THE CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF ARRAS
Click here to download the programme of the Centenary (©Ville d'Arras)
Le 9 avril 2017 à 6h30
Carrière Wellington
Cérémonie du Lever du Jour
9 avril 1917 : 5h30 (heure anglaise), la Bataille d’Arras est déclenchée. Des milliers de soldats s’élancent sur un front de 20 km de Vimy à Bullecourt.
9 avril 2017 : 6h30 (heure française), une cérémonie commémorative internationale est célébrée devant le mur mémorial de la Carrière Wellington en hommage à toutes les nations combattantes de la Bataille d'Arras.
Cérémonie ouverte à tous
Attention : accès uniquement par l'avenue Lobbedez. Nous vous conseillons d'arriver dès 6h afin de franchir les points de sécurité. Parkings Jean Jaurès et centre commercial E.Leclerc.
9 April 2017, 6.30 am
The Wellington Tunnels
Dawn Ceremony
Commemorative ceremony organised by the Wellington Tunnels, in honour of the Bristish soldiers and those of the Commonwealth countries who fought during the Battle of Arras. "The Earth Remembers", the monumental work designed by Marian Fountain in memory of the New Zealand tunnellers, will be inaugurated on this occasion.
Open to public
Warning : access by avenue Lobbedez only. We advise you to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the official start time. Parking lots at Jean Jaurès and E.Leclerc shopping center.
Le 9 avril 2017 à 9h30
Cimetière du faubourg d'Amiens, Mémorial d'Arras
Commémoration écossaise
Cette commémoration écossaise s’effectuera en présence du Rt Revd Dr Russell BARR, modérateur de l’assemblée générale de l’Église d’Écosse. En présence de 100 écoliers et de membres des autorités locales écossais, venez assister à cette cérémonie rendant hommage aux 44 bataillons écossais et 7 bataillons canadiens écossais qui se sont battus lors de la Bataille d’Arras.
Cérémonie ouverte à tous
Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, 62000 Arras
9 April 2017, 9.30am
Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras Memorial
Scottish Commemorative Ceremony
Cette commémoration écossaise s’effectuera en présence du Rt Revd Dr Russell BARR, modérateur de l’assemblée générale de l’Église d’Écosse. En présence de 100 écoliers et de membres des autorités locales écossais, venez assister à cette cérémonie rendant hommage aux 44 bataillons écossais et 7 bataillons canadiens écossais qui se sont battus lors de la Bataille d’Arras.
Open to all
Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, 62000 Arras
Le 9 avril 2017 à 16h
Mémorial national du Canada à Vimy
100ème anniversaire de la prise de la Crête de Vimy
Cette cérémonie rendra hommage aux sacrifices et aux réalisations de tous ceux qui ont participé à la bataille de la crête de Vimy en 1917, et soulignera l’importance de transmettre le flambeau du Souvenir aux jeunes d’aujourd’hui. La cérémonie raconte, de façon théâtrale, l’histoire du Canada de la Première Guerre mondiale présentée par des artistes, acteurs et musiciens canadiens renommés. Et ce, en présence d’un large contingent de membres des Forces armées canadiennes et de milliers de jeunes canadiens. La mise en scène s’appuie sur de puissants symboles associés à l’histoire de la bataille, aux gens qui y ont participé et en ont été témoins valeurs canadiennes représentées sur le monument qui demeurent pertinentes aujourd’hui.
Inscriptions clôturées
Looking back at the centenary of the Battle of Arras, whose commemorations in the city were full of symbolism and emotion.
The Dawn Ceremony
On April 9th, 1917, at 06:30 am.
A century ago, thousands of soldiers from the Commonwealth climbed out of the tunnels and got over the top to drive back from Arras those who they called “the enemy”.
On April 9th, 2017, at 06:30 am: International Dawn Ceremony at the Wellington Tunnels
A century later, thousands of people, including officials from the countries who took part in the battle as well as a crowd of unknowns, paid tribute to all the British and German soldiers who fell at the gates of Arras.
During that ceremony, a bronze sculpture entitled “The Earth Remembers” designed by New Zealand artist Marian Fountain was unveiled within the park of the Wellington Tunnels site, in the presence of New Zealand MP Christopher Finlayson and of the mayor of Arras Frédéric Leturque.
The Wellington Tunnels with the Canadian color
For three days, on the 8th, 10th and 11th of April, nearly 3 000 Canadian students visited the Wellington Tunnels to learn more about the Battle of Arras – part of it involving the Vimy Ridge. On this occasion, New Zealand professors Richard Hemi and Pascal Sergey, from the University of Otago, presented their work: a 3D modelling enabling students to have a virtual tour of the vast quarries under Arras.
Tribute to the men fallen during the First World War
The ceremony at the Wellington Tunnels was followed by a religious ceremony hold within the Faubourg d’Amiens British Cemetery and Arras Memorial.
A delegation from Scotland led the homage paid to the soldiers from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, on the very spot where they rest and are commemorated. We will never forget them.
The Poppy of Peace
French President François Hollande, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, New Zealand Minister Christopher Finlayson, and the mayor of Arras Frédéric Leturque unveiled the participatory work of the New Zealand artists Tony Mc Neight and Hellen Pollock entitled “Poppy of Peace” and “Victory Medal”.
Along with children from schools of Arras and Herten, they put the final red disks to complete this work symbolizing the peace between those countries.
Scots in Arras
At the end of this historic April 9th, 2017, the sound of pipes echoed on the Place des Héros as Scottish pipers played the Beating Retreat Ceremony to the inhabitants of Arras in the presence of First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and of a large crowd of unknowns there to thank the men who, a century ago, came from all over the world to defend the city of Arras.
Visit and meditation of the descendants of the tunnelers
On the night of April 8th, a New Zealand delegation paid homage to the soldiers of the NZTEC (New Zealand Tunneling Engineer Company). Among them, 80 people were direct descendants of these tunnellers following in the tracks of their ancestors. Together they assisted to the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to the company of New Zealand tunnellers at the entrance of the museum.
The ceremony ended within the underground quarry Blenheim, in front of the inscription “Kia-ora” (“welcome”, in Maori) a hundred years to the day after it was engraved on the chalk.
Eyes of the Battle of Arras Exhibition
From March 25th to May 13th, 2017, the Tourism Office presented the exhibition “Eyes of the Battle of Arras” which was created thanks to the many photos and documents provided by descendants of British and German soldiers.
To all who those who contributed from all over the world: thank you for your help in creating this exhibition.
THANK YOU !
