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Home , August 1915, Battle of Loos, Cambrin, Carency, Haisnes, Hohenzollern Redoubt

THE

CENTENARY 1915 – 2015

SITES TO VISIT AND EVENTS HISTORY

The Battle of Loos-en-Gohelle (25 September – 19 ) After the great French offensive of on the front which allowed the French to retake Notre-Dame-de-Lorette hill, General Joffre planned a new offensive for the autumn of 1915, with the aim of attacking in Champagne and Artois simultaneously. The ˝Battle of Loos˝ was fought by the forces of the in the mining basin, in support of the French army who were in and on the Ridge. The front line was around 15km long and stretched from La Bassée in Lens via the communes of Auchy-les-Mines, , , and Loos-en-Gohelle. The flat terrain of the Gohelle plain did not favour the in view of the German positions such as ˝˝ in Auchy, pit and slag heap no. 15 in Loos-en-Gohelle and ˝Hill 70˝ which closed access to Lens in the south-east of Loos. Douglas Haig, Commander of the 1st British Army, mobilised 6 divisions. However, the troops were exhausted by the fighting of the previous months, two of the divisions were made up of young, inexperienced volunteers and ammunition was lacking. After four days of bombing on the German lines, the attack was launched on the morning of 25 September. The allies used poison gas for the first time, discharging the contents of more than 5,000 cylinders which ultimately proved to have minimal effect because of adverse winds. The confrontations continued for several days. Apart from retaking the village of Loos-en-Gohelle on 25 September, the results were feeble; the attack on the ˝Hohenzollern Redoubt˝ on 13 October was a failure. Even today, the ˝Battle of Loos˝ is still marked by a heavy human toll and the violence of the fighting. Out of more than 8,500 British soldiers killed on the first day of the battle, only 2,000 have a known grave.

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2 SUMMARY THE SITES AND CHARACTERS OF THE 2 HISTORY OF THE BATTLE OF LOOS BATTLE OF LOOS MAP OF THE FRONT LINE 3 IN 1915 5 – 22 THE SITES AND CHARACTERS OF THE BATTLE OF LOOS THE COMMUNES OCCUPIED BY 5 – 13 The communes occupied by the Germans 14 – 22 Communes occupied by the British troops THE GERMANS 20 – 21 MAP WITH THE MAIN SITES THE HILL LOOS-EN-GOHELLE 23 – 25 OF NOTRE-DAME-DE-LORETTE The commune was occupied by the Germans from the start of the war. Throughout the sector they established a formidable network of EVENTS TO MARK trenches with several fortified points: this was particularly the case with 26 – 32 THE BATTLE OF LOOS CENTENARY pit 15/15bis which, with its head frames and its flat slag heap made a choice observation post. Subject to the harshness of German authority 27 Major events (requisitions of all kinds, reprisals, ransom demands, etc.), the population 28 – 29 Exhibitions was also confronted with extensive allied bombing. The commune of 30 Commemorations Loos-en-Gohelle was retaken by the British (15th Scottish and 47th 31 Conference Division) on the first day of the Battle of Loos, on 25 September 32 Guided tours 1915, mainly thanks to the intervention of Emilienne Moreau*. This success represents the main gain of the battle, hence it being called THE REMEMBRANCE TRAILS the ˝Battle of Loos˝, but the losses were considerable: nearly 35,000 33 – 35 AND MULTIMEDIA TOOLS injured and more than 15,000 dead. One of the other objectives of the battle, namely ˝Hill 70˝ which closed access to Lens, would only be retaken in by the Canadians. At the end of the war, the commune of Loos-en-Gohelle was completely destroyed. * see page 7

LOOS-EN-GOHELLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY 17

Loos-en-Gohelle Communal Cemetery has 2 graves from the First World War. THE MUSÉE Chemin de l’Eglise in Loos-en-Gohelle ALEXANDRE VILLEDIEU Longitude : 2.785905 – Latitude : 50.456285 IN LOOS-EN-GOHELLE 20

Established in Loos-en-Gohelle, the Musée Alexandre Villedieu houses a SAINT PATRICK’S CEMETERY 18 EMILIENNE MOREAU’ collection of First World War artefacts, HOUSE 19 most of them found within the This cemetery which was built during municipality itself. THE LOOS-EN-GOHELLE the Battle of Loos by French and British A young Loossoise, Emilienne Moreau, Run by the ˝Loos Sur les traces de la MEMORIAL troops is characterised by the fairly became famous for many acts of bravery Grande Guerre˝ association, this museum AND DUD CORNER CEMETERY random layout of the stones. This is during the occupation of the village evokes the day-to-day life of soldiers 16 explained by its proximity to the front of Loos-en-Gohelle during the First in the trenches and of civilians in the and the difficult conditions in which World War. A notable act of heroism occupied zone. Also evoked are the battles 1,812 soldiers lie in this cemetery, given the bodies were buried. But most of the was during the British assault to take Pit that marked the town in 1915 and 1917, its name because of the large number tombs date from 1916 when the 16th Irish 15. The metal bridge connecting the pit in which many Commonwealth soldiers of unexploded shells (duds) found Division was defending the sector. Closed head frames of Pit 15 and Pit 15bis was were involved. nearby. Surrounding the cemetery, the in 1918, after the war it received graves nicknamed ˝Tower Bridge˝ by the English memorial pays tribute to the 20,586 from the battlefields between Loos and who saw in it a striking resemblance Foyer Omer Caron – 1st floor Place de la République in Loos-en-Gohelle soldiers who fell at the Battle of Loos Hulluch. It contains 583 graves including to the famous bridge over the Thames. Longitude : 2.792450 – Latitude : 50.457290 in . It was inaugurated 41 which are not identified and 23 which Eluding the vigilance of the Germans, Info : 06 09 46 48 65 in August 1930 in the presence of the were destroyed by a shell and have been Emilienne Moreau succeeded in alerting http://loos1915.pagesperso-orange.fr English writer , whose replaced by specific stones. This cemetery Scottish soldiers of the Rate : 3 € son John* was killed during that battle. also holds 54 graves of French soldiers. Regiment to the danger of an ambush The name of was engraved by German machine guns mounted on For the Battle of Loos Centenary, on the memorial until the discovery of his Rue Alexandre Maniez in Loos-en-Gohelle this bridge. She was awarded a number open on Fridays from 9.30am to 12am Longitude: 2.788698 – Latitude: 50.456889 remains in 1991. of distinctions: the Croix de Guerre, the and 2pm to 5pm, Saturdays from 3pm to 5pm and

