Givenchy-en-Gohelle

Geography

Givenchy-en-Gohelle is a large farming village situated 6 mi north of Arras, at the junction of the D51 and the D55 roads. Its neighboring communes are Souchez to the west, Angres to the northwest, Liévin to the north, Avion to the east and Vimy to the southeast.

The Bois de Givenchy or Givenchy Forest, covers much of the commune on its northern side. To further the agricultural range of products, the commune of Givenchy-en-Gohelle have planted grapes (chardonnay and pinot gris). The first grape harvest took place in 2000.

First World War

During the First World War, Givenchy-en-Gohelle was on the front line between German and Allied forces during the battles of Arras and was severely damaged, particularly during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917. For much of the First World War, the village also was the site of sustained underground fighting between German and British tunneling units. Givenchy-en-Gohelle was taken by the 2nd Canadian Division on 13 April 1917. Over 150 war casualties (1914–1918) are commemorated at the Canadian cemetery here and 109 from the Battle of Vimy Ridge are buried here.

The centennial commemoration of the Battle of Vimy Ridge was held at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial near the village on 9 April 2017. Estimates before the event indicated that up to 30,000 would attend.

By early April 2017, the village had been decorated with 500 Canadian flags.

Population

|1968 |1555 |1975 |1627 |1982 |1755 |1990 |1973 |1999 |2051 |2007 |2093 |2012 |2024 |2017 |1947

Places of interest

• The Canadian National Vimy Memorial to commemorate First World War Canadian dead and missing, presumed dead, in France.
• The church of St. Martin, dating from the seventeenth century.
• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Canadian memorial and cemeteries.

References

Gallery

Givenchy-en-Gohelle_Mairie_R01.jpg|Town hall Givenchy-en-Gohelle_Eglise_R03.jpg|Saint-Martin church Givenchy-en-Gohelle_Monument_aux_Morts_R01.jpg|War memorial

References

1. (9 August 2021). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires".
2. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/62371-givenchy-en-gohelle INSEE commune file]
3. (5 April 2017). "French village decked out in Canadiana to mark Vimy Ridge centennial".
4. Canada, Veterans Affairs. (26 January 2024). "Givenchy-en-Gohelle Canadian Cemetery - Memorials In France - First World War Memorials Overseas - Memorials Overseas - Memorials - Remembrance - Veterans Affairs Canada".
5. (9 April 2017). "Vimy Ridge: Royals commemorate defining WW1 battle". BBC.
6. Siekierska, Alicja. (31 March 2017). "Toronto photographer to open exhibition to commemorate battle of Vimy Ridge". Toronto Star.
7. "French town plastered with over 500 Canadian flags for Vimy Ridge anniversary".
8. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-62371#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
9. . (2015). ["Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France"](http://www.greatwar.co.uk/french-flanders-artois/memorial-canadian-national-vimy-memorial.htm).