The entrance to the Trench of Bayonets memorial which commemorates an action on 23rd June 1916 near Verdun, Meuse, France.
The Tranchee des Baionnettes is one of the legends of Verdun. Supposedly men from the 137th. RI. were waiting to attack on the 23rd June when they were buried as they stood by an artillery barrage. The truth is more likely that they were simply killed and buried in a trench with their rifles as markers. Inscription above entrance doorway "A la memoire des soldats Francais Qui dorment debout le Fusil en main dans cette tranchee. Leurs freres d'Amerique." translates to "In memory of French soldiers who sleep standing up the rifle in hand in this trench. Their brothers of America." The funds to build this memorial were raised by an American called Mr Rand.
Size: 3624px × 2415px
Location: Trench of Bayonets memorial near Verdun, Meuse, Larraine, France
Photo credit: © Maurice Savage / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 137th, 1916, alive, andre, baionnettes, battle, bayonets, buried, des, entrance, france, french, great, infantry, lorraine, main, memorial, meuse, monment, regiment, tranchee, trench, ventre, verdun, war, world, wwi
