Fort Vaux, located in Vaux-Devant-Damloup, Meuse, France, became the second Fort to fall in the Battle of Verdun. The first fort to fall had been Fort Douaumont.
The defense of Fort Vaux was marked by the heroism and endurance of the garrison, including Major Sylvain-Eugene Raynal. Under his command, the besieged French garrison fended off numerous assaults including underground combat from barricades inside the invaded corridors of the fort. What was left of the French garrison finally gave up after it had completely run out of water and ammunition. Raynal had also sent several messages to his commanding officers via homing pigeons (including the famous Cher Ami), requesting relief for his soldiers. During his last communications, Major Raynal penned the phrase "This is my last pigeon." Upon the eventual capture of Fort Vaux, the Crown Prince of the German ruling family, the Hohenzollerns, presented Major Raynal with his sword as a sign of respect. Fort de Vaux was recaptured by French troops in November 1916.
