CANADA HONOURED CENTENARY OF THE CANADIAN BATTLES OF VIMY AND HILL 70 PROGRAMME IN LENS AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

Transcription

1 CANADA HONOURED CENTENARY OF THE CANADIAN BATTLES OF VIMY AND HILL 70 PROGRAMME IN LENS AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

2 CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF VIMY pages 2 18 History of the battle The Canadian Commemorative Park Other sites commemorating the Canadians Commemorations and events This booklet has been produced by the Lens-Liévin Office of Tourism and Heritage with the assistance of the Land of Art and History department of the Conurbation Committee of Lens-Liévin and with the financial support of Pas-de-Calais County Council. Find all the latest news on the commemorations at : vimycommemoration Lens-Liévin Office of Tourism and Heritage 58 rue de la Gare Lens Tel: +33 (0) info@tourisme-lenslievin.fr Copyrights : Laurent Bouvier Le pays Lensois ; Philippe Fruitier / Anciens Combattants du Canada ; Matthieu Brard / Office de Tourisme et du Patrimoine de Lens- Liévin ; Laurent Lamacz / Office de Tourisme et du Patrimoine de Lens-Liévin Simon Godly ; Gouvernement du Canada ; CWGC ; Robertson Martin Architect and Bisson+Castonguay ; Serge Poix / Histoire et mémoire d Angres ; M. Pascal Barbier / Givenchy 2017 ; Racheal McCaig ; Lens Air Show ; Archives de la mairie de Lens ; CDT P Morès ; Ville de Villers-au-Bois ; Office de Tourisme et du Patrimoine de Lens-Liévin ; INRAP D. Bossut ; Hill 70 Monument Project / Castro Denissof Associés ; Lens ; Samuel Dhote / CRT Nord-Pasde-Calais ; Association Loos sur les traces de la Grande Guerre ; Beaverbrook Collection of War Art ; Nam Thai Lai ; Richard Laughton. NOT TO MISS NEARBY pages CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF HILL 70 pages New international monuments Cemeteries, memorials and museum History of the battle A new memorial Other sites close to Loos-en-Gohelle Commemorations and events GOING FURTHER pages Discovery tools The Commonwealth War Graves Commission TOURIST MAP OF THE Open Monday to Saturday from 9.15am to 6.00pm. LENS BASIN 2 pages

3 CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF VIMY The capture of Vimy Ridge by Canadian troops (April 1917) At the very start of the conflict, the Germans took control of the high ground in the hills of Artois, which became essential positions in their defensive line. In May 1915, the French Army regained a foothold on the plateau of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette after months of bitter combat. Vimy Ridge, though, remained in German hands in spite of the breakthrough by soldiers of the Moroccan Division. In 1916, the British Expeditionary Corps took responsibility for the defence of the Artois front. A large-scale operation was planned in the spring of 1917, designed to support the French offensive in the Aisne on the Chemin des Dames: the famous Battle of Arras. Along a front stretching from Notre-Dame-de-Lorette to Croisilles (a village 10km south of Arras), the four Canadian divisions commanded by General Julian Byng were assigned to the Vimy sector. They were pitted against two German divisions. The attack was launched on 9 April at 05:30 hours (at English time), after four days of intense bombardment on the German trenches. The Canadian Corps made a frontal attack on the ridge, assisted on its left flank by a British division positioned on the heights of Givenchy-en-Gohelle (Hill 120, nicknamed The Pimple. Combat conditions were difficult because of the snow which made the HISTORY OF THE BATTLE General Byng was born on 11 September 1862 at Wrotham Park in the United Kingdom, died on 6 June He was Governor of Canada from 1921 to During the First World War, as Commander of the Canadian Army Corps, he was the architect of the Canadian success during the Battle of Vimy. He was raised to the peerage after the War, taking the title of First Baron Byng of Vimy of Thorpe-le- Soken 5

4 terrain muddy. By around 13:00 hours, however, the Canadians had taken in full control of the entire ridge. The Pimple was retaken on 12 April. This was an astonishing victory but the losses were appalling: 10,602 caualties among the Canadian ranks - 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded; 20,000 killed and 4,000 taken prisoners on the German side. Apart from the Allies superiority in number over the German troops, the success of this battle can be attributed above all to the tremendous preparation devoted to it: the creation of underground tunnels starting in the winter of 1916 for troop quartering and movements, rehearsals in field conditions rear of the front and physical training, precise instructions given to the men, substantial deployment of artillery, applying the tactic of the creeping barrage in support of the infantry (almost one million shells were fired, of all calibres). In 1920, the site was chosen for the erection of a national memorial in honour of the Canadian soldiers who fell in Europe during the conflict. The capture of Vimy Ridge was of particular significance because, for the first time since the beginning of the War, the four Canadian divisions went into battle together as a distinct army corps. To this day, this victory is regarded as a landmark in the history of the Canadian nation. The Canadians in the First world War: When the United Kingdom entered the War, being part of the British Empire Canada was obliged to join the conflict. Tens of thousands of young Canadians enlisted as volunteers in the Canadian Expeditionary Corps. In this country of 8 million inhabitants, more than 600,000 Canadians joined up, 125,000 of them conscripts (military service was voted in in July 1917 and implemented in January 1918) and of these, more than 60,000 lost their lives. THE VIMY RIDGE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA Inaugurated in 1936, this memorial built by the architect and sculptor Sir Walter Seymour Allward* pays tribute to the 66,000 soldiers who fell in battle during the First World War in Western Europe. It consists in two pillars, symbolizing the friendship between France and Canada, and 20 statues, including that of a woman representing Canada weeping for her fallen sons. On the plinth of the monument are engraved the names of the 11,285 soldiers with no known resting place. The memorial stands in a 110-hectare park gifted to Canada by France. There are also two cemeteries in the park. First, the Canadian Cemetery no. 2 in which 693 Canadians are buried. 70% of the almost 3,000 soldiers laid to rest there have not been identified. Second, the Givenchy Road 6 7

