Turenne rail accident
Encyclopedia
The Turenne rail accident occurred on September 14, 1932 when a train carrying French Foreign Legionnaires crashed in Algeria
killing 62 people.
The military train carrying 500 soldiers departed Sidi Bel Abbès
at 07:15 that morning bound for Oujda
in Morocco
. In the mountainous Tlemcen Province
between Zelboun and Turenne (now called Sabra
) it derailed, the engine and all 14 carriages fell 250 feet into a ravine killing 57 soldiers and 5 train crew; 223 men were injured. The population of Turenne helped in the initial rescue work until a relief train arrived. The injured were taken by train to Tlemcen
but it was not until the following night that all the survivors were extricated. An investigation revealed the trackbed to be loose and undermined by recent heavy rainfall. Many Legionnaires managed to jump from the rear carriages to safety when they saw those carriages ahead plunging off the rails.
A 12 metre high monument has been erected near the site of the disaster, topped by a grenade
, the symbol of the French Foreign Legion.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
killing 62 people.
The military train carrying 500 soldiers departed Sidi Bel Abbès
Sidi Bel Abbes
Sidi Bel-Abbes is capital of the Sidi Bel Abbès wilaya , Algeria. It is named after a Muslim holy man who is buried there. It is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. It is surrounded by a wall with four gates and there is a...
at 07:15 that morning bound for Oujda
Oujda
Oujda is a city in eastern Morocco with an estimated population of 1 million. The city is located about 15 kilometers west of Algeria and about 60 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Oriental Region of Morocco and the birthplace of the current Algerian president,...
in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. In the mountainous Tlemcen Province
Tlemcen Province
Tlemcen is a province in northwestern Algeria. The Tlemcen National Park is located there.-Administrative divisions:The province is divided into 20 districts , which are further divided into 53 communes or municipalities....
between Zelboun and Turenne (now called Sabra
Sabra, Algeria
Sabra is a town and commune in Tlemcen Province in northwestern Algeria.-References:...
) it derailed, the engine and all 14 carriages fell 250 feet into a ravine killing 57 soldiers and 5 train crew; 223 men were injured. The population of Turenne helped in the initial rescue work until a relief train arrived. The injured were taken by train to Tlemcen
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
but it was not until the following night that all the survivors were extricated. An investigation revealed the trackbed to be loose and undermined by recent heavy rainfall. Many Legionnaires managed to jump from the rear carriages to safety when they saw those carriages ahead plunging off the rails.
A 12 metre high monument has been erected near the site of the disaster, topped by a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
, the symbol of the French Foreign Legion.
External links
- 1932: Railway Accident Turenne page 1 (French newspaper articles)
- 1932: Railway Accident Turenne page 2 (French newspaper articles)
- Photographs of the monument and site of the crash