St. Nazaire, France Memorial

A.E.F. Memorial in St. Nazaire Harbor.
With outstreached arms and a sword in his hand,
a doughboy stands on the back of a giant eagle that has just landed.

Dedicated to the US Army Expeditionary Forces
of World War One, at St. Nazaire, France,
their landing place April, 1917.

It was designed by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Sculptress, with Studio in New York City. My father, Florence J. McAuliffe was a sculptor
in her employ and worked on creating this monument. The monument was destroyed by the Nazis during their occupation of France in 1940.

St. Nazaire became an important Nazi Submarine Base in WWII.

I retain to this day the cast iron eagle's claw which was used as a model for the monument.

submitted by:
John McAuliffe
87th Infantry Division
M-347

After placing the picture of the St. Nazaire Monument in this gallery, <br />
Mr. John McAuliffe received word from his Belgian friend, <br />
Stevenot Gilbert, informing him that in fact, <br />
the monument was rebuilt ~1989!<br />
<br />
Mr. Gilbert also gives this interesting web site about the monument and additional pictures:<br />
<br /> <a href="http://www.linternaute.com/nantes/magazine/sorties/photo/saintnazaire/3.shtml">http://www.linternaute.com/nantes/magazine/sorties/photo/saintnazaire/3.shtml</a><br />
<br />
Here is a view of the restored monument!<br />
<br />
=====================<br />
<br />
Update - Jan - 2009 from comments sent in:<br />
<br />
St. Nazaire became an important Nazi Submarine Base in WW-II....<br />
A British raid in which an explosives packed destroyer was rammed into the lock gates of the dry dock, killing 250 Germans and putting the lock out of action for the remaider of the war has been hailed as the greatest special forces raid of all time. <br />
More info can be found by doing Google search for HMS Campbelltown.<br />
<br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Chariot">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Chariot</a><br />
<br />
The giant Normandie Dry Dock, the only one capable of taking the largest German battleships, was put out of action until the end of the war. A total of 5 VCs were awarded for what is generally known as <br />
"The Greatest Raid of All".

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After placing the picture of the St. Nazaire Monument in this gallery,
Mr. John McAuliffe received word from his Belgian friend,
Stevenot Gilbert, informing him that in fact,
the monument was rebuilt ~1989!

Mr. Gilbert also gives this interesting web site about the monument and additional pictures:

http://www.linternaute.com/nantes/magazine/sorties/photo/saintnazaire/3.shtml

Here is a view of the restored monument!

=====================

Update - Jan - 2009 from comments sent in:

St. Nazaire became an important Nazi Submarine Base in WW-II....
A British raid in which an explosives packed destroyer was rammed into the lock gates of the dry dock, killing 250 Germans and putting the lock out of action for the remaider of the war has been hailed as the greatest special forces raid of all time.
More info can be found by doing Google search for HMS Campbelltown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Chariot

The giant Normandie Dry Dock, the only one capable of taking the largest German battleships, was put out of action until the end of the war. A total of 5 VCs were awarded for what is generally known as
"The Greatest Raid of All".

St. nazaire memorial john mcauliffe florence j. mcauliffe US Army Expeditionary Forces A.E.F.Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Nazi Submarine Base stevenot gilbert