British , the Medal of the Sundays from 9.30am to 12am Route de Béthune in Loos-en-Gohelle – Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and the and 2pm to 5pm. www.cwgc.org Otherwise open by appointment only. Longitude : 2.772847 – Latitude : 50.379060 Cross of Knight of the . * See page 13 House situated on the corner of rue Condé and Maniez in Loos-en-Gohelle. Longitude : 2.792139 – Latitude : 50.457154

6 7 PIT AT 15/15 BIS RUE RENÉ CASSIN AND SLAG HEAP 15 IN LOOS-EN-GOHELLE 21 AND 22

Pit 15/15 bis was operated by Société des Mines de Lens. Located in the commune of Loos-en-Gohelle, the two shafts of this pit were each topped by a headframe attached to one another by a metal bridge. To the south stretched a flat slag heap around 22m high. The Germans made the whole thing a strategic position in their line of defence, LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY 23 which the British soldiers nicknamed ˝Tower Bridge˝ in reference to its singular This cemetery, originally known as the form which reminded them of the famous Loos Provisional Cemetery, is located in SLAG HEAPS 11/19 bridge in London. The pit was put back the immediate vicinity of slag heap IN LOOS-EN-GOHELLE into service after the conflict, but ˝Tower 15. It was built in by the (DOUBLE SLAG HEAP) 26 Bridge˝ was never rebuilt. who had installed a field ambulance nearby. More than The Battle of Loos sector includes several Rue René Cassin in Loos-en-Gohelle 2,750 graves from small cemeteries in slag heaps which represented strategic Longitude: 2.796186 – Latitude: 50.456586 the surrounding communes (Vermelles, positions both for the Germans and Liévin, Loos-en-Gohelle, Courcelles- the British. Apart from pit 15/15 bis les-Lens) were moved here after the war. in Loos-en-Gohelle, the Germans also For the most part they were soldiers controlled the ˝double slag heap˝ which who fell during the Battle of Loos. Two offered a remarkable view over the thirds of the bodies were never identified. battlefield. This flat slag heap, which has Specific stones were erected for 2 British mainly disappeared today, was composed soldiers and 4 Canadian soldiers who are of waste extracted from pits 11 and 16 supposed to be buried in the wall of the and formed a sort of junction. Back then site. Other stones replace the graves of it was located around the foot of the 44 Canadians and 12 British soldiers who existing twin slag heaps 11/19 which were were destroyed by a shell. In March 2014, not there during the First World War. 20 British soldiers discovered at Vendin- There was terrible fighting between the le-Vieil were buried in this cemetery. Germans and the British at this location.

Rue Roger Salengro in Loos-en-Gohelle Rue de Bourgogne in Loos-en-Gohelle Longitude: 2.797390 – Latitude: 50.451537 Longitude: 2.778537 – Latitude: 50.445652

8 9 AUCHY-LES-MINES HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT 7 A fortified point on German lines dominating no man’s land and a key element in the Battle of Loos, the British attacked it from the first day with the aim of protecting the flat-topped slag heap known as The th Dump. Attacked on 25 September 1915 by the 9 Division, it was A cherry tree was replanted on this spot th almost annihilated. The 12 (Eastern Division) was heavily involved on 25 September 1995 on the occasion in early October. The poet Charles Hamilton Sorley was killed there of the 80th anniversary of the first day of with the 7th Suffolks. On 13 October 1915, the 46th (North Midland) the Battle of Loos and a memorial was Division attacked the new position to retake the Redoubt and pit 8. placed at its foot. It bears an inscription The Redoubt remained definitively in German hands. During the battle, in English, French and German to Captain Fergus Bowes-Lyon, brother of Elizabeth, the future Queen symbolise new European unity: ˝Lone tree replanted in memory of all those who Mother, was killed by a shell on 27 September 1915 at the age of 26. lost their lives at the Battle of Loos˝. Only the outlines of the mine craters are still visible today. D 39 (direction of Hulluch-Vermelles), after the Saint Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery take the track to the left, then the track across the THE LONE TREE 10 field to the left in Vermelles Longitude : 2.765973 – Latitude : 50.488147

