A solemn and formal tribute

A military ceremony was held on October 28 at the Base navale to commemorate the 88th anniversary of the tragic fire at the Nouvelles Galeries in Marseille.

The event, presided over by Contre-amiral Mackara Ouk, deputy to the commander of the Mediterranean maritime zone, paid tribute to the decisive role played by the Toulon detachment of sailors-firefighters during this disaster.

The order of the ceremony

The commemoration took place on the parade ground of the Compagnie de marins-pompiers de Toulon. The programme began with the reading of the order of the day by Capitaine de vaisseau Pierre Suleau, commanding the Base navale de Toulon. This reading was followed by a speech by Contre-amiral Mackara Ouk, who reflected on the significance of this historic engagement.

The ceremony also saw the presentation of letters of commendation to deserving military personnel, before concluding with a solemn tribute to those who died in service from the Compagnie de marins-pompiers de Toulon.

Following the honours, Capitaine de corvette Laurent Nègre, who commands the company, answered questions from the press.

A tragedy in Marseille

On October 28, 1938, a violent fire broke out in the "Nouvelles Galeries", a 3,500 m² department store located on the Canebière, then the beating heart of Marseille. The situation was made particularly complex by the context: the city was hosting the 35th congress of the Parti républicain radical et radical-socialiste at Parc Chanot that day.

Thousands of onlookers and passers-by gathered on the famous avenue, critically hindering the movement and action of the city's firefighters. Quickly overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and facing logistical disorganisation, the Marseille emergency services struggled to contain the flames that threatened to spread to neighbouring buildings.

Faced with the imminent threat of a larger-scale disaster, Contre-amiral Émile Muselier, then commander of the Marine nationale in Marseille, took a crucial decision: he requested help from the Toulon arsenal.

In response to this emergency call, a detachment of sailors-firefighters from the Base navale de Toulon was immediately dispatched as reinforcements. Their expertise, discipline, and equipment proved decisive in mastering the blaze and rescuing the Phocaean city. This intervention remains today a symbol of the solidarity and efficiency of the armed forces in the service of the civilian population.