5 Born on 18 November 1876 and died on 24 April 1955, Walter Seymour Allward, is regarded as Canada s most important monument sculptor of the early twentieth century. He was awarded first prize in the design competition launched in 1920 by the Canadian Battlefields Memorials Commission. Too complex to be erected on all eight sites originally intended to receive the same monument, only one copy of Allward s project was created, and installed on Vimy Ridge. Although the Vimy Memorial was Walter Seymour Allward s principle work, he is also known for the South African War Memorial in Toronto, the Bell Telephone Memorial in Brantford, Ontario, and numerous other sculptures in Canada. Canadian Cemetery almost exclusively holding the graves of Canadian soldiers who fell during the Battle of Vimy. As is the case at all British cemeteries, a book at the entrance identifies the location of the various graves. Nearby, it is possible to visit preserved trenches and some of the underground tunnels used during the battle. An interpretation centre provides essential keys to an understanding of the Canadian involvement in the conflict. As part of the centenary commemorations, a new centre is to be inaugurated on 8 April 2017 and opened to the public on 10 april The site will be closed from the 6 th and to the 9 th of April. Opening times: 9.00am to 5.00pm daily. Guided visits daily except Mondays (upon reservation for groups). Closed from mid-december to mid-january Route départementale 55, Vimy Tél. : + 33 (0) vimy.memorial@vac-acc.gc.ca Longitude : Latitude : Getting to Vimy from Lens with the Allobus Remembrance Sites shuttle Departing from the bus station in Lens, the Allobus Sites de mémoire shuttle allows you to discover the Vimy Canadian Commemorative Park, the Lens Museum and the National Necropolis of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette all in one day with the 3.30 day ticket. Booking required up to two hours prior to departure, on +33 (0) and further information can be found at tadao.fr The Monument to the Glory of the Moroccan Division in Givenchy-en-Gohelle Located close to the Vimy Canadian Memorial, this monument evokes the breakthrough achieved by the Moroccan Division at Vimy Ridge during the French offensive on Notre-Dame-de-Lorette in May But reinforcements arrived too late, preventing the Ridge from retaken completely. Contrary to the appearances, the Moroccan Division had no Moroccans in its ranks; in fact, it was formed by foreign soldiers and volunteers from 52 different nations (Algerian, Polish, Czech, etc.). It owned its name to the fact that it was reposted from Morocco to France in August The novelist and poet Blaise Cendrars was a member. 1 Chemin des Canadiens Givenchy-en-Gohelle Longitude : Latitude : John Arsenault, a Canadian among many others Descended from a French family and a coal miner in Nova Scotia, John Arsenault joined up as a volunteer in He died on the first day of the Battle of Vimy. This soldier was chosen by the Odyssée de la Culture association (see page 14) as the common thread for their trip commemorating the achievements of the Canadians during the First World War. His name appears on the Ring of Remembrance and he is buried in the Canadian Cemetery n o

6 OTHER SITES COMMEMORATING THE CANADIANS Bois-Carré British Cemetery in Thélus Of the more than 500 individuals laid to rest in this cemetery, two thirds have been identified as those of Canadian soldiers who fell during the Battle of Vimy. Memorials have been erected in remembrance of soldiers whose graves were destroyed by shells rue de Bailleur Thélus Longitude : Latitude : The Villers Station Cemetery at Villers-au-Bois were nearby. Many of the 1,200 Commonwealth graves are those of Canadian soldiers fallen during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Le Village Villers-au-Bois Longitude : Latitude : La Chaudière Military Cemetery at Vimy Fewer than 600 of the 900 soldiers laid to rest in this cemetery - originally called Vimy Canadian Cemetery no. 1 - have been identified. Of these, 508 are Canadian soldiers, almost 200 of whom fell in April B avenue du Canada Vimy Longitude : Latitude : The Lichfield Crater and Zivy Crater in Thélus On the 9 April 1917 the four Canadian divisions, united for the first time in the same army corps, took the Vimy Ridge. The Canadian Corps Burial Officer decided to use two mine craters for the burial of almost hundred soldiers who fell during the combats. The Lichfield Crater and the Zivy Crater kept their original form and have no equivalent among the Commonwealth military cemeteries. Lichfield Crater Hameau du Vert Tilleul Thelus. Longitude : Latitude : Zivi Crater Route de Thélus à Neuvile-Saint-Vaast Thelus. Longitude : Latitude : Located close to the former railway station of Villers-au-Bois, this war cemetery has been opened by the French troops, whose graves were removed in 1923, the great majority to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette French National Necropolis. It was subsequently used by the Commonwealth troops between July 1916 and September 1918 and particularly by the Givenchy-en Gohelle Canadian Cemetery More than 150 soldiers lie in this cemetery. Almost all of the 126 identified soldiers are Canadian soldiers, the majority of whom fell during the Battle of Vimy. Special memorials have been erected for 15 Canadian soldiers who are thought to be buried in this cemetery. Route de Souchez à Givenchy-en-Gohelle Souchez Longitude : Latitude : Canadian Corps whose Headquarters 11

7 COMMEMORATIONS AND EVENTS Centenary Commemorations of the Battle of Vimy on 9 April 2017 A number of commemorations and ceremonies will take place at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site, but only the ceremony on Sunday 9 April 2017 is open to the public and requires registration. On the morning of 9 April, registered persons will be admitted to the site upon presentation of their printed e-ticket and a photographic form of identification. The ceremony will begin at noon with preliminary activities up to the ceremony proper at 3.30pm with a flyover of the site by vintage aircrafts. This will last until 5.30pm and will be followed by a closing performance lasting until 6.00pm. Access to the memorial site will be restricted from 1st to 10 April The site will be closed from 6 to 9 April Commemorations requiring registration: Opening of the new interpretation centre: The crowning celebration event will be the inauguration of the new visitor and education centre of Vimy. It will be open to the public on the 10 th April This project is sponsored by the Canadian Government (Veterans Affairs Canada) and the Vimy Foundation. This amenity will offer visitors an insight into why the Canadians came to fight and die here; why Vimy remains special for the Canadians; and how Vimy and other First World War battles in which the Canadian fought forever changed the status of Canada on the world stage. Visitors will always remain firmly grounded in their surroundings thanks to a wall of windows stretching across the entire length of the building s rear wall. Opening times: 9.00am to 5.00pm daily from 10 April Closed from mid-december to mid-january. Route départementale 55, Vimy - Tél. : + 33 (0) vimy.memorial@vac-acc.gc.ca Longitude : Latitude :

