Logi Marguerite Holiday

A little bit of local History

As with most parts of these pages this has been done at the request of past guests



	I could not do a web page with out noting the men and women that died in the fight for freedom during the 2nd World War, this is my short dedication to the French heroes who put there lives in danger to fight the aggressors (I suppose that's politically correct today). With out these men and women many British and American lives would have been lost. This is some short stories (from local history) amongst many. I have tried to put in the facts but I must apologise if any important points or names that have not been inserted. As I find more I will up date this page. The in the last section I have entered a small section on the crosses or “Calvaries” that you might see if you take a walk around the area ,the history of some are lost in the past but the local people still respect and honour these places by putting fresh flowers and maintaining the “Calvaries” .

	The information in the documents below has been taken from a assortment of documents and personal research no copy right has been infringed to the best of my knowledge if any have I apologise now and please email me for its removal.


	Castle of Bressuire

	After the last action of the French Army in 1940 the resistance movement is set up, making its bastions in the South of the Loire in front of the enemy invasion, so Bressuire became a main focus point for the resistance. In the autumn of 1940 a band of doctors in the area established the first resistance operation: Doctor BERNARD, BOUCHET, CACAULT, CHAUVENET, COLAS and ICHON. They established connections to several networks (NDT, OCM, and ALLIANCE) in the west and south-west during the years 1941-1942. BRESSUIRE became a crossing point between NANTES, THOUARS, ANGERS, SAUMUR, PARTHENAY, POITIERS and La Rochelle, for the secret agents of the networks of Fighting France and the Intelligence Service (BUCKMASTER). Relays develop little by little and in 1942 accounts for more than 100 active agents of the Resistance, around VAULT SAINT LAURENT, MONCOUTANT, the ABSIE, CERIZAY, COURLAY... Well organised groups are set up, which envisage the parachuting of weapons in order to launch, at the proper time, French groups into action. As we move on into 1941/1942, French Gunners & Partisans takes part in armed operations against the Germans In the spring of 1943 a large operation to parachute weapons, ammunition, explosives, materials, equipment, etc into the area. On the whole more than 30 tons of weapons and materials parachuted for the RELEASE OF FRANCE. The first parachuting took place in "Villeneuve", the ton of weapons and of ammunition collected were transported to the castle of Bressuire. The second parachuting, one month after, again made it possible to hide a ton of material to the castle of Bressuire. In July/August 1943, the networks OCM and ALLIANCE are decimated: 45 resistant operations stopped, 40 closed down, 25 die in the camps of death. (Their names are registered on the Monuments of Resistance to LAGEON and MONCOUTANT.) The allied invasion takes place on June 6, 1944, on the Normandy beaches. Operation “DICKENS " is launched in July with the 32nd S.A.S. with Captain BAKER in command. In the sectors of ABSIE/MONCOUTANT, a combined allied operation called “JEDBURG ", better known under the pseudonym of its leader: " HAROLD “which will contribute to the unification of the Maquis. With the arrival of the Liberation, so much waited and prepared for by the first resistance and the men and women that were sacrificed. With the army of Liberation in place at the beginning of September 1944 (114 2nd R.I)., under the command of Colonel CHAUMETTE, until the armistice of May 8, 1945.





	The Events of August 44 at Cerizay

	The first weeks of August see the acts of resistance intensifying in the area of Cerizay: Sabotage of the railway at Bressuire- and at "Pouzauges", ambushing of Germans . Tuesday 22 in the morning -: Shots are exchanged close to "The farm of the vigneau" between a group of men of the resistance and a German convoy field commander is killed. (Germans suspect Cerizay to be a centre of resistance, without however never managing to locate the resistance bases.) Tuesday 22 in the evening: A German convoy coming from the Vendée kills the resident of a passing a farm (Farm labourer), on the road to Cerizay. Wednesday 23,15 hours:- A new convoy, coming from Bressuire, machine gun houses, killing a new victim. Thursday 24:- All the day, convoys passes through Cerizay, without incident. Friday 25,0900 Hours-: The bells sound for the burial of the two victims of the previous days. German planes fly over Cerizay. 0950 Hours-: Batteries installed at the road to "Pouzauges" behind the cemetery start to Shell the town. A shell is fired every two minutes. Two people are killed. 1130 Hours-: Interruption of the bombardment. Two soldiers come to note the damage. Midday: Resumption of the bombardment. 1400 Hours: Germans starts to set fire to the houses bordering the main road, and houses along the road to Bressuire. All the afternoon, Cerizay burns. 1800 Hours: The Germans finally weary and allow the firemen and the inhabitants to enter the town. Cerizay is not any more, other than one ruin. 172 houses burns.

