The best cycling routes around Sailly-En-Ostrevent

Not really special but nice

This small farming village has a rich history and is known for its two Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries from the First World War. The village has a church, a castle, and a range of amenities including bars, a supermarket, a chemist and a post office. Many residents commute to nearby towns such as Arras and Bapaume for work.

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from a number of small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras. The cemetery now contains 1936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles.

A remarkable story about the Canadian trenches concerns the preparations for the attack on Vimy Ridge in April 1917. The Canadian divisions used an underground quarry and created additional corridors towards the front. These tunnels and trenches played a crucial role in the success of the attack, with the Canadians managing to retake the strategically important ridge in just three days.

A remarkable story about the Vimy Memorial concerns its unveiling in 1936. More than 50,000 people, including 6,200 Canadians, attended the ceremony. The presence of so many veterans and survivors underscored the profound impact of the war and the enduring bond between Canada and France. The memorial has since become a symbol of Canadian courage and sacrifice.

The Mémorial national du Canada à Vimy is an impressive war memorial, commemorating the members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who died during the First World War. The memorial, designed by Walter Seymour Allward, was unveiled on 26 July 1936 by King Edward VIII. It commemorates the 11,169 Canadian soldiers who died in France and have no known grave.

A special story about the monument concerns the two colonels, Pein and Cros, who were both killed during the division's actions in May 1915. Their names are inscribed on the monument, along with an inscription commemorating the courage and determination of the soldiers: "Aux morts de la division marocaine, sans peur, sans pitié". This tribute emphasises the heavy losses and heroic efforts of the Moroccan Division during the battle.

The Monument à la Division Marocaine in Givenchy-en-Gohelle commemorates the courage and sacrifice of the Moroccan Division during the First World War. This monument was erected in honour of the breakthrough made by the division during the Battle of Artois on 9 May 1915. The Moroccan Division, led by General Georges Louis Humbert, played a crucial role in breaking through the German lines and capturing strategic terrain.