8 Exhibition VIMY 1917, CANADIAN UNDERGROUND WAR From 8 April to 12 November 2017 Lens in Souchez This exhibition sheds light on a little-known aspect of the First World War: the underground war fought by Canadian soldiers, hidden in the bowels of the earth to shield themselves from the deadly force of the artillery. Coming from a new country, and fighting and for many, dying thousands of kilometres from their homes, they, more than all the other soldiers, left their mark in France in the form of graffiti and sculptures etched on to the chalk walls of underground cavities in Artois and Picardy, where they stayed prior to going over the top or during rest periods behind the front. After a synopsis of the stages of Canada s involvement in the fighting and the losses it sustained, a description is provided of the troops living conditions between assaults, as well as their cantonment sites, hospitals, training camps in the villages along the Chaussée Brunehaut and the relationships formed with the civilian population. The traces (inscriptions and graffiti) left behind by Canadian soldiers are then presented, by means of topography of the preserved remains, the techniques used and their content (names, badges, images of women, religious and patriotic symbols, caricatures, masonic themes and so on). Two major Canadian sites are evoked specifically, in particular through the realisation of shot campaigns and 3D modelling: the undergrounds of Maison-Blanche in Neuville-Saint-Vaast (Pas-de-Calais) and those of Bouzincourt (Somme). Conversely, the productions of other warring nationalities are also brought to light: American (Froidmont quarry in Braye-en-Laonnois), Australian (Naours caves), New Zealander (Wellington quarry in Arras), and of course, French and German (Chemin des Dames quarries). The traces thus revealed are an occasion to follow in the footsteps of a large number of soldiers, from their homes in Canada, to the place of their death, on the French front, thanks to additional research carried out in the archives, as well as with their families. The exhibition therefore highlights unknown and fragile testimonies, exposed to natural erosion and to vandalism, but also irreplaceable as they often constitute the only trace of the passage of ordinary men, who came to die in a foreign land during the First World War. An Mission Centenaire labelled exhibition proposed by the Pas-de-Calais Departmental Council and l INRAP Lens WWI History Center 102 rue Pasteur Souchez. Tél : +33 (0) Free admission. Open every day except Monday from 10 am to 6 pm. Open on Mondays 10 & 17 April. Closed at 5 pm from 1 November to 12 November. Bilingual exhibition (English French) COMMEMORATIVE WEEK-END 8 & 9 April From Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening : reconstitution of a Canadian camp and activities around Canadian soldiers

9 COMMEMORATIVE WALK Organised walk In the footsteps of Private John Arsenault by l Odyssée de la Culture From 19 March to 8 April ,792km of which 300km are on foot. The Odyssée de la Culture association decided to participate in the commemorations by following the footsteps of the Canadian soldier John Arsenault (see page 7) from Cheticamp in Nova Scotia to the Vimy Ridge, through various stages in Canada, England and Northern France. During this commemorative walk, various ceremonies and events will be held and you can travel the various French stages of John Arsenault s movement up to the front between 31 March and 8 April, from Boulogne to Vimy Ridge by registering on the website tourisme-lenslievin.fr. 8 April 2017 Welcome ceremony, by the County Council, for the arrival at the Ring of Remembrance and on the esplanade of the Necropolis of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. The Departmental Olympic Committee 62 will present an exhibition Sport emerges from the trenches in a marquee from 11 am to 4 pm. EXHIBITIONS Greetings from the Pas-de-Calais, The British Empire in our region From 7 to 16 April 2017 from 10 am to 6 pm This exhibition explains how the British forces were deployed and organised and how they fought and lived in the territory of Pas-de-Calais throughout the conflict. Salle Prévert - rue Lamartine Vimy. Free admission. Info : + 33 (0) Landscape in Metamorphosis From 7 to 16 April 2017 This exhibition features a variety of landscape photographs taken during the War. Salle des fêtes (community center) Chemin de Butez Vimy. Free admission. Info : + 33 (0) Canadian Soldiers on the front & 8 April 2017 An exhibition based on a war diary of a Canadian soldier. School Pierre Curie. Chemin du Mont Breuvart Bouvigny-Boyeffles. Free admission. 7 April 3 pm to 7 pm. 8 April 10 am to 6 pm. Info : +33 (0) The Battle of Vimy Ridge 7,8 & 9 April 2017 School Pierre Curie. Chemin du Mont Breuvart Foyer rural Souchez. A WAR WITHOUT CLICHÉS, remarkable photographs of the Great War in Pas-de-Calais Open-air exhibition From 1 st to 30 June 2017 The photographs selected present particular moments in life, captured by amateur and professional photographers during the four years of conflict. They illustrate powerful subjects connected with the history of the department and its territories: the Artois front, Commonwealth soldiers, the occupation, the rear areas, civilians, women, the devastation, military hospitals and death, among others. Parvis de l hôtel de Ville (in front of the townhall) Rue Rouget de l Isle Vimy. Free admission I remember : Vimy 100 From 1 st April to 17 April 2017 The «Givenchy 2017 Année du Canada» association is organising an exhibition of the work of Canadian photographer Racheal McCaig. The works on show are themed around the monuments erected in the region in remembrance of the First World War. Free admission. Médiathèque (Library) Le Préau Livre rue de l égalité behind the townhall Near the Saint-Waast Church Villers- Info : + 33 (0) Givenchy-en-Gohelle. au-bois. Info : + 33 (0) Info : + 33 (0) The Battle of Vimy Ridge From 8 to 16 April 2017 This exhibition presents the military uniforms of the various belligerants of the First World War, with equipment of the period. Salle des mariages de la mairie (wedding hall of the townhall) Givenchy-en- Gohelle. Opening times: every day from 10 am to noon and 2 pm to 5 pm. Free admission. Info : + 33 (0) Canadians at Villers-au-Bois, From the 15 th April to the 26 th April The village of Villers-au-Bois was used as a cantonment site by the Canadian Corps in 1917, hosting up to 10,000 Canadian soldiers. This exhibition sheds light on the numerous graffiti made by the Canadian soldiers in the village. Salle Communale (community center) - rue du Chantier Villers-au-Bois. Free admission. Opening times: every day from the 15 to 26 April from 2pm to 6pm. Info : +33 (0) MEMORIAL Unveiling of a commemorative stele as a tribute to the Canadians 15 th April 10:30 am Stele based on a badge sculpted by a Canadian soldier.