The Lone Tree was indicated on maps of the front of the Battle of Loos. It was THE MONUMENT TO THE 46TH located in no man’s land, between the DIVISION NORTH MIDLAND 6 German and British front lines. Like a THE RUTOIRE FARM 9 cursor, visible for hundreds of meters in The Monument to the 46th Division North this flat landscape, it served as a marker The Rutoire Farm is a complex of farms Midland is a Portland stone column, cut for the British as they advanced across the located behind the British front line near at a 46° angle, on which the names and battlefield. On 25 September 1915, the 2nd the village of Vermelles. It was used as insignia of various British battalions have King’s Royal Rifle Corps, the 1st Loyal advanced headquarters and an advanced been engraved. The monument honours North Lands and the 10th Gloucestershire dressing station by the Royal Army the 3,763 soldiers of the 46th North Regiment fought together near this Medical Corps during the Battle of Loos Midland Division who fell on 13 October tree, followed by the 2nd Royal Sussex in 1915. In 1916, an observation bunker 1915 while attempting to take a part of Regiment and the London Scottish. was built behind the farm. the Hohenzollern Redoubt that had been Despite being damaged by German held by the Germans during the Battle of machine gun fire, the tree survived and Vermelles, D. 39 (direction of Hulluch- Loos. It was unveiled on 13 October 2006 bloomed again. It was cut down after the Vermelles), after the Saint Mary’s st Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery, on the 91 anniversary of the attack by the battle and pieces were taken by British take the small track on the left until you th 46 Division. soldiers as souvenirs. reach a farm complex. The house has a sign (Le Rutoire) on the wall. Rue de in Auchy-les-Mines The site is private property. Longitude : 2.778704 – Latitude : 50.500271 Longitude : 2.765973 – Latitude : 50.488147

10 11 HAISNES Haisnes remained under German occupation during the war. However, a part of the municipality was taken by British troops during the Battle of Loos. On 25 September 1915, the largest offensive carried out by the British JOHN KIPLING Army began with the aim of attacking enemy lines north of Lens. A total of 60,000 men were assigned to the fighting. This confrontation Although he could have been declared saw the use of several new techniques of warfare, such as the toxic gases unfit to fight because he was short- used by the British. The battle was a dismal failure with more than sighted, John Kipling, son of Rudyard 20,000 deaths among the British. Kipling (Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907 and author of the famous Jungle Book), enlisted so as not to disappoint his father, who was strongly believed in fighting for one’s country. Thanks to him, he joined the Regiment as a lieutenant. He was killed during his first  Grave of John Kipling: Row 7 D, campaign on 27 September 1915 at the 2nd stela from the left. age of 18 during the Battle of Loos, and The tragedy of losing his son caused was listed as missing. At the end of the Rudyard Kipling to dedicate himself war, his name was recorded on the Loos to the CWGC. He was also responsible Memorial. In 1992, research carried out for the phrase ˝Their name liveth for by the CWGC concluded with certainty evermore˝, engraved on Stones of that John Kipling had been laid to rest in Remembrance in Commonwealth the Saint Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery. cemeteries, and the quote ˝A soldier of the Great War, Known unto God˝, inscribed on every tomb of the unknown soldier. SAINT MARY’S A.D.S CEMETERY 11

Saint Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery, named this cemetery. Behind the Saint Mary’s HULLUCH after an advanced first aid station known A.D.S. Cemetery, are the Ninth Avenue as the Saint Mary’s Advanced Dressing Cemetery and the Bois-Carré Military The commune of Hulluch was occupied by the Germans from the Station, was built on the site of the Battle Cemetery, which also hold graves dating start of the war. Located between the Hohenzollern Redoubt and the of Loos-en-Gohelle. It was constructed from the Battle of Loos. village of Loos, slightly below the British trenches, it was one of the after the Armistice to bring together many objectives of the Battle of Loos. On the first day of the battle, the graves of soldiers who fell on the D 39 (direction Hulluch-Vermelles) after painful confrontations, the British troops managed to take the first battlefield in September and October in Haisnes Longitude : 2.78906 - Latitude : 50.48573 German trench with the hope of liberating the whole village of Hulluch. 1915. It contains the graves of 1,790 But the few metres won were finally lost due to lack of reinforcements. British and 19 Canadian soldiers, only Like the neighbouring villages, Hulluch was completely destroyed 218 of whom have been identified. The tomb of John Kipling can be found in at the end of the war.

12 13 COMMUNES OCCUPIED BY THE BRITISH TROOPS

GRENAY Grenay is located in the immediate vicinity of the front. The French and then the British developed an important network of trenches there For almost the entire duration of the war, Cuinchy was located just particularly in the sector of pits 5 and 11 owned by the Compagnie des behind the front line and was a chosen target for the Germans, who Mines de Béthune and the housing estates associated with it (estate 5, so- were aiming to cross the canal. 90% of the town was destroyed. called ˝Moroccan˝ estate, estate 11, Belgian estate, Garden estate). These sites became systematic targets of the German . A large number of the inhabitants were forced to evacuate the town due to the violence of the bombing. At the end of the war everything had to be rebuilt. THE WOBURN ABBEY GUARDS CEMETERY, CEMETERY 2 WINDY CORNER 1

