64 replies to this topic

[egbert]

This threadin a French forum is a blast. A French lady "Mounette" discovers a forgotten German military cemetery totally run to seed and a group of volunteers managed to clear the cemetery turning it into a dignified place of remembrance. You do not need to read French, just look at the pictures over 4 pages, covering 3 years and you understand their effort. A job well done!

[RogerShephard]

Amazing story - wish i could read French and learn more about it.

I wonder why the German war graves commission did not maintain it?

Roger

[moggs]

Brilliant Egbert!  Well done to them all.  Dignity personified.

Jonathan

[egbert]

RogerShephard, on 22 February 2012 - 09:44 AM, said:

Amazing story - wish i could read French and learn more about it.

I wonder why the German war graves commission did not maintain it?

Roger

Roger maybe somebody can help here who is more fluent in French: my guess is the remains have been relocated a long time ago. VdK only cares "active" war graves.

[keithgr]

One of those many times that I wish I could fully understand the French language.

Keith.

[Ianander]

Hello egbert
                       My friend mags lives & work in France, here is her thread and she is translating from french to English
http://1914-1918.inv...pic=172085&st=0

I shall send her a P.M and ask her to translate

best regards
Ian

[magscotabroad]

hi, no problem, have to rush out to work this afternoon, but when I come home this evening, i will do the translation for you
br
mags

[Ianander]

magscotabroad, on 22 February 2012 - 11:45 AM, said:

hi, no problem, have to rush out to work this afternoon, but when I come home this evening, i will do the translation for you
br
mags

Thank's Mags
                         I have got lots of time  while I am looking for work  

Ian

[OpsMajor]

Bravo indeed!

[cdr]

very interesting

according to the text some oldiers might have been from Alsace Lorraine. The remains (117 in total) were transported in the twenties to the cemetry of Thiacourt)

hope this helps
Carl

[egbert]

Interesting Carl, is Thiacourt a French national cemetery?

[cdr]

My bad typing strikes again !

It is the big cemetery of Thiaucourt (Deutsches Soldatenfriedhof 1914-1918) The location is maybe better known for the American cemetery.

Carl

[MartinBennitt]

good effort by all concerned.

cheers Martin B

[magscotabroad]

hi, this is my umpteenth time to try and post this, apparently I was trying to post too much at the same time, hope this goes on line correctly. As promised here is the beginning of the translation of the original french thread, hope it makes for happy reading and i will follow on as quickly as possible, didnot realise just how big the thread was.
happy reading (this should be the first page of many, sorry for the format but I had to simplify it as much as possible to be able to post it) let me know what you think

mags



Beginning of thread






Good eveningEveryone




On reflection, itseemed necessary to put the following soldiers in this forum, because in myopinion, they also have the right not to be totally forgotten. :

ALBRECHT  J. G. - ALDRA  Eugene - BALLMANN  A.- BIERMANN  Hein.– BURKHARDT  G.- EICHINGER   Seb. - EIDAM   Fried.- FISSENI  Peter - GEBHARD Jos.- GRIMM Xaver- HELDT  Joh. - JORDAN Hein. - KANFHOLD  Karl- KOHL  Hugo – KÜKER ?  E. - LADRAT  Pierre- LENZE  Alb. - MAUSOLF  Joh. (?) -MEMMEL  T.- RICHTER  Rud. -  ROSS  Wien.- SCHÄFER  Vinz. - SCHNEIDER  Ad.- SCHOLZ  Albert - SIMONS Andr. –  VIEBAHN  Gust.- VIEWEGER  B. -WERS   Sebast. - WISSER  Hein.- ZORNGE??  Jos.
  



[See more aboutthe on the history page forum Subject : Alsace-Moselle :Messages : n°35471, 35659, 35661, 62, 64, 70, et 35673.]  




Hereare  their tombs at Rembercourt sur Mad(54)
See original site for photos, I have deletedthem in case of copyright.



Gilles Roland

Posté le08-04-2007 à 07:29:55



Hello Mounette

Thank you

Apparently we canonly put ten photos per posting (that happened to me too)

Best regards


  
Gilles



Gilles Roland

Posté le08-04-2007 à 07:35:47  



Re,

Here are the rest(1) of Mounette’s photos

See original site for photos.  





Gille Roland

Posté le08-04-2007 à 07:37:40  




Re,  
  more photos (2) from Mounette

See original sitefor photos.