		The British connection

	Major Harold Whitty with his team, radio operator Harry Verlander and lieutenant Pierre Jolliet is authorized by his contacts in London, to carry out parachuting operation of weapons for the FFI.



	The English mission (after the drop) had to hide in the wood of Absie for about fifteen days .They were protected and given food and shelter by the resistant, ordered by Arthur Michonneau.

	SITE OF THE OPERATION "Chabirandière", in the commune of LARGEASSE Ground Approved SAMUEL Missions - HAROLD from the 3 to August 4, 1944: Parachuting of 12 T weapons and ammunition Message: " The Scrap-metal is on fire " In the night from the 3 to August 4, 1944, an important parachuting operation ,Named "Special Operation" by the combined services, is carried out on the commune of LARGEASSE, on the initiative of Majors "SAMUEL" (Vienna) and "HAROLD" (Two-Sevres). The field of the drop is called “Wood of the Rock" which belongs to Mr. Baptist GAUTREAU, who gave his permission for this operation to be carried out on his land. The operation is reported on the radio under the name of village nearest "Chabirandière". It is announced by the radio from LONDON, that after midnight around 2 a.m. 30, three large transport aircraft will release 12 tons of weapons, ammunition, materials and equipment, distributed in 60 to 70 packages and containers, which approximately 90 people will need to collected. The collecting and transport must, imperatively, being finished at daybreak. Also the ground is uneven and rocky. So a few packages are opened by touching the ground and several containers pulled by the wind and lost towards “Petit Linot ". All is temporarily gathered for a rapid inventory, in a small field, down wind of the dropping ground. When this second stage of the operation is completed; the means of transport are called up. Which are three trucks belonging to Messrs BERTON and VENDIER and some carts with oxen, which are camouflaged? Their role is take this ammunition, materials and equipment to the hiding places prepared carefully, before the distribution to the French Forces of Interior (FFI). The most important batch is deposited with Mr. and Mrs. GOBIN in "Fondetar", a hamlet of two farms very isolated, on the commune of VERNOUX IN GATINE. There, it is a "bin" with beets (ditch bunker) which receives 8 tons of weapons, quickly covered with soil and vegetable remains. Before arriving at this destination, the truck of Mr. BERTON stops, a victim of a damage of engine. The efforts of the driver were in vain, to re-start the truck. Concern starts to appear among the personnel when a cyclist appears, Pierre MANSON, well-known to the group, who helps with the breakdown. He helped to guide the driver towards "Fondetar",who had only vague idea, of the position of this place. Mr. and Mrs. GOBIN, the receivers of this arsenal of 8 tons, accepted this mission at the request of Mrs. SALT MAKER, liaison officer of PILLET, person in charge for resistance to SECONDIGNY, instructed by Captain EHRARTH and Commander ftp PEARON, PARTHENAY. The other batches of weapons and equipment, of variable importance, are hidden in: The Vault Bertrand: The coal bunker of G BERTON, in the straw of family LANOUE and in the Well "Saint Aubin le Cloud “ The attic and the garden of JULIO Saint-Martin-of-Fouilloux The farm of the "Mouchet Alder" "Chabirandière" and "Margat"
	Some of the participants, not quoted above
	AIMANT Thierry - AYRAULT Yves,- BARBA - BINEAU Célestin,- BIR René - BLIN M.,- BOCHE Moïse - BOURDIN Paul- CHARLES Maurice -,DADILLON- DERAY André - FORTIN Emile- GALLARD - GENEST Marcel- MARCHOUX René - MARTIN- MAURY - MEMENTEAU - MICHONNEAU Arthur - PELMONT Claude- PÉTRIANI Roger - PIGEAU Abel- POUSSARD - THIBAUDEAU Abel

