Givenchy-en-Gohelle explained

Givenchy-en-Gohelle
Image Coat Of Arms:	Blason ville fr Givenchy-en-Gohelle (Pas-de-Calais).svg
Commune Status:	Commune
Arrondissement:	Lens
Canton:	Liévin
Insee:	62371
Postal Code:	62580
Mayor:	Pierre Senechal^[1]
Term:	2020 - 2026
Intercommunality:	CA Lens-Liévin
Coordinates:	50.3936°N 2.7731°W
Elevation M:	97
Elevation Min M:	48
Elevation Max M:	148
Area Km2:	5.95

Givenchy-en-Gohelle (in French pronounced as /ʒivɑ̃ʃi ɑ̃ ɡɔɛl/; Givinchy-in-Gohelle) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.^[2] The village was destroyed during World War I but was rebuilt after the war.^[3]

Geography

Givenchy-en-Gohelle is a large farming village situated 6miles 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.^[4]

The centennial commemoration of the Battle of Vimy Ridge was held at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial near the village on 9 April 2017.^[5] 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.^{[3] [6]}

Places of interest

• The Canadian National Vimy Memorial to commemorate First World War Canadian dead and missing, presumed dead, in France.^[7]
• The church of St. Martin, dating from the seventeenth century.
• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Canadian memorial and cemeteries.

See also

• Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department

External links

• The CWGC burials in the churchyard
• The CWGC cemetery at Souchez
• The Vimy Memorial on the CWGC site
• The local winegrowers' website
• Official commune website
• Regional website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 9 August 2021. fr.
2. https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/cog/commune/COM62371-givenchy-en-gohelle INSEE commune file
3. Web site: French village decked out in Canadiana to mark Vimy Ridge centennial. 5 April 2017.
4. Web site: Givenchy-en-Gohelle Canadian Cemetery - Memorials In France - First World War Memorials Overseas - Memorials Overseas - Memorials - Remembrance - Veterans Affairs Canada. Veterans Affairs. Canada.
5. Web site: Vimy Ridge: Royals commemorate defining WW1 battle. 9 April 2017. BBC. 9 April 2017.
6. Web site: French town plastered with over 500 Canadian flags for Vimy Ridge anniversary.
7. Web site: Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France . . 2015 . The Great War UK . The Great War UK . 31 March 2017 . The ridge runs in a direction from Givenchy-en-Gohelle in the north-west to Farbus in the south-east..