CORPS FRANC DU SIDOBRE
OMS
Vers fin Juillet 1944, suite à la
décision du Cdt DUNOYER DE SEGONZAC (alias HUGUES)de regrouper le CORPS FRANC
DU SIDOBRE dans les environs du RIALET, les maquis d’attente autour de ROLLAND
et de BELHERBETTE, au total au moins 200 hommes, entreprennent un déplacement à
travers le SIDOBRE. Une grande partie fait étape à GUIOR. Dans l’après-midi du
Jeudi 27 juillet 1944 une patrouille de reconnaissance de 10 hommes est envoyée
sur la D622 CASTRES/BRASSAC.
Suivant le compte rendu rédigé
par François BARDOU (alias CARPENTIER) :
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Dans la soirée, le Lieutenant
Georges BERTRAND (alias ST QUENTIN) et le Lieutenant SIBIL (alias GUEULE
D’ACIER) iront porter le corps du malheureux Norbert DURAND à FONTBELLE auprès
des Sœurs de la CONGREGATION DU CŒUR DE JESUS pour son inhumation. Norbert
DURAND avait 20 ans, réfractaire au STO il avait rejoint le CORPS FRANC DU
SIDOBRE le 21 juillet 1944, 6 jours plus tôt !
Participaient à cette patrouille
: Cyril VENCLIC, Adjudant chef de patrouille ancien de la Légion Etrangère,
Gérard BAILLY, Maréchal des Logis, ancien du 3ème Dragons, Fernand DANIEL avec
un FM, Marcel BRUN, Marcel JANSOU ancien du 3ème Dragons aussi avec un FM,
Norbert DURAND, André Weill, François GIRONA, Maurice DUPUIS ancien du 3ème
Dragons (tué le 15 Août 1944), Lucien MONTAGNE (tué aussi le 15 Août 1944).
NB : Le Rocher du Sidobre de cette Stèle est un Menhir authentique de 4 tonnes récupéré et transporté en 1945 par la famille GALINIER de la Ferme de la MONJARIE
Stèle de OMS – 27 July 44
Toward the end of July 44, following a decision of Maj. DUNOYER DE SEGONZAC (alias HUGUES) to regroup the CORPS FRANC DU SIDOBRE near LE RIALET, the MAQUIS waiting around ROLLAND and around BELHERBETTE, a total of at least 200 men, began a move across the SIDOBRE. A large part of them made a stop at GUYOR. In the afternoon of Thursday 27 July 44 a reconnaissance patrol of 10 men was sent along the D622 (Castres/Brassac).
According to the report written by François BARDOU (alias CARPENTIER), “toward 17h00 a German convoy was travelling at slow speed on the D622 in the direction from BRASSAC toward CASTRES. The convoy included 4 or 5 lorries, a tracked vehicle ahead and a tracked vehicle behind. The convoy was hit by a fusillade coming from near the intersection with the D58 (GUYOR/OMS). The German Column stopped and quickly returned fire with automatic weapons. The reconnaissance patrol dispersed immediately into the nearby woods.
During the exchange of fire, a bullet ricocheted and hit the musket of the Assistant Chief VENCLIC, leaving a trace. Gérard BAILLY was wounded in the arm and taken prisoner. After a harsh interrogation at CASTRES he was shot 6 August 44 at LE CAUSSE.
At the D622/D58 intersection the field that had to be crossed to reach shelter had been freshly mowed. The hay had been piled into haystacks. Norbert DURANT got behind one of these haystacks believing that he was safely hidden. Some German soldiers got out of their lorries, however, and combed the field of haystacks. A German surprised the crouching Norbert DURANT and killed him by bayonetting him 9 times in the back. He bled to death, and his body was recovered toward 19h00 in the evening.”
That evening Lieutenant George BERTRAND (alias ST QUENTIN) and Lieutenant SIBIL (alias GUEULE D’ACIER) carried the body of the unfortunate Norbert DURAND to FONTBELLE for interment by the Sisters of THE CONGREGATION OF THE HEART OF JESUS. Norbert DURAND was 20 years old. He had evaded conscription and had joined the CORPS FRANC DU SIDOBRE 21 Jul 44, 6 days earlier!
Participating in this Maquis patrol were: Cyril VENCLIC, Assistant Chief of veteran patrol of the Foreign Legion, Gérard BAILLY, Sergeant at Arms, veteran of the 3rd Dragons, Fernand DANIEL with an FM, Marcel BRUN, Marcel JANSOU, veteran of the 3rd Dragons also with an FM, Norbert DURAND, André WEILL, François GIRONA, Maurice DUPUIS, veteran of the 3rd Dragons (killed 15 Aug 44), Lucien MONTAGNE (killed also 15 Aug 44).
n.b. The Sidobre stone of this monument is an authentic menhir (positioned upside down) weighing 4 tons. It was brought to its present location in 1945 by the GALINIER family from the farm of the MONJARIE.