The Woburn Abbey Cemetery was The Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner opened by the was designed by . in and closed in . Opened by the in January The designation Woburn Abbey comes 1915, it was principally used by the 4th from a nearby house of that name that Guards Brigade. Closed in late May was used as a battalion headquarters and 1916, it was reopened after the Armistice hospital. Several graves were added in to group together graves from the . After the Armistice, graves battlefields of Neuve-Chapelle, Aubers from surrounding battlefields were and . THE MAROC BRITISH grouped together in this cemetery. It contains the graves of 3,402 British, CEMETERY IN GRENAY 25 It contains the graves of 547 British 32 Canadian and 9 Indian soldiers. and 12 Canadian soldiers. Begun by French troops in , It contains graves from the surrounding Rue Marcelin Berthelot à Cuinchy this cemetery was later used as a front-line battlefields and cemeteries, resited to this Rue Julien Clément in Cuinchy Longitude : 2.74165 – Latitude : 50.5288 cemetery receiving bodies from campaign cemetery after the Armistice. Longitude : 2.7506 – Latitude: 50.51686 ambulances after the battles that led to the taking of Loos on 25 September 1915. Rue Casimir Beugnet in Grenay Longitude : 2.747380 – Latitude : 50.447290

14 15 During the First World War, the commune of Mazingarbe, which is located at the rear of the British trenches, was a military base. The soldiers used mainly Compagnie des Mines de Béthune pits 3 and 7 as observation posts. A field hospital and various emergency stations were also set up in the village. During the Battle of Loos, the numerous wounded were taken there by the mining cavalrymen of the sector. Depending on their injuries, the soldiers were treated on site or directed to Noeux-les-Mines. At the end of the war the village was destroyed to a large extent.

DUPUICH FARM CULTURAL SPACE 13 FOSSE 7 MILITARY CEMETERY 15 This old farm served as a military base during the conflict. Soldiers took Erected in the vicinity of the former MAZINGARBE COMMUNAL advantage of lulls in proceedings to Compagnie des Mines de Béthune pit 7, CEMETERY AND EXTENSION 12 engrave inscriptions on the limestone PHILOSOPHE BRITISH this cemetery is adjacent to the gardens walls, leaving traces of where they had CEMETERY 14 of the nearby miners’ housing estate. It Located next to the communal cemetery, passed through. Some of this graffiti, was built by French troops in May 1915 this military cemetery was used from June which is still visible, was specifically This cemetery, which holds 1,996 graves and then used by the British from June 1915 to mainly to bury highlighted when the place was renovated (including 277 unknown soldiers), is 1915 to . Field ambulances the numerous soldiers who died in the and transformed into a cultural space in located near the former Compagnie des were installed in the houses in front of the emergency stations nearby. April 2015. Mines de Béthune pit 3. Building began cemetery during the Battle of Loos. This It holds 108 graves of British soldiers and in August 1915 to bury the soldiers cemetery is also known as ˝Quality street˝ 24 graves of French soldiers. An extension 3 rue Lefebvre in Mazingarbe brought back from the front line and in reference to the name of the trench was created in and used until Longitude: 2.718464 – Latitude: 50.471876 cared for in the emergency stations which leads there. It has more . It has 248 British stones nearby. Most of the graves however date than a hundred graves from the First and 2 graves of German soldiers. from April and and World War of which a dozen or so are . When the Dud Corner not identified. 17 graves destroyed by Rue de in Mazingarbe memorial was built in Loos-en-Gohelle, a shell were subsequently replaced by Longitude : 2.713526 – Latitude : 50.468161 the graves of 41 men from the 9th Black specific stones. Watch who were killed at the Battle of Loos were moved to this cemetery. Rue Montaigne in Mazingarbe Longitude: 2.75657 – Latitude: 50.46534 Access via a dirt path from rue Alexandre Dumas in Mazingarbe Longitude : 2.741668 – Latitude : 50.470939

16 17 BULLY-LES-MINES VERMELLES The commune of Bully-les-Mines was at the rear of the front during The Village of Vermelles was under German occupation from the conflict. It was used as a military base, first by the French troops October to 7 when it was taken by French troops. and then by the British troops. A field hospital was set up there in For almost two months, the French fought from Noyelles . Bully also became a ˝stronghold˝ where several artillery and Mazingarbe to win back the village; they managed to take the batteries were installed. Long range artillery was moved using the château and its grounds on 1 December using sapping and mining Compagnie des Mines de Béthune rail network which was the best way operations. On 7 December, the Germans retreated to Auchy-les- to reach the German lines. The commune therefore suffered terrible Mines. Subsequently, Vermelles Château was used as a dispensary bombings by the Germans. Many civilians were killed, including miners in 1915 during the Battle of Loos. from the Compagnie des Mines de Béthune who were working in the few pits which remained open despite the fighting to support the war effort.