	HISTORY OF RESISTANCE

	On Monday August 9, 1943 at 0500 in the morning, the Gestapo undertook the arrest of the first of four resistant “Moncoutantais” who were very committed in clandestine action. On the day before, knowing they were threatened, they could have left their residence. But the fear of reprisals for their family encouraged them to remain. Only, Fernand Gilbert decided to leave while reserving the possibility of delivering himself if members of its family were threatened. The three friends were stopped and led to the prison of Pierre Levée in POITIERS. Then transferred to COMPIEGNE in January 1944,from their they were then sent to the concentration camps. Fernand GILBERT, on Sunday August 8, 1943, hid in the tool shed of his garden which was not connected to his house. The following day, he moved to a barn in The Hague of LARGEASSE where he remained for nearly one month. His wife not having been detained after having undergone several interrogations by the Gestapo, had the astute audacity to hide, within less than thirty meters of her residence, in an attic, from where it left eleven months later to the great astonishment the neighbours' she emerged.




	Vivre a COURLAY

	*"The Calvaries of Courlay"*

	If this township of Courlay is forever seen in the future by its famous monuments, she doesn't possess less of it a richer religious heritage, not much by the places but merely by the numerous martyrdoms of which I had the desire to find the origin. I have listed 22 of them but some remained "silent" by lack of information. We are going to begin our walk around the borough with us heading toward "La Grange"(The Barn): a large martyrdom, which has, in its surrounding wall, a chapel "La Sallette" constructed in 1854, collapsed in 1880, rebuilt at the desire of the Abbot VENDE in 1889, blessing the day of the feast of (St Rémi) the 1st October 1889. In the enclosure of martyrdom, we can admire an underground cave dedicated to "ND de Lourdes" erected in 1945 after the return of the prisoners of the last war. The chapel, perfectly kept, was renovated from 1991 to 1995. Continue up to "Grande-Raitière", one discovers it very easily, it is a very large Latin cross of cylindrical form, it is the last cross-erected in Courlay, and it was erected in 1955. Coming back toward "La Carpenterie" and through"Le Logis", and then descending toward "Le Plaineliere" you perceives a small cross trimmed with ribbons of iron flowers of silver, and it is on a base of stone, it is situated on our right and is facing towards"Limouziniere" and" La Combe."3 sisters who had a school there, borrowed and begged from passers by, in order to rebuild the chapel of "Le Plaineliere" and, never omitted kneeling before this crucifix. Go up again now toward "Le Plaineliere," and you will see a cross of cement which has replaced a cross of wood, blessed by the "Abbe COUILLAUD" in 1829 at the same time as the situated chapel a little farther along. Some ten meters from the chapel a small cross marks the entrance of the village of "La Ripaudiere." If we head for toward "Les Roches-Neuves" (The New rocks), we are facing a martyrdom of granite, cone-shaped of which the basis has a decorated enclosure protecting a virgin. Unfortunately, we don't have of information on this cross. We are going to take the road which goes up toward "Les Roches " on our right, a cross of cement which replaced an other, smaller and wooden, in the last 50 years. The cross was erected following of a vow gave out by an inhabitant of the village who, having undergone a very serious accident at work regained his sight after being irreparably blind. Take the left and after have crossing " Niville," at the limit of the township of Courlay, follow a pedestrian trail on our left in the direction of "Puy-Dore," will bring us to a martyrdom of granite, constructed after the revolution remembering a battle between republican and royalists which left many dead, during the battle they burned the chateau "La Fenetre" of CHANTELOUP (to your right). We are heading back towards Courlay, to "Baudin" a cross of iron it is discreetly placed at the entrance of the street "Puy-Arnaud" we take this small road order to discover a cross proceeding a tomb at the former cemetery close to the church. Now, we go up again toward the borough, midway and on the