[7] During World War I Fernand Sabatté received the Croix de guerre and became a Chevalier (Knight) in the Legion of Honour.

[8] He was decorated for his services, while serving as an army officer, responsible for salvaging art works and sculptures from bombed-out towns in Northern France from 1916-1918, while simultaneously painting scenes of ruined churches and civic buildings, and can therefore be classed as a war artist.

In October 1916 this unit was officially instituted with its orders to salvage artefacts and bring them to rear area depots, where rudimentary conservation work could be carried out.

The following description of his salvaging work is extracted from the Bulletin de la Commission départementale des monuments historiques du Pas-de-Calais, 1920 and provides this connection.

En 1919, il n'a cessé de parcourir les villages dévastés, fouillant les décombres des églises; chaque jour son musée s'enrichissait de quelque statue, pierre tombale, cloche ou bénitier, rescapé au milieu des ruines.

Admirably assisted by a team of soldiers who specialised in this service, he proceeded to rescue our artworks even under enemy attack, (even) in the midst of shells and fires.

In 1919, he continued to visit the devastated towns, searching the rubble of churches; and so every day the museum was enriched by some statue, stone tombstone, bell or font, survivors from the ruins.

[14] The bombardment of Arras, and the destruction of its medieval belfry, caused consternation in France and was utilised for propaganda purposes as an example of German Frightfulness or Schrecklichkeit.

The identity of Sabatté in this unit is established in a photograph listing his name during a ministerial visit[15] to the depot at Abbeville[16] on 26 July 1918.