Free entry and discounted guided tours for Journées Européennes du Patrimoine on 21 and 22 September
Local Le Quesnoy historian, Grégory Chermeux, will share stories – and some little-known secrets – about the town as part of a celebration of French heritage at Te Arawhata.
Grégory, who was a key contributor to the museum’s visitor experience, will lead tours as part of Journées du Patrimoine, a national event where historic places open for free across a weekend.
Te Arawhata will have free entry on 21 and 22 September with three special guided tours of the museum, and one ramparts tour, each day as part of the events. The guided tours cost 8€ each.
In this Q&A, Gregory talks about his passion for history, the lure of Le Quesnoy, and some of the lesser-known stories about the town, including the dramatic escape of 14 British soldiers who were in hiding at Le Quesnoy hospital in October 1914.
WHERE DOES YOUR PASSION FOR HISTORY COME FROM?
I have always loved history. In primary school I wanted to be a history teacher, then in high school an English teacher, before finally wanting to be a librarian.I also studied genealogy, as well as local history to better understand the local area. Arriving in Le Quesnoy in 2007, I found a wonderful “playground” there, as it is a city with very rich history, and lots of interesting little stories!
WHY DO YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROJECT?
I had completed some research on the French soldiers recorded on the war memorial in 2015. An exhibition was even organized in 2018 for the centenary. The same year, a Franco-New Zealand conference was organized in Le Quesnoy, notably with the presence of Christopher Pugsley. On this occasion I presented a conference on the men of Le Quesnoy who went to the front. My work interested the museum’s research team and Weta Workshop… I threw my hat in the ring by providing my knowledge of Le Quesnoy between 1914 and 1918.
WHAT IS A MESSAGE YOU WANT TO GIVE TO OUR FUTURE VISITORS?
Simply that you must come! Te Arawhata is not a museum “like the others”. With its videos, sounds and screens, it is a modern tool for commemoration. But beyond the technological aspect, I always say that it is a human museum, where the place of humans is essential. The focus is not on great recitals of battle stories like we can often see in other museums. While these are obviously necessary, at Le Quesnoy we focus more on the human relationships, the experiences lived by our ancestors and those lived by us since then.
WHAT WAS SOMETHING NEW AND SURPRISING THAT YOU DISCOVERED DURING YOUR WORK ON THE MUSEUM PROJECT?
What touched me the most was the story of Alphonse Courouble and Alice Favier who both participated in the escape of 14 British soldiers hidden at the Le Quesnoy hospital. In October 1914, in the middle of the night, they took them from Le Quesnoy to the Mormal Forest, passing through the gardens and underground passages. Some managed to return to England thanks to the spy network of Louise Thuliez and Edith Cavell. For me, they are heroes whose memory must absolutely be honored.
THE LAST WORD FROM YOU …
Participating in the development of the museum was one of my greatest challenges and one of my fondest memories. The discussions I have on this story with New Zealanders are always extraordinary. And the story’s not finished either…