Mounette Girl



Posté le08-04-2007 à 17:34:05



Hello again toeveryone

All my apologiesfor having told you some stupidities. The thirty soldiers that I told you aboutare not as abandoned as they seemed to be. They were neither abandoner norforgotten. So : mea culpa.



Our Administrateur , Joel, has reassured me and supplied (on the Historypages Forum) all the necesssary explanations. So I am sending you back to hismassage of this morning, in the string entitled Alsace /Moselle.

As to  the photos of the tomb stones, insertedabove(thank you to Giles for helping me.)

It seems that someof you want them to be left there all the same as they are relics of the GreatWar. I suggested that this string shuld be deleted completely. But it’s ourAdministrator who will make the final decision.

All my sincerewishes, and will all my apologies once again.


Mounette.


Jeepgmc

Posté le04-07-2007 à 12:56:42  





Have restartedcleaning up the cemetery in question in May 2007.

Are thinking ofpursuing this in September and continuing in the years to come.
Association USPM à THIAUCOURT 54470



Mounette girl



Posté le06-07-2007 à 17:53:56



That’s wonderful.

Thank you to theUSPN of THIACOURT ; As soon as I can, I will go to see your hard work.AndI shall be able to take photographs near the monument.without the risk oftwisting my ankles this time.

Thanks once again.

Mounette.







That’s wonderful.

Thank you to theUSPN of THIACOURT ; As soon as I can, I will go to see your hard work.AndI shall be able to take photographs near the monument.without the risk oftwisting my ankles this time.

Thanks once again.

Mounette.

[magscotabroad]

Posting number two

mags



Jeepgmc

Posté le 31-07-2007 à 08:47:53  



Hello Mounette.

I confirm that we are continuing to clean up thecemetery of Rembercourt during the month of September.

BEWARE : of vipersat this time.



Mounette girl

Hello to one and all, hello jeepgmc(God that’s toohard to pronounce, What is your first name ?)


  In any case, a big thank you to your association of Thiaucourt.Imagine that i went to Rembercourt-sur-Mad on Sunday (day before yesterday)with three of my grand daughters, and that I intended standing on the Germanmonument with them to see how the work was progressing and to photograph themonument. But  unfortunately it startedbucketing down and I had to renounce doing it. It was an impossible mission todo under such large droplets of water, and especially with children.

It was a pity.



But I shall return their, as the moon has changedposition.

The weather may be more accommodating.  I will keep a close watch on it. And on mynext expedition, I will also look out for the vipers. Thanks for the warning.


And once again bravo for this wonderful initiative of the USPM of THIAUCOURT(can I ask you what USPM stands for.

Best regards

Mounette



Jeepgmc


Posté le 31-07-2007 à 11:00:13  



Re-



Hello again Mounette

My first name is Bernard.

USPM stands for the Union for the Safeguard ofmilitary heritage.

Have a nice day.

Mounette girl





Hello again Bernard/ Ah yes, all the same it iseasier to say and more friendly.

Thank you for accepting my small indiscretion withoutflinching.

Thank for the explanation of USPM.

It’s a lot clearer for me.



Continue as you are doing to safeguard our militaryheritage and congratulations to the USPM for this endeavour.

Best regards

Mounette



Belge

Posté le 31-07-2007 à 19:51:17  





Beautiful sunny afternoon to everyone.

Do you intend creating a Belgian branch of this greatUSPM ;

Sincerely.
---------------
Clansman



Jeepgmc

Posté le 01-08-2007 à 12:42:41  



Bonjour à Tous, bonjour Mounette, bonjour le Belge,

Hello everyone. Hello Mounette . Hello the guyfrom Belgium.

First why the wonderful USPM;

I can give you the statutes Membership cost 15€ peryear. I’m kidding you.




To Mounette : in the years between 75/80 (1900) I dida few military periods in the 146 Infantry Regiment, from the 151 InfantryRegiment at Moulin les Metw, this regiment at that time was commanded by anexceptional man  : Colonel Videmont.


Belge

Posté le 02-08-2007 à 18:00:50  







Hello Everyone.

« Wonderful, because it is safeguarding sites fitto be remembered, which at the current moment is sometimes difficult if notrare to be done.

(see the strings on this subject on this wonderfulForum which is ours)

Bravo and once again good luck.

Sincerely
---------------
Clansman



Mounette girl



See original site for photos.

[Ianander]

Hi mags
                Your are a diamond !!!      thank you for the work you put in for us.

