In Ouistreham, finally a statue for the legendary hero Michel Cabieu

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It was with the reenactors of the 18th century Normandy coast guard, and in the presence of a large audience, that the mayor of Ouistreham (Calvados), Romain Bail, inaugurated, Tuesday November 5, 2024, the statue of Sergeant Michel Cabieu , installed at the foot of the cinema of the same name.

A ruse to repel invaders

A symbol which highlights the story of Sergeant Michel Cabieu, hero of the Seven Years’ War, the first world conflict in history (1756-1763).

Philippe Vervaeck, vice-president of the Normandy coast guard association, and also captain of the camp, is inexhaustible about the exploits of Michel Cabieu. “Sergeant Michel Cabieu was just an ordinary citizen, chosen by lot like so many others and designated at the request of the king, to defend the coasts from multiple English incursions, during the Seven Years’ War. »

It was on the night of July 12 to 13, 1762 that he distinguished himself. The English disembarked to seize the cannon batteries which defended the mouth of the Orne in the bay of Sallenelles. Cabieu, awakened by the cannon fire, gathered a handful of men and surprised the English soldiers lost in the dunes on the beach. He then decided to set up a stratagem, dispersing his few men between the batteries of Sallenelles, Ouistreham and Colleville, making people believe in the presence of a company. Convinced that they had fallen into an ambush, the English withdrew.

He would have repelled 260 English

It is this episode of the Seven Years’ War, from 1756 to 1763, which gave birth to a story probably magnified through its oral transmission. The English will minimize the defeat, recognizing the withdrawal of around forty men and the French camp will probably exaggerate the feat of Cabieu who alone would have repulsed more than 260 English.

It was only after the Revolution that, the Republic looking for heroes, its feats of arms and its merits would be recognized and rewarded on the proposal of the local deputy of the time.

The idea of ​​creating the statue of Michel Cabieu was suggested to the town by a resident of Ouistreham, Alain Boiton, who wanted a tribute to be paid to this character.

Late recognition in Ouistreham

For Romain, Bail, it was important to allow new people from Ouistreham to know Cabieu, his role in the Normandy coast guard and his act of bravery which forever associates him with the history of Ouistreham. “After falling into anonymity,” he recalls, “it was the Republic which recognized his merits. But it was only in 1929 that the town gave it a place again in the heart of the city, by giving its name to its village hall.”

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