Students from the defense class of Côte Vermeille college present their exhibition on Gilbert Brutus.

The students of the defense class, promotion 2025-2026, from the college de la Côte Vermeille, have chosen to honor Gilbert Brutus by embarking on a project to pay tribute to this great resistance fighter who died for France, a martyr of World War II, born in Port-Vendres in 1887.

Discovering the destiny of a resistance fighter Since the beginning of the year, during a visit to the Perpignan memorial center, the students were made aware of Gilbert Brutus’s commitment to the resistance, an engagement that cost him his life. Guided and encouraged by their teacher, Mrs. Fabre Muriel, as well as Mrs. Lamirand Valérie, the librarian, they wrote a letter formally requesting the inscription of Gilbert Brutus on the Port-Vendres war memorial.

This letter was forwarded by the municipality to the relevant authorities.

An exhibition to trace a journey The students then conducted research and prepared an exhibition in nine panels depicting the life of this famous Port-Vendres resident, from his birth to his assassination following the tortures inflicted by the Gestapo in 1944 in Perpignan. This exhibition can be viewed in the town hall’s wedding hall from May 8th. For this occasion, the young people of the defense class designed and made a coat of arms in the image of the resistance fighter, which they wear on their t-shirts and can be seen on the exhibition panels. During the exhibition, you can discover the story of Gilbert Brutus, a man of great courage, strong character, and exceptional loyalty.

Through their work, the 14 students of the defense class have fulfilled a significant act of remembrance, which will be rewarded by the ceremony that will unveil the name of this hero on the war memorial on July 14th.