Many thanks for the translating  the French forum, now we have story to the pictures but watch out for Vipers


Ian

[roel22]

Great work. Unbelievable there still are treasures like this to be (re)discovered.

Roel

[Dragon]

Yes. I have come across one in the High Vosges (I know where but I don't want to specify on an open forum, not somewhere I've discussed here). Off the footpath, up three or four mossy  crumbling stone steps, push cautiously through the trees and brambles, there is a little plot of carved German gravestones grey with lichen. Close by is a small pond drifting with iridescent dragonflies, bumble bees busy in the willowherb,  water shimmering in the heat, birds of prey soaring overhead.

I expect the graves have been cleared of their remains. To me it would seem intrusive to interfere with the tranquil beauty which nature is creating around the stones. It seemed crass even to consider taking photos here. It had its own pocket of silence and comradeship. I tiptoed quietly back to the path.

Gwyn

[ianw]

Yes, nature does veil and dignify these places herself. But if remains still lay anywhere, they need to be recorded for the benefit of relatives.

[Dragon]

Of course. Please don't get the impression I'm denigrating the good work of the team in Egbert's link.

I'm confident I'm not the only one who knows of the little graveyard site I mentioned. It felt quite charged and sometimes you feel they don't want to be intruded on by a camera.

Gwyn

[magscotabroad]

me again, with Posting number three
br
mags

Posting number three

vidia01

Posté le 27-08-2007 à 11:19:26  







Good evening, could you tell me where I can find thiscemetery (Rembertcourt) in which department

Thanks vidiaO1









mounette_g​irl







Posté le 27-08-2007 à 15:36:40  



Hello Viadia

Rembercourt-sur Mad is located in Lorraine, moreprecisely in Meurthe et Moselle (54) and about 15 km 3 north- west of Pont aMousson (54)
The German cemetery (now disused) is next to the public cemetery ofRembercourt, on the little path which dominate the village and which starts atthe church. It is on the left of this cemetery, leaning against it wall.

Sincerely

Mounette

See original posting for map.











vidia01

Posté le 27-08-2007 à 16:31:54  





Thanks Mounette girl, it’s not very far fromVerdun.

Sincerely.

Vidia01



mounette_g​irl



Posté le 27-08-2007 à 18:51:51  



Exact !







vidia01

Posté le 27-08-2007 à 19:56:15  



Thanks  mounette_girl.

   Best regards   Paul(vidia01





Jeepgmc

Posté le 11-09-2007 à 21:13:18  





Good evening Mounette



We won’t be doing the clean up this weekend.

I hope to have a bit more time after retirement.



Sincerely.





belge

Pugna Nobilis Princeps



Posté le 15-09-2007 à 21:20:39  





Good night to you all.

After pleasure, the duty, after the dance, the NightWatch and dance step..

Oh dear mounette you gave me a shot in the heart. Athank you note to the USPM; to whom with all my heart I wish to join (I havelearned that a similar society exists in Belgium, point there  the guys, even if they were brave, buriedthere. It’s just that we never invited them into our country,   to your place, on the contrary, but theycame all the same (three times with Von Runstet in the last set) and certainlynot to play rugby. So for my part,address a thank you generally speaking, thisI do wholeheartedly. ) : niet.

Finally, I agree that the tombs should be saveguarded,dependent ……that it is reciprocal, for mine too, even if many of us have reusedin alley, paths, motorways,

or….. clouds!  EvenIN 14-18 ; and we have to be magnanimous, even if we are…. Human.

Hurray for love, hurray for life and hurray for theCompany.

Sweet rest  to one and all.



mounette_g​irl



Posté le 29-09-2007 à 17:32:42  





Good evening to all, good evening brave Bernard.



A big thank you to you and the USPM of Thiaucourt. Iam sure that our friend Marc the Belgian, from above is applauding you


Thanks again in advance for the future photos, becauseI can’t make it up to Rembercourt-sur-Mad for the moment.

Best regards

Mounette













Colo



Posté le 12-10-2007 à 19:03:39  







As a newcomer, I would like to say my appreciation forthe devotion of your site and my admiration and your sacrifice for this work.

I hope to meet someone from your association on mynext visit to this place steeped in history, and once again reiterate myadmiration for you.