10 STAMP COMMEMORATING THE FIRST DAY, 8 & 9 April 1917 This stamp will be offered for sale and can be postmarked at a post office opened in the Prévert room. Rue Lamartine Vimy. Info : + 33 (0) RACE Canadian Race 25 June 2017 The Canadian Race is a pedestrian running that takes place in the heart of the Canadian National Historic site of Vimy Ridge. Different difficulty levels are available. More information on SHOWS Chœurs de l Estracelle choir 7 April 2017 Free admission Church Saint-Martin Vimy. Info : + 33 (0) y Conference with archive films 10 April 2017 at night The conference will be followed by a general public film Free admission. Salle des fêtes (community center) of Vimy. Chemin de Butez. Info : + 33 (0) Military music concert 12 April 2017 By the Brass Band Atout-Vent de Oignies Free admission. Salle des fêtes (community center) of Vimy. Chemin de Butez. Info : + 33 (0) Cheerleading Camp with Canadian coaches 16 April 2017 Acrobatic cheerleader show during an evening gala performance. Free admission. Salle des fêtes (community center) of Vimy. Chemin de Butez. Info : + 33 (0) CREATIONS Givenchy fresco 12 March 2017 at 11.00am This fresco featuring photographs from the period and depicting Canadian soldiers in action, commissioned by the Town Hall and the Givenchy 2017 association, has been executed by Mr Pascal Barbier. It is 14 metres long and 2.3 metres high and will be unveiled at the intersection between the Rue du 14 Juillet and the Rue Degreaux. Rue du 14 juillet Rue Degreaux à Givenchy-en- Gohelle. Info : + 33 (0) Inauguration of the giant Soldier John 8 April 2017, starting at 4.30pm The Givenchy 2017 Année du Canada association decided to take action to commemorate the battle which was waged on the territory of this municipality. Among other activities and events, it decided to fund the construction of a giant, a character of local folklore. This giant represents a Canadian soldier of the First World War inspired by the uniforms of the time. Made between September 2016 and March 2017 by the pupils of Givenchy primary school, assisted by a giant maker, Soldier John will be inaugurated on 8 April 2017, the day of arrival of the Odyssée de la Culture pilgrimage walk in Givenchy and he will then take part in other events, festivals and commemorations. André Serrier Gardens, near the Church 3 rue Voltaire Givenchy-en-Gohelle. Free admission. Info : + 33 (0) FESTIVITIES AND CELEBRATIONS Village celebrations at Canadian time 11 June 2017 In Givenchy-en-Gohelle. Info : + 33 (0) Canada Day 1 st July 2017 Official ceremony and concert in the André Serrier gardens in the presence of Canadian authorities. Giant picnic and activities about Canada. André Serrier Gardens, near the Church 3 rue Voltaire Givenchy-en-Gohelle. Info : + 33 (0) MUSEE LOUVRE-LENS Screening The Battle of Hill 70 From 7 to 16 April 2017 (possible extension until the end of August 2017) As part of the 1917 commemorations, the Louvre-Lens Museum is offering its visitors an opportunity to experience the Battle of Hill 70 (15-25 August 1917) through the projection of archive images. Long eclipsed by the Battle of Vimy Ridge (9-12 April 1917), the attack led by Canadian troops on the hill lying to the north of Lens, today crossed by the La Bassée road, was a key operation for control of the town, occupied at that time by the German Army. The advance of the Canadians, in a predominantly urban environment, was immortalised by the war photographers. Continuous projection from 10.00am to 6.00pm. In the museum s Resources Centre. Free admission, no booking required. 99 rue Paul Bert Lens. Info : + 33 (0)

11 OTHER EVENTS NEARBY EXHIBITIONS Beyond Combat: the life of Canadian soldiers away from the front lines in Artois, From 25 March to 28 May 2017 The exhibition sheds light on the lives of the Canadian soldiers and their cohabitation with the local population during two years of war. Château de Rebreuve-Ranchicourt 1 Rue du château Rebreuve-Ranchicourt Free admission - Monday to Saturday, from 2 to 6.30 pm and Sundays and public holidays from 10 am to and 2 to 6 pm. Info : Bethune-Bruay Tourist Information Center (0) Aviation in the Great War Open-air exhibition From 25 March to 28 May 2017 Sited at a former aerodrome, this exhibition retraces the advances in military aviation. It also explains how an airfield, like that of the Stade- Parc de Bruay-La-Buissière, played a key role in preparations for the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Stade-Parc de Bruay-La-Buissière, rue Augustin Caron Bruay-la-Buissière. Free admission - From 8 am to 8 pm in April and from 8 am to 9 pm in May Info : Bethune-Bruay Tourist Information Center (0) View of the Battle of Arras 18 March to 16 May I Across the town Laid out along a circuit of the town, this photographic exhibition of 116 faces of soldiers who saw action in the Battle of Arras, will offer visitors the chance to come face to face with those men come from across the world, and to be drawn into their life stories. Free access. Infos : Arras Tourist Office +33 (0) carrierewellington.com contact@explorearras.com Witnesses: Our battlefields as seen by the Canadians 18 March to 11 June The large majority of the works come from the Beaverbrook Collection, one of the world s biggest collections of military art, on loan from the Canadian War Museum. Free access. Fine Arts Museum of Arras +33 (0) SHOWS SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW 5 to 12 April at 9pm This show, a gift from the Canadian Government, looks back on French-Canadian friendship through our shared history. Free access. Place des Héros. City of Arras +33 (0) centenaire1418@ville-arras CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF HILL 70 (AUGUST 1917) 20 21

