• Circuit 04 Page 2

    Nous nous dirigeons vers BAZENTIN. Nous circulons à la périphérie du village afin de découvrir un premier cimetière du Commonwealth attenant au cimetière communal (Km 15,2).

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Reposent ici 185 corps dont 53 non identifiés. Dans le cimetière communal reposent également 2 corps.

    Nous remontons vers le centre du village, près de l'église se situent plusieurs monuments (Km 15,7) :

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Le monument aux morts :

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Deux monuments sont dédiés à Jean-Baptiste Lamarck naturaliste français.

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Nous poursuivons la traversée du village, à une centaine de mètres sur votre gauche un second cimetière du Commonwealth :

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

     Ici reposent 182 corps dont 15 non identifiés.

     A la sortie du village au carrefour se situe une stèle commémorative (Km 16) :

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    "To the memory of nine brave men / July 29, 1916 / 82ND FIELD COY., R.E On 28 July 1916, 82nd Field Company Royal Engineers received orders to march to Mametz Wood. They were to take over from the 94th Field Company Royal Engineer who had just completed the construction of a 300 yard communication trench to the 57th Brigade who at the time had been cut off for 24 hours in the village of Bazentin-le-Petit. The following day the 82nd Field Company Royal Engineers constructed field defence strongpoints around Bazentin-le-Petit for the 57th Brigade in preparation for a forthcoming operation. The ‘Nine Brave Men’ were part of 3 Section 82nd Field Company Royal Engineers and during the night of July 29 they moved to Bazentin-le-Petit with the Company who were supported by the infantry. During the night the infantry support was withdrawn in order to prepare for an attack the next day. This left the Section to continue constructing the strongpoints under direct enemy fire at this point (named Crucifix Corner) until the task was complete. Six men from the Section were killed and a further three badly injured who subsequently died from their injuries. All displayed outstanding courage whilst under direct enemy fire during the task. This memorial stone was erected by Lieutenant Colonel RFA Butterworth, Royal Engineers who at the time of the action was the Company Commander of the 82nd Field Company Royal Engineers. After this tragic incident he was posted away, however he came back with his Adjutant and two sappers in November 1917 to erect this memorial. Bricks were used from the ruined buildings in the village and the Memorial Stone made of granite was engraved in the Divisional Workshops at Canada Corner, near Mount Kemmel."

    Nous poursuivons vers la droite, à une centaine de mètre se situe un calvaire commémoratif (Km 16,4) :

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    ORA PRO / Capt STEWART HAMILTON WALLACE / 22 July 1916

    Nous descendons la sole du "moulin". Au carrefour avec la départementale se trouve un calvaire (Km 17,5). Des soldats anglais se seraient recueillis à cet endroit avant de monter à l'assaut des tranchées allemandes.

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Nous montons maintenant ver le bois "des Fourcaux" Km 18,9. En lisière de bois se trouvent deux monuments commémoratifs et sur la gauche de l'axe un cimetière du Commonwealth.

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Requiescant in pace.  To the glory memory of the galant officer NCO's & men of the 47th London Division who lost their lives in the capture of Highwood Sept 15 1916. If I should die think only this of me : that there is some corner of a foreign field, that is forever England. The soldier. By Rupper Brooke.

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Circuit n° 04 : 44 km Première Guerre Mondiale

    Ici reposent 3873 corps dont 3114 non identifiés et 165 corps de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale.

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