The Saône-et-Loire Gendarmerie Cadets — 50 km in jeeps around Sennecey-le-Grand.
On 8 May 2026, on the theme of the Saône-et-Loire maquis and the SAS jeep commandos who came from England to reinforce the Resistance in the summer of 1944, the Saône-et-Loire Gendarmerie Cadets carried out a 50 km raid in order to strengthen the passing on of patriotic feeling, the history of the Resistance, field life and team spirit.
Supervised throughout the day by Lieutenant-Colonel Bruno Cottier, deputy commander of the Saône-et-Loire departmental gendarmerie group, by the reserve gendarmes of the GGD 71, by Daniel Massault, president of the Cadets' association, by Joëlle Arnoult, the promotion's patroness, by Catherine Raclot Marchois, a member of the Cadets' association, by the association's volunteers and by the drivers — active members of the Historic association — the young people lived a full day, between duty of remembrance, marching, map reading and tactical exercises.
Photos and chronicle after the article by Christian Cléaux — info-chalon.com.
9 a.m. The gendarmerie cadets met in the car park of Sennecey-le-Grand town hall, where a long day was about to begin. To set the scene, Jean-Pierre Poisot, president of the association of the International Museum of Special Air Service Parachutists, opened the museum's doors to them, where they watched a documentary recounting the SAS epic.
10 a.m. They then went to the war memorial for the official commemoration of 8 May. As the day was busy, the cadets rejoined the jeeps as soon as the ceremony ended, on the way back from the cemetery.
11 a.m. Crews were formed. The cadets were issued with maps and walkie-talkies and set off towards the Ruffey SAS memorial, where the names of the French, British and Belgian SAS fighters killed in action are engraved. Before the monument, they observed a minute's silence after listening to the explanations of François Prévot, president of the House of the Resistance and Liberation of the Chalonnais association, the initiator of the raids.
11:30 a.m. Next, the memorial chapel of the Corlay FFI maquis, the site where the resistance groups were established on the heights around André Jarrot's command post in the summer of 1944. A visit to the chapel and a presentation of the British and French SAS men by the volunteers of the Historic association.
12 noon The convoy stopped at the Navois pass, where everyone tasted a packed picnic, military-ration style. Rest assured: these were not 1939–1945 rations, but those issued to our soldiers today! It did, however, take some learning to use the little kit stove provided in the ration box.
1 p.m. There is no raid without a little marching. The cadets, in two sections, had to reach the Roche d'Aujoux via the Monks' path, up to the stele in memory of the maquis — a lookout point over the two valleys, including that of the Grosne.
On the way, one of the groups ran into an ambush and defended itself with "potato grenades". Using their map and compass, they found and discovered the cave where the commander was hiding.
3:30 p.m. Everyone came back down to the Mancey upland to regroup the marchers and the camouflaged vehicles, ready to intercept the air-drop of "treasury" by aircraft.
A full-scale simulation with a real air-drop: the recognition sign was the Cross of Lorraine, which the cadets formed by lying down on the ground. After the drop, everyone set about looking for the parachuted items. Unfortunately, the container holding the real €10 note was not found…
5 p.m. The convoy set off again via Royer as far as the Brancion car park: reconnaissance of the maquis cave, a moment of reflection at the memorial of the Brancion F.T.P. maquis, then the Fâ clearing — a 1944 parachute drop zone. As the hour was well advanced, the convoy passed through the hamlet of l'Échelette and its maquis infirmary.
6:30 p.m. Back to Sennecey via Étrigny, Tallant (the quarters of the SAS jeep commander in the summer of 1944) and Laives. In the car park, the cadets gathered. Lieutenant-Colonel Bruno Cottier addressed the young people: satisfied with their conduct during this operation, he congratulated them.
A day under a perfectly blue sky, three passengers aboard open-top jeeps, with a real scenario of intercepting a clandestine air-drop that added a little spice — especially in finding the containers of notes. The cadets, very happy with their day, were dismissed and rejoined their families.
The raid was filmed in full by Matthieu Prévot using his drone: a fine souvenir to come for the cadets and all who took part in this day. ▶ Watch the video.
A 50 km circuit in Willys jeeps, doubled by a march of about 3 km along the Monks' path to the Roche d'Aujoux. Base map: OpenStreetMap.
Are you between 15 and 18 and would you like to join the adventure of the Saône-et-Loire Gendarmerie Cadets? Send a letter of motivation to: acgend71@proton.me.
The raid was filmed in full by Matthieu Prévot using his drone. Aerial views of the jeeps, of the march to the Roche d'Aujoux and of the Cross of Lorraine formed on the Mancey upland.
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This day would not have been possible without the help and generosity of many people and organisations.
And finally the Cadets of the 2025–2026 session, for their cheerful participation.