12 HISTORY OF THE BATTLE General Sir Arthur William Currie born on 5 December 1875 in Ontario and died on 30 November 1933 in Montreal. A junior officer under General Byng, following the latter s orders he analysed the Battles of the Somme and Verdun. This enabled him to devise and implement the tactics that led to the success of the Battle of Vimy. Following this victory, General Currie became the first Canadian Commander of the Canadian Expeditionary Corps. At a conference on 10 July 1917, he succeeded in convincing the Allied High Command to make Hill 70, rather than the town of Lens, the main objective of the attack In August 1917, the Canadian Corps was assigned the task of attacking Lens in support of the British offensive at Passchendaele (Belgium). General Arthur Currie decided to concentrate his troops on Hill 70, on the boundary of Loos-en-Gohelle and Lens; he considered this to be a strategic target for retaking the mining capital city. Building on the victorious experience at Vimy Ridge, the battle was meticulously prepared: advance reconnaisance raids, analysis of positions using models, daily artillery bombardments, the use of underground tunnels. At 04:25 hours on 15 August, after shelling of the German lines, the Canadian infantry launched several successive waves of assaults, assisted by a creeping artillery barrage. 3,500 gas cylinders were fired at the enemy. The Canadians quickly seized Hill 70 but came up against fierce German resistance in Lens. In the following days, the Canadian Corps obstinately countered no fewer than 21 German counterattacks, yet were unable to retake the town. The battle ended on 25 August with a heavy toll: 9,000 casualties (killed, wounded or missing in action) on the Canadian side and 25,000 on the German side. Less well known than the conquest of Vimy Ridge, the Battle of Hill 70 nevertheless represents a significant feat of arms in the military soldiers were decorated with the Victoria Cross for acts of bravery, a remarkable achievement in a single battle. In addition, this operation was the first large-scale battle to be fought under Canadian command. Promoted to the rank of Commander of the Canadian Corps in June 1917, Arthur Currie *was in fact the first Canadian to be appointed to this position, which had hitherto been occupied by a Briton. From the trenches to the mining villages... In the mining sector of Lens-Liévin, the combat setting was very different from that of trenches in open countryside. The Battle of Hill 70 is a perfect illustration of this aspect: the attack zone was largely situated in the mining housing district, as experienced by the soldiers of the 2nd Canadian Division who found themselves in the middle of pit n o. 12 of the Société des Mines de Lens and the Saint-Edouard, Saint-Laurent and Saint-Emile housing districts. In these districts, constructed to typically right-angled plans, the Germans had systematically fortified the house cellars and constructed thick-walled concrete shelters, all interconnected by underground trenches. Above ground, the smallest stretch of wall still standing among the ruins could be used to conceal snipers. The pits, too, were completely incorporated into the German defensive system: the headframes and spoil heaps were used not only as observation posts but also as gun stations heavily reinforced with machine guns. In order to overcome this defensive arrangement, the Canadian Corps had to launch an intensive artillery bombardment aimed at the total annihilation of the German positions before the arrival of the infantry. 22 planned for 30 July history of Canada. Six Canadian 23

13 A NEW MEMORIAL : THE BATTLE OF HILL 70 MEMORIAL The memorial to commemorate the Battle of Hill 70, a project funded and implemented by the Hill 70 Committee, will comprise a number of elements. After the reception booth, a curved and gently sloping promenade will lead to the General Sir Arthur Currie amphitheatre. The surface of this promenade, named in honour of Filip Konowal*, will be decorated with maple leaves representing the Canadian soldiers who gave their lives during this battle. Decorated with an engraved maple leaf, the symbol of Canada, the amphitheatre will offer visitors a view of the obelisk which dominates the site and is topped by a Sword of Sacrifice, a symbol found in numerous Commonwealth military cemeteries. Symbolising the advance of the Canadian soldiers during the battle, the promenade will continue with a stretch that recalls the First World War trenches. A second ascent The bravery of Corporal Konowal: born in Ukraine on 15 September 1888 and died in Canada on 3 June 1959, Corporal Konowal distinguished himself during the Battle of Hill 70 when he singlehandedly stormed two machine gun positions and was presented with the Victoria Cross, the highest military distinction of the British Army and the Commonwealth, by King George V in person at Buckingham Palace. He survived the War. A memorial plaque to this soldier can be found at 244 Route de Béthune in Lens, just behind a Vauthier marker marking the most forward point of the German advance in 1918 and symbolising the resistance of the Allies. leading to the top of the hill and to the obelisk represents the victory at the Battle of Hill 70. Visitors will then discover Loos British Cemetery, created in the summer of 1917 and enlarged to hold graves transferred from seven other cemeteries in the vicinity. Almost 3,000 soldiers are commemorated here; fewer than 900 of them are identified. Of these, more than 130 are Canadian soldiers who fell in the course of fighting during this battle. 5001F Rue Louis Faidherbe Loos-en-Gohelle The inauguration planned for 8 April 2017 will be closed to the public, and the ceremonies planned for August 2017 will be open to the public. Dates and times to be arranged: contact the Tourist Office +33 (0) or

14 OTHER SITES CLOSE TO LOOS-EN- GOHELLE The Loos-en-Gohelle Memorial and Dud Corner Cemetery 1,812 soldiers lie in this cemetery, given its name because of the large number of unexploded shells (duds) found nearby. Surrounding the cemetery, the memorial pays tribute to the 20,586 soldiers who fell at the Battle of Loos in September It was inaugurated in August 1930 in the presence of the English writer Rudyard Kipling, whose son John was killed during that battle. The name of John Kipling was engraved on the memorial until the discovery of his remains in Route de Béthune à Loos-en-Gohelle Longitude : Latitude : Saint Patrick s Cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle This cemetery has been used between September 1915 and June 1918 by the French and British troops. It houses more than 600 graves including 54 French, 13 Canadians and special monuments commemorating soldiers whose graves have been destroyed by shellings. Rue Alexandre Maniez Loos-en-Gohelle Longitude : Latitude : The Tranchée de Meknès Cemetery in Aix-Noulette This cemetery has been created in May 1915 by the French troops and used by the British soldiers from February It s named from the town of Meknès from which came the 1er regiment marocain who fought in this area. There are 171 French graves, 2 German, and 199 Commonwealth Graves including 45 Canadians. Lieu-dit Les champs pointus Aix-Noulette Longitude : Latitude : The Maroc Cemetery in Grenay Begun by French troops in August 1915, this cemetery was later used as a front-line cemetery receiving bodies from campaign ambulances after the battles that led to the taking of Loos on 25 September It contains graves from the surrounding battlefields and cemeteries, resited to this cemetery after the Armistice. Rue Casimir Beugnet Grenay Longitude : Latitude : The Fosse n 10 Communal Cemetery in Sains-en-Gohelle Chinese graves in the Artois This military cemetery was opened in Aprils 1916 and used regularly by campaign ambulances until October In addition to the graves of soldiers (214 Canadians, 203 British, 1 Australian), this cemetery presents the distinctive feature of housing the graves of 49 members of the Chines Labour Corps, The remains of 7 of these workers, from the Petit-Cuincy German Cemetery, were re-buried here after the Armistice. Recruited by the British Army from 1916 onwards, theses Chinese labourers carried out logistical tasks in the ports and depots behind the lines. After the conflict, they participated in clearance and the burial of soldiers fallen on the front. Rue de l égalité Sains-en-Gohelle 26 Longitude : Latitude :

15 Monument to the 15 th Battalion at the Bénifontaine aerodrome This monument commemorates the involvement of the 15 th Battalion, 3 rd Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 1 st Canadian Division in this sector. The Highlanders of this battalion took part in the attack on Hilll 70 on 15 August 1917 and were relieved the following evening after having taken and held their objective, the Hugo Wood (now the Parc des Cytises) against German counterattacks. The plaque commemorating the action of the 15th Battalion was unveiled on 22 September Route de La Bassée Vendin-le-Vieil Longitude: Latitude : The Musée Alexandre Villedieu in Loos-en-Gohelle Established in Loos-en-Gohelle, the Musée Alexandre Villedieu houses a collection of First World War artefacts, most of them found within the municipality itself. Run by the Loos sur les traces de la Grande Guerre association, this museum evokes the day-to-day life of soldiers in the trenches and of civilians in the occupied zone. Also evoked are the battles that marked the town in 1915 and 1917, in which many Commonwealth soldiers were involved. Battlefields guided tours and museum guided tours are available on appointments. Special opening : From 7 to 9 April 9 :30 am to noon and 2 pm to 5 pm and from 12 to 14 August 9 :30 am to noon and on 15 August 9 :30 am to noon and 2 pm to 5pm Foyer Omer Caron -1 er Floor Place de la République Loos-en-Gohelle + 33 (0) Rate : 3. Longitude : Latitude : AIR SHOW Lens Air Show and 10 September 2017 This is the biggest free civil air show in Europe: an event worthy of the 14 July procession in Paris. This year, the Lens Air Show will be themed on the Centenary of the Battle of Vimy and the capture of Hill 70 in Loosen-Gohelle. It will take place in two phases: Saturday evening and Sunday during the day. 9 September 2017 at 8:30pm: From the Givenchy-en-Gohelle site, fly-past at sunset: patriotic tableaux, pyrotechnics opposite the Canadian Vimy Memorial. Times, access and parking will be posted on COMMEMORATIONS AND EVENTS 10 September 2017 during the day: At the Lens-Bénifontaine aerodrome enjoy seven hours of air spectacles, interspersed with demonstrations of recent and vintage civil and military aircrafts, aerobatics and formation flying. Canadian air force aircrafts will be present, as well as those of five other nations. A variety of activities and exhibitions, including a static aircrafts exhibition. Aérodrome de Lens-Bénifontaine, Route de la Bassée, Vendin-le-Vieil Free access.+ 33 (0) Route départementale 55, Vimy 28 29

16 SCREENING LOUVRE-LENS MUSEUM Screening The Battle of Hill 70 From 7 to 16 April 2017 (possible extension until the end of August 2017) As part of the 1917 commemorations, the Louvre-Lens Museum is offering its visitors an opportunity to experience the Battle of Hill 70 (15-25 August 1917) through the projection of archive images. Long eclipsed by the Battle of Vimy Ridge (9-12 April 1917), the attack led by Canadian troops on the hill lying to the north of Lens, today crossed by the La Bassée road, was a key operation for control of the town, occupied at that time by the German Army. The advance of the Canadians, in a predominantly urban environment, was immortalised by the war photographers. Continuous projection from 10.00am to 6.00pm. 99 rue Paul Bert Lens In the museum s Resources Centre. Free admission, no booking required. Info : + 33 (0) CONFERENCE Conference The Battle of Hill 70 8 September 2017 at 6.30pm Organised by the Lens Liévin Office of Tourism and Heritage, this conference will be coordinated by Mr Simon Godly and Mr Gilles Payen of the Loos sur les traces de la Grande Guerre association. The theme is the Battle of Hill 70, its objectives, preparation and conduct and the consequences of this Canadian victory. Médiathèque (Library) 15 avenue de la Fosse 15, Loos-en-Gohelle. Info : + 33 ( 0) EXHIBITIONS The Great War beyond the trenches - the civilians of Lens and Belgium in the torment of 1917 From 7 to 28 September 2017 Organised by the archives service of the town of Lens, the theme of this exhibition is the evacuation of the townspeople of Lens to Belgium in 1917 and explores this evacuation against the backdrop of the Battle of Arras, the history of mutual assistance between the French from the north and Belgian refugees, what life was like for Lens civilians in exile and finally the return of refugees and the organisation of that return. Free access. Open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to noon, on Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm and closed on Thursday mornings. Robert Cousin Médiathèque (Library) 13D route de Béthune Lens. +33 (0) Sauve qui veut (Rush for shelter) From 17 September to 6 October 2017 This Mission Centenaire labelled exhibition on the theme of heritage preservation and the actions of archaeologists and museums throughout the conflict, enthusiastically reveals that beyond the devastation, the conflict was a time when measures to protect the artistic and archaeological heritage were implemented and strengthened by German and French institutions and curators. Liévin Remembrance Centre (Maison de la Mémoire de Liévin) - 2 rue du 4 septembre, Liévin. +33 (0) Free admission. Open Sunday 17 September, from 10 am to 5 pm and then from Monday to Friday, 8 am to noon and 2 pm to 5 pm, closed on Saturdays and Sundays The evacuation and liberation of Liévin From 10 November to 8 December 2017 Staged by Patrick Adèle, this exhibition based on texts, photographs - some on show for the first time - and period artefacts will present the evacuation of Liévin in 1917 and its liberation in Liévin Remembrance Centre (Maison de la Mémoire de Liévin) - 2 rue du 4 septembre, Liévin. +33 (0) Free admission. Open Saturday 11 November from 9 am to noon and 2 pm to 5 pm and then from Monday to Friday, 8 am to noon and 2 pm to 5 pm, closed on Saturdays and Sundays and Monday 4 December 30 31

