The main tribute laying ceremony in the cemetery at Oradour
Due to the number of officials present it was not possible to get right up to the front and view the laying of the tributes (wreaths) on the plinth of the main memorial. The area was very congested and possibly even a little unsafe as a result. The officer in the white cap in the foreground was carrying two briefcases, possibly for the Prime Minister, but the whole group was so jumbled-up that it was impossible to tell who was an 'official' taking part in the ceremony and who was just a member of the public acting as a bystander. The army honour guard was out of sight on the right. It was impossible to stand any further back due to the presence of family tombs in the cemetery and so everyone was hemmed-in as shown.
© Michael Williams: July 2009