1855, Crimean War: Theatre of the fate of Henri Benoist… the baracene.
A large cross sits in the centre of Baracé cemetery. Rather forgotten ... It reads: Pray for the rest of the soul of Achille-Laurent-Henri Viscount Benoist, artillery lieutenant, who died at the age of 26 at the siege of Sevastopol on April 2, 1855… ».
On March 27, 1854, the French and English entered the war against Russia, after Tsar Nicholas I refused to evacuate the provinces of Moldova and Ottoman Wallachia that he had just annexed. It turned in favour of the Franco-British allies at the Battle of Alma on September 20, 1854, and then at the siege of Sevastopol from October 9, 1854 to September 11, 1855. Eleven months of - terrible! - siege. The Treaty of Paris, will be signed on 30 March 1856.
Throughout this period, Achille-Laurent ‘Henri’ Benoist was in the throes of war. And what a war! (By many points, CLOSE to the coming conflict of Verdun).
This story, that of Henri Benoist, is embedded in the great.
This war was the first photographed! The photo was only fifteen years old.
Roger Fenton, an Englishman, became the first war photographer, between March and June 1855, he made more than 300 photos. Jean-Charles Langlois and Léon-Eugène Méhédin (of the Normans), and others, went to Sevastopol.
It is these moving photographs that will show you the war, that of Henri Benoist!
The windows of the church, including that of the Benoist, date from 1878, 1899 and 1901, they will also be commented.
Gabions-Fascines, identical to those of the siege of Sevastopol (but peaceful and heritage these!) are also on display. A know-how, a living heritage.
Original military maps, period games, plaques from the old church of Baracé… are exceptionally presented during this weekend.
Through the exhibition panels, the video, many and many names are numbered; well, behind all these names, men! Lives. Lives of men… From Baracé. To Sevastopol.
A story… alive. In 2023, our daily newspapers are witnessing it.