Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée
Encyclopedia
Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée is a commune
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
and 19 miles (30.6 km) southwest of Lille
, at the junction of the D166 and the D167 roads. The Canal d'Aire flows passed the commune, forming its southern border.
During the First World War, it was completely destroyed, as this was the only part of the entire front that withheld the force of the German offensive in the spring of 1918. The courageous stand of the 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division is commemorated by a memorial in the village.
During the Second World War, at the time of the withdrawal of British troops towards Dunquerque, the school, mayor's office and the memorial village hall were again destroyed. After the devastation of the second world war, the citizens of Liverpool donated reading books and money to the town of Givenchy-les-la-Bassee. The town hall of Givenchy has a plaque on the front wall thanking the City Of Liverpool for its kindness and support for the town. In 2008, a small group of students from Liverpool went to Givenchy on behalf of the City of Liverpool on the 90th anniversary of the First World War. Finally, the community of Givenchy still to this day has meetings with Liverpool's Lord Mayor and unity between the two places are still strong
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
Geography
A farming village situated some 5 miles (8 km) east of BéthuneBéthune
Béthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...
and 19 miles (30.6 km) southwest of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, at the junction of the D166 and the D167 roads. The Canal d'Aire flows passed the commune, forming its southern border.
History
The village was first chronicled in the year 870 as "Juventiacum".During the First World War, it was completely destroyed, as this was the only part of the entire front that withheld the force of the German offensive in the spring of 1918. The courageous stand of the 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division is commemorated by a memorial in the village.
During the Second World War, at the time of the withdrawal of British troops towards Dunquerque, the school, mayor's office and the memorial village hall were again destroyed. After the devastation of the second world war, the citizens of Liverpool donated reading books and money to the town of Givenchy-les-la-Bassee. The town hall of Givenchy has a plaque on the front wall thanking the City Of Liverpool for its kindness and support for the town. In 2008, a small group of students from Liverpool went to Givenchy on behalf of the City of Liverpool on the 90th anniversary of the First World War. Finally, the community of Givenchy still to this day has meetings with Liverpool's Lord Mayor and unity between the two places are still strong
Population
Places of interest
- The Commonwealth War Graves CommissionCommonwealth War Graves CommissionThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
cemetery. - The church of St.Martin, built in 1960.
- The war memorial.