French Apprentices Craft Memorials for Moroccan WWI Soldiers

The apprentices of the CFA of Ocquerre are about to finish the manufacture of four steles. On March 17, they had filled the monuments with earth from the former sites of the Battle of the Marne, where the Moroccan soldiers had fought for France more than a century ago, reported La Marne.

The apprentices aged 16 to 18 were supported by representatives of the Mémoire France-Maroc association but also by members of the Société des Amis du musée de la grande guerre de Meaux. "A work like this is significant, it is not a 10-second memory duty in front of a cemetery but several months of effort. The initiative is extraordinary," enthuses a member of the association.

A coating will be installed on the steles to complete the work started several months ago. After that, the steles will be transported to the stations of Oujda and Taourirt. Nearly 4,300 men had left these Moroccan cities for Seine-et-Marne.