This Wednesday, September 23, 2026, a commemoration of the battles of Sidi Brahim was held. A solemn tribute to the hunters took place between a recounting of the feats of arms of 1845, eulogistic speeches and the laying of wreaths.
On the occasion of the commemorative ceremony of the battles of Sidi Brahim, military memory was revived in Nice, this Wednesday, September 23. At eleven o’clock in the morning, in the garden of the Alpine Hunters, on the Avenue of the Blue Devils, participants gathered before the stele of the blue soldiers.
In tribute to the soldiers who fell in Algeria between September 23 and 26, 1845, General Alfred Morel, vice-president of the national association of the 22nd Battalion of Alpine Hunters (BCA) and Mountain Troops, recalled the genesis of these units, created in 1840. He also revived the traditional ritual formula: « By the Duke of Orleans, and by the bugler Roland who sounded the charge of Sidi Brahim, you will answer loudly: Long live the hunters!» which all acclaimed.
The floor was then given to Michel Gasiglia, also a member of the association, who clarified the deeper meaning of this gathering. « What we are celebrating is obviously not the tragic outcome of the struggle, but the courage and self-sacrifice of men who fought against all hope.» He also recalled how the 350 hunters of the 8th battalion and the 60 hussars faced the thousands of fighters of Emir Abd el-Kader.
A shared duty of remembrance
On behalf of the municipality, Maître Hervé de Surville, municipal and metropolitan councilor delegated to war veterans, spoke to represent the mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti. He emphasized the « great honor » of being able to speak on this day while paying tribute to the soldiers of 1845.
In a strong tribute punctuated by powerful words, the elected official recalled that « these heroes went to shed their blood beyond the borders of the metropolis for France, for the homeland. They shed their blood without thinking because they had an ideal, that of France!» He also highlighted the impact these acts had subsequently, notably through the famous military formula: « To do Sidi Brahim to the last cartridge means to ensure the mission until the ultimate sacrifice.»
The ceremony concluded with the solemn laying of three wreaths, on behalf of the association of the 22nd BCA, the Departmental Council of the Alpes-Maritimes as well as the city of Nice. It ended with the playing of taps, a minute of silence and the performance of the national anthem played by the musical ensemble of the city’s firefighters.
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