France challenged over war memorial language policy

This item courtesy of the Celtic League:

The Celtic League have written to the French Ambassador in London
seeking clarification of an incident in Belgium where it appears the
French authorities have intervened to prevent a plaque being fixed
to a War memorial bearing an inscription in the Breton language.

Bretons contributed disproportionately to the armed forces of France,
not least in World War 1, and at Dixmude in Belgium, the site of the
memorial in dispute, over 2000 Breton Marines died in one engagement
alone.

The situation relating to Celtic languages on War Memorials does not
seem to have been contentious in other countries. The National War
Memorials in Scotland and Wales both have inscriptions in the native
languages. In the Isle of Man the National war memorial appears to
have no such inscription although as far as we are aware there is
no proscription. Indeed at the time of the first World War probably
5-10 percent of the population were Manx speakers. Ironically, the
memorial (like so many) is to the design of a Celtic cross.

The League have pointed out to the French Ambassador that if there
is a proscription by France on the use of the Breton language on war
memorials it is scandalous. We have also pointed out the paradox that
many memorials in France in any case have inscriptions in various
other Celtic languages.

Memorials and plaques to Scottish Regiments have Gaelic inscriptions.
In addition in 1925, the Irish National War Memorial Committee decided
to erect memorials to the 10th (Irish) and 16th (Irish) Divisions
in three of the countries in which they had fought. Three granite
crosses were constructed, each weighing about four tons. The crosses
were inscribed in Irish (Gaelic) "Do chum Gloire De agus Onora na
hEireann" (To the Glory of God and Honour of Ireland). One commemorating
the 10th (Irish) Division was erected in Salonika. The cross commemorating
the 16th (Irish) Division's service in Flanders was erected at Wytschaete.
The 16th (Irish) Division's service in France was commemorated by
a cross which was placed in the graveyard of the church at Guillemont.

"H.E. Maurice GOURDAULT-MONTAGNE
Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom
French Embassy
58 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7JT

Dear M. Ambassador,

I was very concerned to learn recently that objections had been raised
to an inscription on a War memorial in Belgium worded in the Breton
language.

Hundreds of thousands of Breton servicemen have served France over
the centuries, not least in the two World Wars.

The memorial at Dixmude in Belgium was inscribed with a plaque in
the Breton language in August 2006. It said "In tribute to the Bretons
who died in Dixmude for freedom, October 16th – November 10th - Enor
d'ar vretoned marv e Dixmuiden evit ar frankiz 16 a viz here – 10
a viz du 1914"

Following an act of mindless vandalism it was removed for repair.
Prior to to it being re-fixed to the war memorial, one week before
the official ceremony, Dixmude's mayor received a letter from a delegate
to Souvenir Français in Belgium who asked for the ceremony to be postponed
and explained that the French embassy had been informed. Apparently,
the postal address of Souvenir Français is the same as the French
embassy's in Belgium - so one can only assume that this intervention
has official sanction.

From enquiries I have made it appears that there is a general proscription
on War Memorials carrying inscriptions in the Breton language. Can
you confirm or deny this?

If it is the case that the Breton language is not allowed to be used
on War monuments then this is little short of scandalous. In addition,
it does create something of a paradox because some British war memorials
in France are inscribed with Celtic languages.

Many Bretons died in the lengthy battles in and around Dixmude. In
one engagement over 2000 Breton Marines were killed. Many of those
who died would at that time have been native speakers of the Breton
language. In the circumstances it surely is appropriate to recognise
their ultimate sacrifice in their own language.


Yours faithfully,

J B Moffatt
Director of Information"


There is a related article to this one on the Agence Bretagne Presse
site (translation feature at base of page) at:

http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/fetch.php?id=10955&key=Dixmude&key1=

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

08/06/08


The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights
human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.

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