ABBOT QUARRY CEMETERY 5 JULES DUCOURANT The Quarry Cemetery was used from July Abbot Ducourant, curate of the parish 1915 to for the burial of soldiers of Vermelles, was executed for spying on who had fallen during assaults on Fosse 8 14 October 1914 on the orders of Colonel and the Hohenzollern Redoubt. It owes Von Saint Ange. He had been caught its name to its construction in a former BULLY-GRENAY COMMUNAL sending light signals from the church quarry shown on maps of the front. It CEMETERY EXTENSION 24 bell tower to French troops. His name is was severely damaged by bombing; as a inscribed on the monument to the fallen consequence, a large number of stelae bear Bully-Grenay refers to the name given next to the church. the inscription ˝Buried near this spot˝. to the station serving both of these It contains the graves of 139 British and communes. The Bully-les-Mines 1 German soldier. communal cemetery was extended twice. The French part was built by French VERMELLES BRITISH Rue de Vermelles in Vermelles troops and then taken over by British CEMETERY 8 Longitude : 2.771863 – Latitude : 50.503442 forces from June 1915 to June 1916. It Today it holds 803 British graves from the holds 240 graves of French soldiers and First World War. Among them, 141 are The Vermelles British Cemetery was built 91 graves of British soldiers. A second not identified and 2 stones commemorate by Sir Herbert Baker and is composed by exclusively British extension was built soldiers buried in but whose 1936 graves. It was began in august 1915 from April 1916 until October, and reused graves were never found. This cemetery during the Battle of Loos, when the castle from April 1917 to . Most of also contains the grave of a soldier from was used as an advanced aid station. the graves date from this period. After the Second World War. the war, 168 graves from small cemeteries Rue Florent Evrard in Vermelles from the battlefields to the east of Grenay Rue de l’Egalité in Bully-les-Mines Longitude : 2.729008 – Latitude : 50.475711 were moved there. Longitude : 2.717203 – Latitude : 50.446963

18 19 MAP WITH THE MAIN SITES

See the description of the main sites pages 6 to 25. 20 21 The village of Cambrin was once home to the headquarters of a brigade of British forces. It was relatively spared throughout the war, given that THE it was around 800 metres from the front line. HILL OF NOTRE-DAME- CAMBRIN MILITARY CEMETERY 3 DE-LORETTE CAMBRIN CHURCHYARD The Cambrin Military Cemetery, EXTENSION 4 also known as the Cambrin Château Cemetery, designed by Charles Holden, The Cambrin Churchyard Extension, was opened in and used designed by Charles Holden, was used as a cemetery for the front until December to bury soldiers who fell on the front 1918. It contains numerous graves of line before February 1917. Three graves soldiers who died during the Battle of were added in 1918. It is notable for Loos. The graves of 57 officers and soldiers its large number of graves grouped by from the 1st King’s Regiment, battalion: 79 graves of the 2nd Argyll and who fell on the first day of the battle, Highlanders; 15 graves of the 25 September 1915, can be found in Row 1st Cameronians (Row C), 35 graves of D. It contains the graves of 819 British, 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers; and 115 graves 1 South African and 2 German soldiers. of the 1st Middlesex (Row H), all dating from 25 September 1915, first day of the N.41 in Cambrin Battle of Loos. It contains the graves behind the Café Le Beaulieu of 1,210 British, 98 French, 3 German, Longitude : 2.73702 – Latitude : 50.51227 1 Belgian and 1 Indian soldier.

Rue de Noyelles, behind the church in Cambrin Longitude : 2.739039 – Latitude : 50.508077

22 23 THE INTERNATIONAL THE NATIONAL NECROPOLIS AT MEMORIAL OF NOTRE-DAME- NOTRE-DAME-DE-LORETTE 28 DE-LORETTE 28 LENS’14-18 – WAR AND PEACE This site, which contained the largest the dead˝, were built at the centre of At the top of the plateau of Notre- HISTORY CENTER 29 number of individual military graves the cemetery. Of Romano-Byzantine Dame-de-Lorette in the municipality of in , was one of the main theatres inspiration, these constructions were Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, overlooking the Standing at the foot of the hill of Notre- of battle in the Artois during the First the work of the architect Louis-Marie French National Necropolis, the Nord- Dame-de-Lorette, this new museum World War. Cordonnier. The site offers an impressive Pas-de- Regional Council built an presents the Great War on the soil of A strategic promontory occupied by the panoramic view over the Mining Basin international monument which, for the the Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Almost 400 Germans very early in the conflict, the hill and the Artois hills. Since 1928, the first time, will transcend remembrance of photographs are on display in large of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette was marked Association des Gardes d’Honneur de the tragedy based on nationhood. It will format. Dynamic maps illustrate the by terrible combats until it was retaken Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, which today has be one of the biggest memorials in the various offensives and twenty or so archive by the French in May 1915. The losses over 4,000 members, welcomes the public world, as it will bring together 580,000 films immerse the visitor in the First inflicted earned it the nickname ˝the hill to the site and assists families in finding names presented in alphabetical order World War. of 100,000 dead˝. the grave of a fallen relative. without distinction by nationality, thereby At the end of the conflict, the decision uniting friend and foe of yesteryear. 102 rue Pasteur in Souchez. was taken to build a cemetery here, as Opening times: Necropolis freely accessible The winner of the architecture Info : +33(0)3 21 74 83 15 8.30am to 4.15pm from October to March; Longitude : 2.738739– Latitude : 50.401618 the resting place of the soldiers killed 9.00am to 5.30pm from April to May; competition, Philippe Prost, has designed on the fronts of Flanders and Artois. 9.00am to 6.30pm from June to August; a magnificent ellipse-shaped monument, Inaugurated in 1925, it contains 20,000 9.00am to 5.30pm in September both respectful and powerful. It Admission free. Audioguide : €3 1 June to 30 September : open from Tuesday individual graves and the remains of over The Association des Gardes d’Honneur inaugurated on 11 November 2014. is in attendance on site from Palm Sunday to Sunday from 10.00am to 6.00pm. 22,000 unknown soldiers placed in 8 to 11 November (+33 (0)3 21 29 30 62). Closing to 5.00pm from 1 October to 31 May. ossuaries. A basilica (replacing a small Route Départementale 58 E3, Route Départementale 58 E3 Closed from 4 to 31 January. chapel destroyed in 1914) and a 52-metre Ablain-Saint-Nazaire. Open access in Ablain-Saint-Nazaire. high tower, representing a ˝lantern of Longitude : 2.722260 – Latitude : 50.399648 Longitude : 2.722260 – Latitude : 50.399648 24 25 MAJOR EVENTS EVENTS TO MARK THE BATTLE OF LOOS

