Guest blog post by Calgary author Romie Christie:
When I began writing about my parents’ dramatic and romantic World War II story in what became a published book, See You in Le Touquet: A Memoir of War and Destiny, I was not expecting it would lead me to participate in a memorable celebration in France. Using the word “memorable” hardly does justice to what transpired during the days leading up to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Le Touquet and the very special day itself, September 4th, 2024.
Last December, I sent a handful of copies of my newly published See You in Le Touquet book to Le Touquet – to the mayor, Daniel Fasquelle, to his office at the town hall, and to the historian Alain Holuigue, who’d lent me his support as I researched and wrote my parents story.
Author Romie Christie and Le Touquet historian Alain Holuigue in the Le Touquet Musee grounds, Sept 2024 |
Alain and his Le Touquet academic committee were thrilled to see the book. Their chairperson was able to read the book in English and immediately called a meeting with the mayor, suggesting the town host an event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Le Touquet’s liberation during World War II and, most importantly, that the event should spotlight my parents and their history as told in my new book. And just like that, planning for the event began.
My sister and her husband, Alexandra and Don Young, committed to attending with me, as did a cousin from Vancouver, Sharon Gove. I stayed in close touch with Alain, who told me the town wished to do a reenactment of my parents’ meeting. I’d been there when my mom and dad performed a reenactment at the 40th anniversary celebration and I knew who should do it this time. I quickly responded to Alain, suggesting Alex and Don. I even sent pictures of them so the planners could see they would do a great job. Alex looks a lot like our mother Dorothy and Don, similar in size to our father Sandy, promised to obtain a Canadian WWII uniform for his part in the drama.
On our first day, we met the mayor and his committee at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and then visited the cemetery where our parents were laid to rest.
Another day, we returned to Le Touquet's City Hall and reenacted our parents’ wedding photos, complete with a hat we fashioned to look like the one our mom had worn. Mayor Fasquelle handed us copies of their original marriage certificate from 1945. No added touch seemed too much.
For the 80th celebration, over 20 Jeeps with Canadian, American, and French "soldiers" in period military dress paraded the streets. After Mayor Fasquelle delivered a somber message detailing the loss and devastation that occurred in Le Touquet, we were transported - by Jeep again, of course - to another traffic circle about a kilometer away, at the corner where my mother’s childhood home, Rosemary Cottage, still stands. She lived there with her parents throughout the war years. The town had reached out to the present owners of Rosemary Cottage, who allowed their home and garden to play an authentic role in the reenactment of our parents' first meeting.
As the story goes, my mom vowed early in the war that she would kiss the first Allied soldier she saw. She told her plan to the female political prisoners who were in jail with her in 1942. And after five long years of wartime occupation of Le Touquet, the day after German forces fled the town, my mother heard a Jeep on the road... and the rest is history, told in my book.
It was right here where Alex and Don went into action, much to the delight of the several hundred Touquetois who had come to watch.
Alexandra, Romie, and Le Touquet's Mayor Fasquelle unveil the new plaque honouring the historic encounter |
Alain Holuigue and Romie Christie address the crowd while Alexandra and Don Young look on, Sept. 4, 2024 |
Mayor Fasquelle presents a commemorative coin to Romie and Alexandra |
Alex and Don ride in the parade of Jeeps, touring through Le Touquet |
Buy Romie's inspiring book: https://driverworks.ca/
See the video of the 80th liberation anniversary celebration on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNTXO0aYfZU
See the print story, Mayor Fasquelle's speech, and photos: 4 September - Le Touquet celebrates the 80th anniversary of the meeting between Dorothy Borutti and Sandy MacPherson and celebrates the Liberation - Touquet Info