Sincerely

COLO











mounette_g​irl



Posté le 25-05-2008 à 23:13:53  







Good evening  toone and all and especially good evening to Bernard (jeepgmc) if he is reading

I got this thread back to be able to say to youBernard and your association USPM(Union of the safeguarding of militaryheritage) of Thiaucourt (54) a very big thank you for the work achieved at thelittle German cemetery of Rembercourt-sur-Mad, because I visited there today.




My sister in law, who knew the area a few years ago,was dumbstruck.

Elle told me how she had gone past time and again thiswall of overgrowth, broken branches, nettles etc, which hid this forgottencemetery, without imagining what was behind it.

.  




She agreed that fine work had been done. So all beproud of yourselves.

Personally. I say once again bravo and especiallythankyou.




Best regards

[magscotabroad]

Posting number four



Posting number four



yvan



Posté le 26-05-2008 à 10:16:24  





Good day to one and all ;

Congratulations to the USPM

If someone is visiting the sector, would it bepossible (with a digital camera and a stand, to take about ten photos topresent 1 360° cemetery.

Thanks

Jeepgmc









See original site for photo.

file:///C:/Users/Margaret/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif

militarpas

En passant par la Lorraine....

Posté le 12-10-2009 à 08:34:49  



,

Good evening to one and all.

I have equally known this original cemetery in theshape of a large bush, and as a result of which was practically unknown tothose who did not know of its existence .



As I was in the area this weekend, i dropped in totake a few photos.



It’s a great pity that the two stone benches (thosewhich were on either side of the monument) have been completely destroyed orhave disappeared .

, if not, it can be clearly seen that things havechanged. (bravo), on the other hand, as regards the photos on line (2007) andthe current state, the project apparently seems to be on stand by.

Could anyone tell me what has been happening since2007?

Sincerely

Pascal.









Jeepgmc



Posté le 13-10-2009 à 14:03:55  



Bonjour militarpas et bonjour à tous,

Good day militarpas and good day to everyone.

Effectively the project seems to be on standby.

I say seems, because I stepped downas President ofthis association that I had created and…………….. nobody seems to want to pick upthe gauntlet. !!!!!

That’s the problem with associations, you can involvemany people in the project, but you have to be ceaselessly on the go toorganize, think, reunite, work, receive unfair criticism, then you get fed upwith it especially when you take care of several associations, whose objectivesare completely different but often complementary.(I am thinking of Jlk, becausewe have the same clubs to manage)















militarpas

En passant par la Lorraine



Posté le 13-10-2009 à 19:39:30  





Good day to all and one

Good day to jeepgmc
Thank you for answering my question.



I have never been part of an association (not evenremotely) and thus it’s a subject that I would not broach, never mind give myopinion, but I do not doubt  that lookingafter an association is far from easy. And not very restful.

About this project, it’s just a pity that the workstarted and the final target of the project was being undertaken.
So that

With or without an association (I know that it wouldbe impossible without an association) that times when someone has picked up thegauntlet, or simply restarted the job in order to finish what had beenstarted,  in my case, I would be happy togive my contribution and that of my wife.





Weeding, cleaning, brushing the tombs, putting theborders in place etc, and firstly step by step, that’s already a goodbeginning, and that is a job that anyone can do.you just need to want to do it.Now the crux of the question is to know if it is possible to do without thenecessity of using an association.

Sincerely

Pascal.




---------------
Le Souvenir... Le Respect... Une Passion...





Jeepgmc





Posté le 13-10-2009 à 20:47:47  



This shouldn’t be causing too many problems, otherthan to want to be involved in improving an upkeep of our heritage. I am ofthose who think that we could never reproach those who clean up a formermilitary cemetery. And even is someone had something to say.



Best wishes

militarpa













mounette_g​irl








Good day Bernard (jeepgmc) good day Pascal(militarpas) and good day to one and all.





It is a bit strange to see this thread back inconversation. It’s the proof that the “colistiers’ younger than me, know how touse the search engine. Bravo.

Je I thank you once again , B ernard,for havinginvolved yourself so much in the cleaning up of the little cemetery inRembercourt-sur-Mad, which was only an unaccessible virgin forest before yourintervention, and in spite of  all therisks of twisted ankles and being bitten by vipers. I equally understand whyyou stepped down from your position as president of the USPM (Union for thesafeguarding of military heritage,) of Thiaucourt (54) because such aresponsibility demands much sacrifice, energy ,time and a very good state ofphysical fitness;.


For my part, alas, I am no longer in any state to do so, and I deeply regretit. But for new people, such as Pascal for example, who have the desire to ickup the gauntlet to maintain this place of memory, it is awesome and I can onlyencourage them.


