Courcelette Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Courcelette Memorial is a Canadian war memorial
that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps
in the final two and a half months of the infamous four and a half month long Somme Offensive of the First World War
. The Canadians participated at the Somme from early September to the British offensives end in mid-November 1916, engaging in several of the battles-within-the-battle of the Somme, including actions at: Flers-Courcelette
, Thiepval Ridge
, the Ancre Heights
and the Ancre
as well as a small role in providing relief to their Australian
comrades in the final days of the Battle of Pozières
.
The battles on the Somme were the first in which all four divisions of the Canadian Corps
were used in the Great War in the same battle (though all four were never used simultaneously at the Somme) and at its end on the 18th of November it had cost the Canadians over 24,000 casualties. However, the efforts of the Canadians on the Somme were noteworthy inasmuch as they ultimately captured all of the objectives assigned to them, (though not always on the original timeline) a feat that few other British forces who fought on the Somme could claim. This fact helped cement the Canadian's reputation as fierce and elite fighters and put them in line to face some of the toughest tasks assigned to British units for the duration of the war.
at Vimy Ridge was selected as the national memorial site and seven other locations at Hill 62
, St. Julien
and Passchendaele
in Belgium, as well as Le Quesnel
, Dury
, Courcelette and Bourlon Wood
in France were chosen to commemorate significant battles the Canadian Expeditionary Force
had engaged in. Each of the seven sites were to have an identical granite block inscribed with a brief description of the battle in both English and French.
Canadian war memorials
The history of Canada comprises hundreds of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing modern Canada, and the role of the Canadian military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. Many of these armed engagements are commemorated today with memorials across Canada and around the world...
that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
in the final two and a half months of the infamous four and a half month long Somme Offensive of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The Canadians participated at the Somme from early September to the British offensives end in mid-November 1916, engaging in several of the battles-within-the-battle of the Somme, including actions at: Flers-Courcelette
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, was a battle within the Franco-British Somme Offensive which took place in the summer and autumn of 1916. Launched on the 15th of September 1916 the battle went on for one week. Flers-Courcelette began with the overall objective of cutting a hole in the German...
, Thiepval Ridge
Battle of Thiepval Ridge
The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive mounted by the British Reserve Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough during the Battle of the Somme and was designed to benefit from British Fourth Army's Battle of Morval by starting 24 hours afterwards...
, the Ancre Heights
Battle of the Ancre Heights
The Battle of the Ancre Heights was a prolonged battle of attrition in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Lieutenant General Hubert Gough's Reserve Army had finally managed to break out of the positions it had occupied since the start of the Somme fighting and Gough intended to maintain...
and the Ancre
Battle of the Ancre
The Battle of the Ancre was the final act of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Launched on 13 November 1916 by the British Fifth Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough, the objective of the battle was as much political as military.-Prelude:The Allied commanders were due to meet at Chantilly on 15...
as well as a small role in providing relief to their Australian
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
comrades in the final days of the Battle of Pozières
Battle of Pozières
The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Though British divisions were involved in most phases of the fighting, Pozières is primarily remembered as an Australian battle...
.
The battles on the Somme were the first in which all four divisions of the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
were used in the Great War in the same battle (though all four were never used simultaneously at the Somme) and at its end on the 18th of November it had cost the Canadians over 24,000 casualties. However, the efforts of the Canadians on the Somme were noteworthy inasmuch as they ultimately captured all of the objectives assigned to them, (though not always on the original timeline) a feat that few other British forces who fought on the Somme could claim. This fact helped cement the Canadian's reputation as fierce and elite fighters and put them in line to face some of the toughest tasks assigned to British units for the duration of the war.
Site Selection
The Canadian Battlefield Monument Commission established after the Great War was appointed to select the location and design of the memorials to commemorate the Canadian participation in the First World War. The Canadian National Vimy MemorialCanadian National Vimy Memorial
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for First World War Canadian soldiers killed or presumed dead in France who have no known...
at Vimy Ridge was selected as the national memorial site and seven other locations at Hill 62
Hill 62 Memorial
The Canadian Hill 62 Memorial is a war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in defending the southern stretches of the Ypres Salient between April and August 1916 including actions in battle at the St. Eloi Craters, Hill 62, Mount Sorrel and Sanctuary Wood...
, St. Julien
Saint Julien Memorial
The St. Julien Memorial is a Canadian war memorial and small commemorative park located in the village of Saint Julien , Belgium. The memorial commemorates the Canadian First Division's participation in the Second Battle of Ypres of World War I which included the defence against the first poison...
and Passchendaele
Passchendaele Memorial
The Passchendaele Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in the Second Battle of Passchendaele of World War I...
in Belgium, as well as Le Quesnel
Le Quesnel Memorial
The Le Quesnel Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps during the 1918 Battle of Amiens during World War I...
, Dury
Dury Memorial
The Dury Memorial is a World War I Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in the Second Battle of Arras, particularly the their breakthrough at the Drocourt-Quéant Line switch of the Hindenburg Line just south of the town of Dury. The Drocourt-Quéant Line was a...
, Courcelette and Bourlon Wood
Bourlon Wood Memorial
The Bourlon Wood Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps during the final months of the First World War; a period also known as Canada's Hundred Days, part of the Hundred Days Offensive...
in France were chosen to commemorate significant battles the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
had engaged in. Each of the seven sites were to have an identical granite block inscribed with a brief description of the battle in both English and French.
Location & Design
The Courcelette Memorial sits beside the D929 (Albert-Bapaume) roadway, just south of the village of Courcelette itself. The site is a small square park with gardens of hedges, and maple trees. A 'Y' shaped pathway leads from the entrance to stone seats at several places around the outer edge looking out at the former battlefield. In the centre of the park the grey granite block monument is set on a low circular flagstone terrace.