19 and 20 September: CENTENARY LENS AIR SHOW On 12 and 13 September: Based on the theme of RECONSTRUCTION 12 September the Battle of Loos, the OF A VILLAGE IN 1915 at 8.45pm: Franco-British air show ˝LE CARNET offers the public more than ˝Le carnet vert˝ SUBLIME˝ (THE 6 hours of aerial displays. (the green diary) in SUBLIME DIARY) It alternatively shows Vendin-le-Vieil presents SOUND AND LIGHT demonstrations of recent a reconstruction in period SHOW and collectors’ civil and costumes with La Cie du military aircraft, aerobatics Scénographe set designers. A tribute to the front line and patrol flights. The Actors and musicians will and its combatants. A show aerodrome also hosts help you re-live the daily that will send shivers down entertainment and various life of a village near the your spine. exhibitions and a large front line. Discover the static exhibition of aircraft Cabaret Rouge, its bars, its Free is open to the public from Place : Place de la Mairie atmosphere, a cinema from in Vendin-le-Vieil the early morning. the era and even the Reich Info. : Le carnet Vert – Bank or the Armed Forces Free +33 (0)3 21 67 77 81 – Place : Lens-Benifontaine theatre. A parade will take [email protected] Aerodrome. place in the streets on Parking in the Parc des Cytises car park Sunday morning. Info. : +33(0)6 09 50 31 52 Free organisation@meeting-air- Opening times : lens.com – 10am to 6pm. www.meeting-air-lens.com Place : Place de la Mairie in Vendin-le-Vieil Info. : Le carnet Vert – +33 (0)3 21 67 77 81 – [email protected] 27

EXHIBITIONS

From 26 September to 1 October: THE WORK OF THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES From 21 September COMMISSION to 2 October: From 23 and 27 September: 9 and 10 October: RETROSPECTIVE to 9 October: THE BATTLE This exhibition traces THE BATTLE OF OF THE YEAR 1915 ARTOIS AT THE OF LOOS the different work of the HOHENZOLLERN HEART OF THE Commission in France REDOUBT The Mazingarbe historical GREAT WAR IN 1915 To commemorate the and all over the world. committee presents an ex- Centenary, discover The history of its creation A vast complex of trenches hibition tracing the history The exhibition shows this famous battle that and those involved on and underground shelters, of the front during 1915. the local situation before has marked our region. the ground (gardeners, come and discover the On display in the Dupuich the battles of Artois, the Reconstruction sketches carpenters/cabinetmakers, ˝Hohenzollern Redoubt˝ Farm Cultural Space, which various military events will submerge you in iron workers, stone through geographical and sheltered British soldiers and commemorates the world of that era: engravers etc.). It will be strategic maps, military quartered there just before these battles through the British artillery, the opened on 26 September papers, letters from soldiers the Battle of Loos. You can remembrance sites and the German and Scottish in the Foyer Omer and photos of the village also discover the numerous testimony of artist fighters. armies, the place of women Caron for the official from the German and graffiti testifying to their Military artefacts from the in the Great War and a commemorations and then English side. presence. era will bring a sensitive reconstructed trench - installed that afternoon In partnership with French and practical dimension suitable for young and old in the Loos-en-Gohelle and foreign delegations and Free Opening times : to the exhibition. alike. médiathèque. the Front Schwein association. Monday, Tuesday, In partnership with Christophe Free Thursday, Friday from Free Desenepart and Guy Rifflard, Free 1.30pm to 6.30pm Opening times : Opening times : Opening times : Monday, Thursday and private collectors. Tuesday to Friday from from 9am to 6pm and Wednesday/Saturday from 10am to 12am Friday from 10am to 6pm 9.30am to 12am and 2pm Free Place : Salle Freddy Paixao and 1.30pm to 6.30pm. and Wednesday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday from Opening times : Complexe sportif to 12am and 3pm to 6pm. 9.30am to 12am and 2pm Place : Dupuich Farm Saturday from 10am to 7pm to 5.30pm Paul Barrois – rue de Douai Cultural Space – Place : Le Colisée – and Sunday from 10am Place : Médiathèque – in Auchy-les-Mines 3 rue Lefebvre rue de in Lens to 6pm Allée de la fosse 15 Rens : +33(0)3 21 63 02 02 in Mazingarbe Info. : +33(0)3 21 69 09 12 Place : Centre d’animations in Loos-en-Gohelle Info. : +33(0)3 21 69 20 90 jeunesse, rue Brassens in Info. : +33(0)3 21 43 23 51 Haisnes 28 Info. : +33(0)3 21 25 43 43 29 COMMEMORATIONS CONFERENCE