right, a small monument recalls us the martyrdom of " F-J TEXIER" (father of the officers of the Vendéens) the error he made was that he shouted his faith in God rather than in the republic. A stained glass window in the church also evokes this martyrdom. We stay in the area until we come to "chemin du bois" (Way of wood), and there, on our left, is the "SACRE-COEUR" (SACRED- HEART) erected in 1946-1947 in memory of the vow of the Abbot MARGENAITRE. It is an imposing martyrdom up on some 5 levels of stone, having been in the past a place to give thanks to the thrashing of the corn. (Approximate translation) Take the road which leads to "MONCOUTANT", the first cross you come to is of granite which has been lately restored, this cross of mission has was erected in 1942 then on toward "L' Ebaupin," you will see a cross of white stone, magnificent, rising up on 2 columns, his cross carries the inscription: exult 1881. A little farther, a cross of wood and restored and kept by a family of the village marks the transition of [Louis] Marie GRIGNON DE MONTFORT after one of his mission to the west in 1704. Go up again toward the "Guinaire," a cross of wood on a block of granite, very well kept, it was erected at this crossroads by 2 couples living at the to the beginning of our century: BOUJU and GAZEAU families. We now come back toward "La Landremière," which has at the entrance to the village, a pretty martyrdom of granite and of cylindrical form, which often is adorned with flowers, commemorates and remembers a resident of the village: Mrs. Aimee GUIGNARD, BISLEAU a wife, who in 1878, witnessed the benediction of this cross at the same time as one of the small bells of the church, of which she was the curate. Continue on the road up to "Brossardière" take a right up to the chapel of "Bois-Basset" (wood basset hound?) constructed by Celestin LUNAUD in 1925 when he had just lost two sons, the first at VERDUN and the second in 1919 of tuberculosis; the chapel is decorated with the statue of " PERE-MONTFORT" in remembering his transition at the beginning of XV111 century. Continuing along the road, you very quickly come upon the martyrdom of "La Verrie" a very pretty cross of wood, perfectly kept, the stone base harbours the enrolment of the exults of 1876 and 1913. Carry on until you come to "La Laimière," on the road to "BRESSUIRE" you will see a large cross of wood which resembles the Verrie. Erected after the return of the prisoners of the war 39-45. The wood is of a tree donated by Joseph FUZEAU of "La Laimière". Certain Courlitais must still remember the erecting of the cross and its transportation by oxen. If we carry on through "La Laimière," by the wall of the new houses, on the left, one finds again the memory of the transition of PERE-MONTFORT, a small monument of bricks has been erected by a ancient member of the family or a resident (cirXlX). Carrying on to "La Richardière" on the way to "Beauvais", you will see an ash tree with a decorative mini chapel of wood. This place is legendary, it is said that during the revolution, several battles were fought here with raw recruits; most would never leave this place. It is also said that a family of which the son a soldier who had been wrecked on the "SELENIUM" during the 14-18 wars, who came back home healthy, put a small chapel here, in recognition and thanks to God. We end our walk in order to come back to" COURLAY", by way of" Pied du Roy" (Foot of Roy). Where we can admire a cross of granite (clover cross) that recalls the death of eleven Courlitais women after the battle of CHOLET in 1793. These women, of which "Françoise" LE FORESTIER DE LESSERT was one, were slaughtered with stroke of sabres and bayonets; a stained glass window of the church shows this awful slaughter. In the course of our walk, we looked at the religion of the courlitais in the past. But a certain number of the crosses, we looked at we could not find an origin; they could merely have been a way of marking a crossroads. But of all the things we have looked at in this interesting heritage we must congratulate and thank the families that participate to their conservations. We thank heartily also all the people who helped us in our research to an interesting past. I hope you enjoyed this bit of Local French History.

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