Association du Monument de Notre-Dame de Lorette et de la Garde d'honneur de l'Ossuaire

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The Association du Monument de Notre-Dame de Lorette et de la Garde d'honneur de l'Ossuaire was created in 1920, in the aftermath of the First World War, to maintain the memory of those who died for France, especially those fallen on the ridge of Lorette during the 1914–1918 war. It was founded on the initiative of Monseigneur Julien, Bishop of Arras; M. Jonnart, president of the Pas-de-Calais General Council; M. Weiss, inspector general of mines; and General Maistre, former commander of the XXI Corps that had retaken the hill of Lorette. The hill of Notre-Dame de Lorette was the scene of twelve months of fighting, from October 1914 to October 1915, which left thousands dead and wounded on both sides. A national cemetery was established on 13 hectares, containing 20,000 individual graves arranged in the order of reinterment, without distinction of rank or military formation. Eight ossuaries, the principal one at the foot of the lantern tower, gather 22,970 unknown soldiers. Part of the cemetery was reserved for Muslim and Jewish soldiers. At the centre of the cemetery, the monument comprises two parts. The lantern tower (52 metres high, 200 steps) is a lantern of the dead; its first stone was laid by Marshal Pétain on 19 June 1921 and it was inaugurated on 2 August 1925. Its lamp of 3,000 candles burns every night at five revolutions per minute. Inside, a chapel ardente holds 32 coffins, including those of an unknown soldier of 1939–1945, an unknown soldier of North Africa, and an unknown soldier of Indochina; a reliquary contains earth and ashes from concentration camps; and beneath the central slab rest 6,000 bodies. The chapel, in a Romano-Byzantine style, was blessed by Monseigneur Julien on 26 May 1927. Its statue is to the left of the central altar, while the statue of Notre-Dame de Lorette is to the right; stained-glass windows were donated by the British. The Garde d'honneur was created in 1927. Its members maintain the memory of the dead for France and represent the families of the victims. From 1 March to 30 November each day, several members mount a permanent guard at the ossuary and provide information to visitors. Every Sunday during that period, near the lantern tower, the flame of remembrance is rekindled at 11:45 by the group leader of the guards present that day. Veterans and patriotic associations frequently take part in this ceremony. The association was recognised as being of public utility by decree of 6 November 1963. Its purpose is to complete, develop, maintain and serve the two parts of the monument — the chapel and the lantern tower — to perpetuate the memory of the Artois battles, to honour the dead, and to facilitate visits by their families. It also works with administrative authorities to embellish the national cemetery and takes initiatives to perpetuate the cult of the dead of the Great War. Its headquarters are on the hill of Notre-Dame de Lorette. It publishes a quarterly bulletin. In 2026 the association counted 3,945 members, including 414 women, most of whom also belong to the Garde d'honneur. It is organised into twenty-two groups, presided over by General Martin Renard, and managed by a board of twenty-four administrators. It is patronised by the Bishop of Arras, Monseigneur Leborgne, and the Garde d'honneur is presided over by General Martin; Alain Michel is secretary general. To become a guard, one must be a French or European citizen, at least 18 years old, and presented by two sponsors. The entry of women into the Garde d'honneur was officially confirmed in December 2016, breaking the tradition established since its creation in 1927. On 6 April 2014 the association was awarded the gold medal of the Renaissance Française, which distinguishes persons who have rendered eminent and exceptional services in fields within the institution's vocation.

• 2016

  Entry of women into the Garde d'honneur officially confirmed in December.

• 2014

  Awarded the gold medal of the Renaissance Française on 6 April.

• 1963

  Recognised as being of public utility by decree of 6 November.

• 1927

  Chapel blessed by Monseigneur Julien on 26 May; Garde d'honneur created.

• 1925

  Lantern tower inaugurated on 2 August.

• 1921

  First stone of the lantern tower laid by Marshal Pétain on 19 June.

• 1920

  Association founded on the initiative of Monseigneur Julien, M. Jonnart, M. Weiss and General Maistre.

A recognised public-utility memorial association dedicated to remembrance of the First World War dead of Artois and to the upkeep of France's largest military necropolis.

• Notre-Dame de Lorette National Necropolis

  France's largest military necropolis, with 20,000 individual graves and 22,970 unknown soldiers in ossuaries.

• Lantern Tower (Tour lanterne)

  52-metre-high lantern of the dead, inaugurated in 1925, with a lamp of 3,000 candles.

• Chapel of Notre-Dame de Lorette

  Romano-Byzantine chapel blessed in 1927, with stained-glass windows donated by the British.

• Garde d'honneur de l'Ossuaire

  Honour guard created in 1927, mounting a permanent guard at the ossuary from 1 March to 30 November.

1. 1Official website homepageassociation-du-monument-de-notre-dame-de-lorette.e-monsite.com
2. 2L'association et son histoireassociation-du-monument-de-notre-dame-de-lorette.e-monsite.com
3. 3Wikidata: Notre-Dame de Lorette Association du Monumentwikidata.org
4. 4Wikipédia: Association du Monument de Notre-Dame de Lorette et de la Garde d'honneur de l'ossuairefr.wikipedia.org