18 September at 6.30pm: THE BATTLE OF LOOS

26 September: Conference led by Simon OFFICIAL Godly and Gilles Payen COMMEMORATION 10 October: from the ˝Loos, Sur les CEREMONY IN SOLEMN TRIBUTE Traces de la Grande Guerre˝ LOOS-EN-GOHELLE TO AUCHY-LES- association. This battle 25 September MINES took place on a front 12 at 4.30pm: 10am : Assemble at Loos km long. The conference SAINT MARY’S British Cemetery, rue Roger 2pm : parade departs from will focus on preparations CEMETERY Salengro (see page 8) place Jean Jaurès for the battle, as well as the IN HAISNES 10.30am : ceremony begins The procession will pass by strategy adopted, but also with the London Irish Rifles the Monument to the Dead, on the use of poison gas Official commemoration of 11.30am : parade through place Jean Jaurès and then by the British, the soldiers’ the beginning of the Battle rues Roger Salengro, head to the Memorial to kit, the number of victims, of Loos in the cemetery Mirabeau, Thiers and Condé the 9th Scottish Division and etc. Putting the spotlight where John Kipling lies to Square de la Paix with a the 46th (North Midland) on a few personalities will today, the son of the plaque unveiling ceremony Division. The ceremony (re)acquaint you with a famous writer Rudyard by the regiment at 12am will end at the Paul Barrois few great names, such as Kipling (author of Jungle 12.45am : parade restarts Sports Complex with a Alexandre Villedieu and Book). Students from the from rue Condé to Place de speech followed by hymns Emilienne Moreau. The schools in Haisnes will sing la République with a plaque sung in French and English conference will conclude songs from the era and read unveiling ceremony on by the children. The with the consequences of excerpts from war diaries. Emilienne Moreau’s former ceremony will close with this battle. home a toast. Free D 39 (in the direction 1.30pm : reception at of Hulluch-Vermelles) Info. : +33(0)3 21 63 02 02 Foyer Omer Caron with Place : Ceremonial Hall in Haisnes. in the Town Hall – Longitude : 2.78906 official speeches Place de la République

Latitude : 50.48573 in Loos-en-Gohelle Info. : +33(0)3 21 69 88 77 See page 12. Info. : +33(0)3 21 67 66 66 ou +33(0)6 60 40 06 22 Info. : +33(0)3 21 25 43 43

30 31 GUIDED TOURS THE REMEMBRANCE

11 October at 2.30pm: TRAILS THE BATTLE OF LOOS AND

On 25 September 1915, the largest offensive MULTIMEDIA carried out by the British Army started with the aim of attacking the TOOLS enemy lines north of Lens: this was the start of the 27 September Battle of Loos. We will at 10.30am: discover the history of REMEMBRANCE this battle, but also the WALK sites which recall this episode of the Great War: The town of Mazingarbe Graffiti from the Dupuich and the ˝Loos, sur les Traces farm in Mazingarbe, the de la Grande Guerre˝ Vermelles British Military association invite you on a Cemetery, Saint Mary’s walk to honour the memory ADS Cemetery where John of the thousands of soldiers Kipling is buried, place de who were quartered in la République in Loos-en- Mazingarbe from mid Gohelle where there is the September and who gave commemorative plaque their lives in the Battle of to Emilienne Moreau, the Loos. Part of the route is on Loos British Cemetery and foot and part is by coach. Dud Corner memorial and Option to visit Dupuich cemetery. farm and its graffiti at 9.30am. Prices : Full price €9, reduced price €3, children Free

6-12 years €1 and free for Meeting Point : Dupuich children under 6 years Farm Cultural Space – 3 hour coach tour 3 rue Lefebvre Meeting Point : place Roger in Mazingarbe Salengro in Mazingarbe Booking recommended: Bookings: +33(0)3 21 52 50 00 +33(0)3 21 69 20 90 or +33(0)3 21 67 66 66

32 33 THE REMEMBRANCE TRAILS MULTIMEDIA TOOLS

By bike or car were quartered. In hospitals ˝14-18, A GLOBAL installed in requisitioned CONFLICT˝ TOUR colleges they endeavoured to treat the injured brought This cycling route which back from the front. takes 3.5 hours (or 41 km) Regularly exposed to allows you to discover many bombing, in 1918 Béthune By bike or car remembrance sites near was the victim of an ˝MAJOR Béthune testifying to the operation to methodically Stories from 14-18 – Stories from 14-18 – REMEMBRANCE great diversity of the nations destroy its town centre, LENS MINING BASIN THE GREAT WAR SITES IN ARTOIS˝ who fought in the sector when the German offensive AROUND BÉTHUNE: TRAIL between 1914 and 1918. started on the Lys on 9 Augustin Berger, a reporter, BETWEEN THE Even today they still show April failed; only the belfry has been asked to write a FRONT AND THE Offered as part of the us to what extent this ˝Great built in the 14th century book about the four years of REAR OF THE FRONT. Nord-Pas de Calais Region War˝ was a world war. withstood the ˝storms of war. Throughout whatever Remembrance Trails, this steel˝. The city benefited evidence still available, Augustin Berger, conducts Mobile Apps can be cycle trail of approximately from eclectic reconstruction we discover Dud Corner an investigation on the downloaded free of charge from the Appstore or on 30 km (3 hours) offers an during the 1920s; its Grand- cemetery, Vimy Ridge front and takes us Androïd. insight into the sector of the Place, with its front-gabled Memorial, Notre-Dame- to Béthune, a town at the Artois Front and the signs of houses is now a beautiful de-Lorette cemetery or the rear of the front, and then to conflict still visible today in urban landscape. (Route Lens . the old Bruay-La-Buissière the landscape (cemeteries, lasting 2.5 hours, or 4.1 km). airfield, to the headquarters st memorials etc.). These brochures are free of the 1 British Army in This trail recounts, in and available at the Rebreuve-Ranchicourt particular, the battles of Walking route Béthune-Bruay and Lens- castle, to the St. Mary’s ˝BÉTHUNE Liévin Tourist Offices the hill of Notre-Dame de and downloadable on: ADS Cemetery in Haisnes Lorette and Vimy Ridge, in AT THE TIME OF www.remembrancetrails- where John Kipling lies, 1915 and 1917 respectively. THE ENGLISH˝ northernfrance.com the monument to the But also the recovery of Tunnellers in Givenchy- Souchez by the British About fifteen kilometres lez-la-Bassée and the Troops on September from the front, throughout Portuguese cemetery and 1915 and the building of the First World War the Indian memorial of monuments, such as the Béthune was an ˝English Richebourg. monument to the glory of town˝, where streams of General Barbot’s Division servicemen on leave stayed or the Torch for Peace at the and numerous regiments entrance of the Home for Disabled War Veterans. 34 35 INFORMATION

BETHUNE-BRUAY REGIONAL TOURIST OFFICE 3 rue Aristide Briand BP 551 62 411 BETHUNE CEDEX +33(0)3 21 52 50 00 [email protected] www.tourisme-bethune-bruay.fr LENS-LIEVIN REGIONAL TOURIST AND HERITAGE OFFICE 58 rue de la gare 62 300 LENS +33(0)3 21 67 66 66 [email protected] www.tourisme-lenslievin.fr

With thanks to: Béthune-Bruay and Lens-Liévin Tourist Offices would like to thank all the event partners. With the financial support of the Pas-de-Calais Departmental Council and the Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Council and with the kind participation of the Lens-Liévin Region of art and history and the towns of Auchy-les-Mines, Haisnes-les- la-Bassée and Loos-en-Gohelle. Copyrights : cover page: St Mary ADS Military Cemetery © Michel Guilbert / Max Gehlsen – Archives départementales du Pas- de-Calais, 47 Fi 127-2 / Carte les étapes de la bataille de Loos ©Association Loos sur les Traces de la Grande Guerre / Document de la section photographique de l’armée - fascicule IX - en Artois – pl3 © Archives de la Ville de Lens / Dud Corner © Matthieu Brard / Emilienne Moreau © L’Illustration / Musée Alexandre Villedieu © Asso. Loos sur les traces de la Grande Guerre / Loos British Cemetery © PAH CALL / Terrils de la Base 11/19 © V.Cohez CPIE La chaine des terrils / 46th Division North Midland Auchy-les-Mines 1 © Michel Guilbert / The Lone Tree © Michel Guilbert / St Mary ADS Military Cemetery © Michel Guilbert / Le cimetière du Maroc© PAH – CALL / Document de la section photographique de l’armée - fascicule IX - en Artois – pl1 © Archives de la Ville de Lens / Ferme Dupuich © PAH – CALL / Philosophe British Cemetery © PAH – CALL / Bully-Grenay communal cemetery extension © PAH – CALL / Quarry Cemetery Vermelles 7© Michel Guilbert / Carte des sites de la bataille de Loos © SIG d’Artois Comm / Cambrin Military Cemetery © Michel Guilbert / Carte de souscription pour l’achèvement du monument de Lorette © Archives départementales du Pas-de-Calais, 42 J 273-1 / Nécropole nationale de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette © S. Dhote / Anneau de la mémoire © J. Pouille / Lens14-18 © OTPLL / Max Gehlsen / Archives départementales du Pas-de-Calais, 47 Fi 045-1 / Le Cabaret Rouge © Cie du Scénographe / Meeting aérien © Fêtes de l’Air de Lens-Bénifontaine / Artois Grande Guerre © Archives municipales de Lens / Reconstitution de tranchée - Expo Haisnes © Christophe Desenepart / Engraver © CWGC / 46th Division North Midland © OTBB / Journée du © F.Poulbot / Tombe John Kipling © Michel Guilbert / Cérémonie du 90ème anniversaire de la bataille de Loos © Odile Zibret Ville de Loos en Gohelle / Hero Piper , © Association Loos Sur les Traces de la Grande Guerre / 7 crosses ou Croix du sacrifice - Circuit bus classique ©OTBB / Quarry cemetery - Jeu de piste © OTBB / Document de la section photographique de l’armée - fascicule IX - en Artois – pl2 © Archives de la Ville de Lens / back cover : Max Gehlsen - Archives départementales du Pas-de-Calais, 47 Fi 049-2 Graphic Design: Janine Schlimpert Print: Imprimerie Ledoux