Labrit is one of the few Landes municipalities to have commissioned a sculptor to honor the memory of their children who died for France during the First World War. And not just any: the Montois Robert Wlérick, one of the big names, with Charles Despiau, of figurative sculpture of the 1930s. A decision which stands out from general practice, since town halls rather made their choices from a catalogue: stele , obelisk with or without palms, medallion, helmet or Gallic rooster to top it all off.
The major role of women
Another particularity, to the exaltation of the fighter and the victory (two bronze bas-reliefs of poilus still appear on the monument), Robert Wlérick preferred (and the elected officials followed him) the representation of the widow and of the orphan, which highlights the major role of women who made up for the absence of brothers, husbands and fathers. We will also remember that, from 1915, the artist worked in Bordeaux in the specialized surgery department in order to give a face to “broken faces”.
The correspondence between the town hall and Robert Wlérick (established in Paris), specifies that after having presented his model at a meeting of the Municipal Council on March 28, 1921, he received the official order the following May 29. At the same time, a committee for the erection of the monument was placed under the chairmanship of Doctor Henri Duprat, who had been searching for funds since September 1919. On Sunday November 16, 1924, it was he who opened the inaugural ceremony by presenting the monument to Mayor Joseph Guilhem, who called for the 52 children of Labrit who died for France, before the Albret Fanfare, led by teacher Albert Bats, performed Chopin's “Funeral March”.
Initially located at the crossroads of two departmental roads, the monument is today on the church square.
Sources: departmental conservation of Landes museums; “Monuments to the dead of the Great War in the Landes”, Éditions Le Festin.
Monday, November 11, ceremony at the war memorial at 11:45 a.m.
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