797 pitted the French against a coalition of nations which included Austria, who would invade from the Netherlands, Prussia, invading from the Rhineland, supported by Great Britain. 

  



 

In September 1792 13,500 Austrian troops with 52 artillery pieces laid siege to Lille. The city was heavily bombarded for nine days.  

Siege of Lille 1792

Many houses were set on fire and the main church, Saint-Etienne, destroyed. The citizens of Lille formed 'fire brigades' to put out the flames.

 

Siege of Lille 1792 - Bombardment.

 

The French gunners in Lille responded to the Austrian artillery and distinguished themselves in the engagement. Ultimately the Austrian force was too small to surround the entire city allowing the French to reinforce the defenders.  

 

The siege lasted from the 25th September to 8th October when the Austrians withdrew.

 

Siege of Lille 1792



The bravery of the Gunners was recognised by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte who decreed they should form a separate battalion as the Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.

 

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.Siege of Lille 1792

The Column of the Goddess was built in between September 1842 and 1845. It is said that the column consists of a gun barrel with St Barbara (patron saint of Artillery) on the top. The statue is holding a taper for the firing of a cannon.

Column of the Goddess Lille
Siege of Lille 1792 Monument

Column of the Goddess Lille
Siege of Lille 1792 Monument

 

 

 



 



Op Lille - Canonniers Sedentaires de Lille Museum

The Lille Artillery Museum records the history of the Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.

Lille - Canonniers Sedentaires de Lille Museum

 

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille Museum



Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille

 

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille Museum
Tyneside Scottish Branch RAA

The museum contains two 4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons presented to the Canonniers  de Lille by Napoleon Bonaparte.

 

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon



The système Gribeauval artillery system introduced by Lieutenant General Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval during the 18th century. The method for the casting of gun barrels prior to the Gribeauval system was pouring molten metal around a clay core which was removed to leave the guns bore. This produced imperfections in the barrel preventing a tight fit of cannon balls resulting in loss of explosive power.

 

The Gribeauval system cast the barrel as a solid block. The bore was then drilled out allowing in a consistent and accurate bore. This resulted in increased accuracy and lighter artillery barrels for the same range as previous guns.

 

The 4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons were introduced in 1765 and used during the American Revolutionary Wars (1775-1783), French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802), and the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815).

 

Canon de 4 Gribeauval

 

 

 

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon limbered for movement

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon ammunition

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons