France
Somme Battlefields
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*Page under construction*
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Above: Views of Arras Railway Station.
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Left: Scottish troops advancing east of Arras, 29 April 1917.
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The Arras Memorial takes the form of a wall and encloses the Faubourg d`Amiens CWGC Cemetery. Almost 36,000 names of the Missing from various battles in and around Arras during the Great War are inscribed on the wall and the cemetery contains 2,700 burials. Panels provide information on the history of the conflict, local campaigns and the creation of the memorial. (to edit)*
The memorial was unveiled on 31 July 1932 by Lord Trenchard, who served as the commander of the Royal Flying Corps in France from 1915 to 1917. The memorial commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917.
The adjacent Arras Flying Services Memorial commemorates almost 1,000 airmen of the Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps, and the Royal Air Force, either by attachment from other arms of the forces of the Commonwealth or by original enlistment, who were killed on the whole Western Front and who have no known grave. From 1923, discussions took place on how the Flying Services Memorial could be incorporated into the design. Its location at the centre of the main courtyard of the memorial was decided. This memorial is a free standing pylon some five meters high, supported by a winged globe. The globe was carefully situated with poles pointing north and south. Its four faces bear the names of the missing.
Sir William Reid Dick was selected to carve the special features of the memorial in 1928. The Scottish sculptor had a distinguished career in the military, serving with the Royal Engineers in France and Palestine from 1915 to 1919.
The French handed over Arras to Commonwealth forces in the spring of 1916 and the system of tunnels upon which the town is built were used and developed in preparation for the major offensive planned for April 1917. During the Second World War, Arras was occupied by British forces headquarters until the town was evacuated on 23 May 1940. Arras then remained in German hands until retaken by Commonwealth and Free French forces on 1 September 1944. (to edit)*
The adjacent Arras Flying Services Memorial commemorates almost 1,000 airmen of the Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps, and the Royal Air Force, either by attachment from other arms of the forces of the Commonwealth or by original enlistment, who were killed on the whole Western Front and who have no known grave. From 1923, discussions took place on how the Flying Services Memorial could be incorporated into the design. Its location at the centre of the main courtyard of the memorial was decided. This memorial is a free standing pylon some five meters high, supported by a winged globe. The globe was carefully situated with poles pointing north and south. Its four faces bear the names of the missing.
Sir William Reid Dick was selected to carve the special features of the memorial in 1928. The Scottish sculptor had a distinguished career in the military, serving with the Royal Engineers in France and Palestine from 1915 to 1919.
The French handed over Arras to Commonwealth forces in the spring of 1916 and the system of tunnels upon which the town is built were used and developed in preparation for the major offensive planned for April 1917. During the Second World War, Arras was occupied by British forces headquarters until the town was evacuated on 23 May 1940. Arras then remained in German hands until retaken by Commonwealth and Free French forces on 1 September 1944. (to edit)*
Both Arras Memorial and the Flying Services Memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The distinguished British architect designed many of the cemeteries and memorials of the First World War for the Commission. Sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick is also featured. Sir Edwin’s initial design plans for the memorial in 1923 did not include a cloister. A cloister was not considered at this stage as it was thought there would not be enough names to fill the wall space available. His plans were revised and a cloister was proposed in 1927.
The memorial was constructed between 1929 and 1932. It is built in Euville limestone, the back wall bears the names of the missing in Portland stone panels. The Cross of Sacrifice is to the east and the Stone of Remembrance is across the opening of the main courtyard facing the cemetery. (to edit)*
The memorial was constructed between 1929 and 1932. It is built in Euville limestone, the back wall bears the names of the missing in Portland stone panels. The Cross of Sacrifice is to the east and the Stone of Remembrance is across the opening of the main courtyard facing the cemetery. (to edit)*
Just inside the entrance, in a space occupied by the remains of French soldiers, stands the Royal Flying Corps Memorial. It takes the form of a globe on top of a column with a flight of doves following the path the sun took around the earth on Armistice Day, 11 November 1918.
The memorial carries the names of all Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel missing on the Western Front. Arras has its own WW1 memorial (not illustrated) to French troops which stands outside the town`s main railway station.
The memorial carries the names of all Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel missing on the Western Front. Arras has its own WW1 memorial (not illustrated) to French troops which stands outside the town`s main railway station.
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