The Reconstruction

Many years long, Hamel was a big building site. Before starting to rebuild, it was necessary to clear away. Tons of debris, scraps, barbwires etc., had to be removed. On that time there were neither trucks nor bulldozers for that task. That job was made easier by the use of tip-trucks moving on 60 cm narrow tracks (Decauville pattern). As for the provisory homes, those tracks and the suiting hardware came from the armies. They were used to supply the front and they had been dismantled to be settled in the villages to be rebuilt.

Out of the village, trenches and numerous craters had to be stop up in order farming to restart. Everywhere, unexploded ammunitions which threaten workers and inhabitants lives had to be collect. It was the role of the army. In the Somme, 450 000 hectares needed to be clear of bombs. Nowadays, that job is still going on.

Destroyed villages attracted contractors coming from all over the country. There were many materials to recover. Scrap-dealers were those who earned the more. The government was very present to help the victims. Many agencies were created (like a service de la remise en culture: return to farming department) because of the numerous needs. Helping the sinistrés was a moral duty for the nation.

We don't know exactly what happened in Hamel about the manpower origin. Some locals were certainly hired by private companies or by the state. At the département level, many war prisoners were used still March 1920. Some worked as mine-clearers. About 12 000 Belgians, Poles or Italians came to work in the Somme. Some settled there.

Inhabitants could also choose to their property cleaning on their own. They received then an allowance, what was more profitable in some cases. In 1900, 844 people lived in Hamel ; in 1926, only 405. Many families never settled again in Hamel and choose to use their war damages to start else where a new life. They certainly had personal or economic reasons: one of the factories was not rebuilt.

In every French village, a Monument to the Dead was erected. Hamel's was built before all the village houses to be rebuilt. The municipality decided to set it middle of one of the main crossroads on a trafic island. That monument is very simple, shaped as an obelisk.

Its presence reminded that Hamel and some other villages have been doubly victims of the war: the destructions and those which never came back... Several men of the village died in the First War. Consequently, that monument was more than commemorative. It helped families and relatives to do their mourning when they couldn’t pray on a grave too far or non-existent.

The Monument to the Dead. The fence around it, also visible down on left on the previous picture, is made of recovered barbwires and screw-pickets.	In every French village, a Monument to the Dead was erected. Hamel's was built before all the village houses to be rebuilt. The municipality decided to set it middle of one of the main crossroads on a trafic island. That monument is very simple, shaped as an obelisk.
Two girls on the day of the Monument inauguration. The one on horseback figure Jeanne d'Arc, a national symbol. The other, dressed with the traditionnal alsatian clothing, figure the Alsace, East province returned to France after the war.	Its presence reminded that Hamel and some other villages have been doubly victims of the war: the destructions and those which never came back... Several men of the village died in the First War. Consequently, that monument was more than commemorative. It helped families and relatives to do their mourning when they couldn’t pray on a grave too far or non-existent.
General view of the Monument to the Deads inauguration. many peoples are dressed in dark. What show the gravity of that ceremony.	The Monument to the Dead belonged to a real patriotic cult. Its inauguration was an event we may imagine solemn and serious. November, 11th, which commemorates the signature of the Armistice, became a souvenir day. All the inhabitants went to the Monument to pay a tribute to the dead rather then celebrate the victory. They probably not thought that one day other names will be added next to the Great War deads list.

One of the village street, right of the road: tracks and tip-trucks.	Many years long, Hamel was a big building site. Before starting to rebuild, it was necessary to clear away. Tons of debris, scraps, barbwires etc., had to be removed. On that time there were neither trucks nor bulldozers for that task. That job was made easier by the use of tip-trucks moving on 60 cm narrow tracks (Decauville pattern). As for the provisory homes, those tracks and the suiting hardware came from the armies. They were used to supply the front and they had been dismantled to be settled in the villages to be rebuilt.
The same kind of view.	Out of the village, trenches and numerous craters had to be stop up in order farming to restart. Everywhere, unexploded ammunitions which threaten workers and inhabitants lives had to be collect. It was the role of the army. In the Somme, 450 000 hectares needed to be clear of bombs. Nowadays, that job is still going on.
Locomotives pushing tip-trucks and some of the men working at the clearing. On lower distances,most of tip-trucks were pushing by them.	Destroyed villages attracted contractors coming from all over the country. There were many materials to recover. Scrap-dealers were those who earned the more. The government was very present to help the victims. Many agencies were created (like a service de la remise en culture: return to farming department) because of the numerous needs. Helping the sinistrés was a moral duty for the nation.
Rue Adrien Petit view, on left of the barrack one can see tracks à gauche. Buidings already finished on the border of the street replaced the castle. It was not rebuild.	We don't know exactly what happened in Hamel about the manpower origin. Some locals were certainly hired by private companies or by the state. At the département level, many war prisoners were used still March 1920. Some worked as mine-clearers. About 12 000 Belgians, Poles or Italians came to work in the Somme. Some settled there.
East-West view of the village. Right on the background, the buiding is the same as in the previous picture. One can also see the new factory chemney.	Inhabitants could also choose to their property cleaning on their own. They received then an allowance, what was more profitable in some cases. In 1900, 844 people lived in Hamel ; in 1926, only 405. Many families never settled again in Hamel and choose to use their war damages to start else where a new life. They certainly had personal or economic reasons: one of the factories was not rebuilt.