The Caillau hut

On Saturday, July 3, 1943, at around 11 p.m., Manuel Ricoy and Roger Albero were part of a group of seven people who, accompanied by smugglers Louis and Tino Troïtino, attempted to cross into Spain. It was summer, most of them were from Béarn, and the smugglers, after taking them to the edge of the plateau, left them alone with their final instructions: "Follow the stream (torrent) and you will arrive at the foot of Pic Rouge, easily recognizable by its color. Climb the last slope as fast as you can to the ridge, and then dive down the descent. You will be in Spain." A violent storm broke out, fog descended, and the small group got lost. The barking of dogs and the bells of sheep guided them to the hut. It was around 1 a.m. At Le Caillaü, there were two shepherds who tried to show them the way, but they couldn't see anything. They advised them to wait until dawn and leave before 6 a.m., as the German patrol coming from Lescun would meet the one coming from Borce in the meadow. The shepherds offered them a comforting bowl of milk. At 5 a.m., they set off again and crossed the border without incident.

After his internment at the Miranda de Ebro camp, Manuel Ricoy managed to enlist in General Leclerc's Second Armored Division and landed in Normandy on August 1, 1944.

After a few months in Miranda, Roger Albero went to Casablanca, enlisted, and landed in Provence.