17 NEW INTERNATIONAL MONUMENTS One hundred years after the First World War, which left more than 18 million dead, new amenities in the heart of the Artois are promoting reconciliation between peoples, and also an understanding and knowledge of that period. NOT TO MISS NEARBY LENS WWI HISTORY CENTER Standing at the foot of the hill of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Lens Centre d Histoire Guerre et Paix presents the Great War on the soil of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Designed by the architect Pierre-Louis Faloci, the contemporary building is structured around cubes of black concrete called chapels. Employing innovative museographic techniques, this international interpretation centre exhibits an exceptional collection of iconographic documents (letters, archive photographs, contemporaneous films) and symbolic artefacts. Sourced from across the world, these documents reflect the viewpoint of all the protagonists of the conflict (French, German, British and others). Almost 400 photographs are on display in large format. Dynamic maps illustrate the various offensives and twenty or so archive films immerse the visitor in the First World War. The exhibition, created by the French historian Yves Le maner, sets out the key stages of the conflict in a chronological and thematic fashion: the war of movement and the trench system, the bloody offensives and Centenary special : Exhibition VIMY 1917, THE CANADIANS UNDERGROUND WAR From 8 April to 12 November 2017 (see pages 12-13). 32 the occupation of the Nord region, the 1918 offensives and 33

18 death on the front, the ruins and the great reconstruction. A memorial space allows visitors to consult the records of 580,000 soldiers who are commemorated on the Ring of Remembrance, the International Memorial of Notre- Dame-de-Lorette inaugurated on 11 November Lens WWI History Center 102 rue Pasteur Souchez. + 33( 0) lens14-18@tourisme-lenslievin.fr Admission free. Audioguide : 3. 1 April to 31 October: open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. 1 November to 31 March: open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Closed in January and 1 May and 25 December THE RING OF REMEMBRANCE The International Memorial of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette At the summit of the Notre-Damede-Lorette plateau in the municipality of Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, opposite the French National Necropolis, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Regional Council has erected an international monument whose focus, for the first time, extends beyond national commemoration of the tragedy. It is one of the biggest memorials in the world, bearing no fewer than 580,000 names. These are presented in alphabetical order without distinction of nationality, the friends and enemies of yesteryear intermingled. The winner of the design competition, the architect Philippe Prost, designed a magnificent elliptical monument which is both respectful and powerful. It was inaugurated on 11 November 2014, and received numerous architectural awards. Route Départementale 58 E Ablain-Saint-Nazaire. FOCUS ON TWO CANADIANS HONOURED ON THE RING OF REMEMBRANCE Standing Buffalo The grandson of the famous Sioux chief Sitting Bull, Joseph Standing Buffalo was born on 3 June 1897 in Fort Qu Appelle. He arrived at the front on 23 August 1918 and was seriously wounded. He died on 29 September 1918 and is laid to rest in the Buquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux. More than 4,500 of Canada s Aboriginal peoples - one in three men - joined up and put their skills as hunters, scouts and marksmen to good effect, while many women enlisted as nurses and canteen workers. Katherine Maud Macdonald Born on 18 January 1883 in Brantford, Ontario, head nurse Katherine Macdonald enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps in She was sent to England and then to France, where she was killed in the Canadian general hospital at the Etaples camp during a German air raid on 19 May Getting to there from Lens with the Allobus Remembrance Sites shuttle Departing from the bus station in Lens, the Allobus Sites de mémoire shuttle allows you to discover the Lens Museum, the National Necropolis of Notre- Dame-de-Lorette and the Vimy Canadian Commemorative Park, all in one day with the 3,30 day ticket. Booking required up to two hours prior to departure, on +33 (0) and further information can be found at tadao.fr 34 Latitude : Longitude :

19 CEMETERIES, MEMORIALS AND MUSEUM To each his own resting place During the conflict, fallen soldiers were buried in temporary cemeteries. After the War, each nation decided to pay homage to its combatants by creating permanent cemeteries, based on differing approaches. The French and Germans grouped the tombs of their nationals together in large necropolises, while the British Government favoured the creation of cemeteries close to where the soldiers had fallen. This explains the presence of a multitude of Commonwealth cemeteries, which were essentially front-line or campaign hospital cemeteries. There are, however, a few combined cemeteries such as Cabaret Rouge in Souchez. The French Necropolis at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette This site, which contained the largest number of individual military graves in France, was one of the main theatres of battle in the Artois during the First World War. A strategic promontory occupied by the Germans very early in the conflict, the hill of Notre-Damede-Lorette was marked by terrible combats until it was retaken by the French in May The losses inflicted earned it the nickname the hill of 100,000 dead. At the end of the conflict, the decision was taken to build a cemetery here, as the resting place of the soldiers killed on the fronts of Flanders and Artois. Inaugurated in 1925, it contains 20,000 individual graves and the remains of over 22,000 unknown soldiers placed in 8 ossuaries. A basilica (replacing a small chapel destroyed in 1914) and a 52-metre high tower, representing a lantern of the dead, were built at the centre of the cemetery. Of Romano-Byzantine inspiration, these constructions were the work of the architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier. The site offers an impressive panoramic view over the Mining Basin and the Artois hills. Since 1928, the Association des Gardes d Honneur de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, which today has over 4,000 members, welcomes the public to the site and assists families in finding the grave of a fallen relative. Opening times: Necropolis freely accessible 8.30am to 4.15pm from October to March; 9 am to 5.30pm from April to May; 9 am to 6.30pm from June to August; 9 am to 5.30pm in September The Association des Gardes d Honneur is in attendance on site from Palm Sunday to 11 November (+33 (0) ). Route Départementale 58 E Ablain-Saint-Nazaire. Latitude : Longitude : Open access 36 37