I donot think that anyone would raise any objections to that. It’s only (andthat is already a lot) a place of memory, since the ex tenants of this tinycemetery have all been reburied apparently in the large German Nécropole ofThiaucourt.

Pascal said.

     Citation :

  Arracher les herbes, nettoyer, brosser les pierres, remettre les bordures  en place, etc..., dans un premier temps, pas à pas... c'est déjà pas mal, et  cela reste un travail accessible à tous... faut juste vraiment vouloir le  faire.  
  Maintenant reste à savoir si c'est possible de le faire sans passer  obligatoirement par une association ?

  

Pascal, if you want to do some tidying up, could you informal your voluntaryactions to the Curator of the Necropolis of Thiaucourt and the Townhall ofRembercourt. I thinkthat should suffice amply . What do you say about thatBernard? And what do you Joel, our dear administrator say about that?

In any case bravo for your offer.


I am sure sure that our regretted friend Marc the Belgian would have alsoapplauded from above.

Best regards

Mounette.
  

[Ianander]

Hi mags
                thanks again for your help, its good to know what being said on their forum. I wonder if the stone benches were nicked !!! or just destroyed  through time.

many thanks for your help


Ian

[egbert]

Also a big thank you from myself for the translation! A few people can be so proud to have achieved so much!

[magscotabroad]

here's another part, the last for tonight
posting number five

Posting number five

militarpas

En passant par la Lorraine...

Posté le 14-10-2009 à 21:46:33  



Goodday Mounette and goodday to one and all.
Thank you for all these bravos and thank you for your advice…..

That is effectively more or else what I thought to beable to act within the law.



For the moment, I am stuck at home (illness) but assoon as possible….. I will go then, firstly to the townhall of Rembercourt tosee where things stand.



Best regards

Pascal.







mounette_g​irl



Posté le 14-10-2009 à 22:56:56  





Good evening again Pascal, hope you get well soon, andwant to congratulate you on your generous project.



Just a couple of words, I think that the Germancemetery of Thiaucourt depends on the Service d’entretien des sepulturesallemandes (SESMA) 9 rue Pré Chaudron 57070 METZ. !Tél 03.87.74.75.76. It is abody dealing with, following a Franco German agreemment, with the upkeep andmaintenance of German military cemeteries from the two world wars. It is mayberesponsible for the maintenance of  theabandoned cemetery at
Rembercourt 9, rue Pré Chaudron 57070 METZ - Tél. :03.87.74.75.76.. , but it certainly does not take care of it  since it is disused. I think

it is just necessary to inform them.

On an other note you can contact the townhall of Rembercourt on thefollowing telephone number 03 83 81 81 49



Best regards

Mounettte









militarpas

En passant par la Lorraine...





Hello Mounette



The antibiotics are starting to kick up and takeeffect.

Many thanks.





Equally thanks for this new info.

Best regards

Pascal

militarpas

En passant par la Lorraine...





Hello to one and all.



For those who are interested, here is the news.


Phone contact on the 15 Oct 2009 with the Upkeep service of the Germanwargraves (SESMA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Although this is no longer the responsibility of the (SESMA), it does notsee any inconvenience to the project, and also finds the initiative verypositive and thanked everyone warmly for the gesture.



Advice received on the good way to follow : find theowner of the plot and see directly with him what he thinks of the project.



Many thanks to the gentleman i spoke to on the phoneand for the friendly exchange that we had. And therefore has a positive opinionof the voluntary cleaning project and development.

But for that.. the ground (finally) doesnot belong tothe commune, so before everything





Contact by telephone on the 15th October 2009 with theMayor of Rembercourt-sur-Mad.
The mayor finds it very regrettable that the site is being damaged.

(example cited, a destroyed bench… the second one? Apparentlyit has disappeared., the surrounding wall is falling into disrepair.etc) and so on.

. And therefore has a positive opinion of the voluntarycleaning project and  development.



But so .. the ground (finally) does not belong to thecommune, so before everything  it will benecessary to ask the owner of the site.

Meanwhile, as we were trying to contact the owner, themayor asked me for a meeting so that we could discuss together and to gotogether to see the site (this will be done as soon as it is possible.



My  thanks tothe mayor for being so receptive and for his help.

If not, if anyone has any information, photos, inbrief all documents relative to Rembercour-ur-Mad during the Great War interestme vastly.



Best wishes

Pascal