20 Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery in Souchez The Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, containing 7,665 graves of Commonwealth soldiers, is one of the largest in the region. This cemetery was created in 1916 by the English. Located just outside Souchez, it owes its name to the presence of a café called Le Cabaret Rouge which stood nearby. At the end of the War, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission took the rather unusual step of making Souchez a combined necropolis, containing over 7,000 war dead from battlefields across the Nord and Pas-de-Calais regions. It was from this cemetery that the body of the unknown Canadian soldier was exhumed, which now rests symbolically in front of the Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa. RD Souchez. Longitude : Latitude : The Nazdar Company Memorial, the Czechoslovak Cemetery and the Memorial to Polish Volunteers in Neuville-Saint-Vaast 206 soldiers lie in this cemetery (70 from the Great War and 136 from the Second World War, including 29 airmen). The Nazdar Company Memorial stands at the entrance to this cemetery. In May 1915, it was on this site at La Targette that members of the Parisian Sokol and the Paris Association of Socialists took part in the attack led by the French 10th Army. Located in front of the cemetery, the Memorial to Polish Volunteers was erected in December It pays tribute to the many Poles from France and Belgium who enlisted voluntarily in regiments of the French Army, unlike their brothers in Poland who were drafted by force into the German Army. Destroyed in 1940 by the Germans, the monument was rebuilt after the Second World War and now belongs to a Polish association. RD Neuville-Saint-Vaast Longitude : Latitude : La Targette in Neuville-Saint-Vaast : a French national necropolis, a British cemetery and a memorial Developed in 1919, the National Necropolis of La Targette covers an area of more than 4 hectares. It holds the bodies of 12,210 French soldiers, of whom 11,443 fell in the First World War. The remains of 3,882 of them have been gathered together into two ossuaries. The gentle slope of the terrain and the alignment of the crosses accentuate the notion of mass death. To its right is La Targette British Cemetery, which holds 641 graves. To the left of the necropolis, the Monument to Fraternizations was inaugurated on 17 December It commemorates the truces prompted by mud which in the winter of 1915 saw soldiers of the various armies leave their trenches, chat and share tobacco and drinks. This event was recounted by Louis Barthas in his World War I Notebooks. Chemin de Maroeuil Neuville-Saint-Vaast Longitude : Latitude : The White House German Necropolis in Neuville-Saint-Vaast This cemetery was created by the French military authorities between 1919 and 1923 to bury German combatants fallen on the Artois front. It is the biggest German First World War cemetery on French soil. It was renovated between 1975 and 1983 by the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge. 44,833 soldiers are buried here. The graves are marked by black crosses, each bearing four names. Unknown soldiers are gathered together in a communal grave. The design of the German cemeteries draws on the notion of communion between Man and Nature, inspired by Germanic mythology. The gravestones fit harmoniously into their surroundings, giving free rein to the spread of vegetation. RD 937 à Neuville-Saint-Vaast. Longitude : Latitude :

21 GOING FURTHER GUIDED TOURS FOR GROUPS : Explore history in front of the Anneau de la Mémoire ( Ring of Remembrance ), World War I Memorial in Notre-Dame-de-Lorette or at the new Lens War and Peace History Centre, marvel at famous paintings in the Louvre-Lens performance halls, be amazed by the breathtaking view at the top of Europe s highest slag heaps, loose yourself in the gardens of the mining communities, stroll through the streets in the city centre filled with Art deco façades, savour our local beers, chocolates, cheeses and enjoy an estaminet (small local café)...! The Icoming/Group Service of the Tourist Office is at your disposal to organize your coming and is responsible for booking your guided tour +33 (0) groupes@tourismelenslievin.fr. DISCOVERY TOOLS : The Laissez-vous conter (Listen to the story) brochures Produced by the Land of Art and History department of the Conurbation Committee of Lens-Liévin, the Laissez-vous conter brochures allow visitors to discover the region s history and architecture for themselves. Three publications are devoted to the Great War: Notre-Dame-de- Lorette, The Battles of Loos and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. They are available at the Lens-Liévin Office of Tourism and Heritage and can be downloaded at Lens-Liévin Office of Tourism and Heritage 58 rue de la gare Lens +33 (0) Open Monday to Saturday from 9.15am to 6.00pm Nord-Pas-de-Calais remembrance trails The website of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Regional Tourism Committee offers information on the conduct of the Great War, its battles and various events, and also on the remembrance sites and commemorations and events marking the centenary of the First World War. THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION : The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cares for the graves and memorials of 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars at 23,000 locations in 154 countries, on behalf of six Commonwealth governments Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Established in 1917, whilst the First World War still raged, the founding principles of commemorating each serviceman or woman equally, irrespective of rank, religion or nationality, still ensures their names will never be forgotten. Conservation and maintenance of ongoing task for our 1,300 staff worldwide the majority of whom are gardeners and stone masons. The CWGC also keeps records of the war dead which are freely available at In 2017 the CWGC will be 100 years old. We will be celebrating this milestone with a number of events and initiatives. To find out more visit us at or follow us on social media. 40 our cemeteries and memorials is an 41