Guillemont Explained

Guillemont
Commune Status:Commune
Arrondissement:Péronne
Canton:Péronne
Insee:80401
Postal Code:80360
Mayor:Didier Samain[1]
Term:2020 - 2026
Intercommunality:Haute Somme
Coordinates:50.0144°N 2.8258°W
Elevation M:138
Elevation Min M:94
Elevation Max M:156
Area Km2:3.27

Guillemont (in French pronounced as /ɡijmɔ̃/) is a commune approximately 13km (08miles) east of Albert in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

It, like much of the surrounding area, is primarily an agricultural community, but is known for its large Commonwealth War Graves cemetery, which has many visitors. The cemetery began as a field graveyard after the Battle of Guillemont, but was quickly expanded after the Armistice when graves from surrounding areas were centralized here.[2]

In World War I, Guillemont was one of several important strategic areas controlled by Germans that effectively divided Allied forces. It was changed hands several times during the war, before being finally taken and held by the British 20th (Light) Division and the 47th Brigade of the 16th (Irish) Division

Notable burials

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 2 December 2020. fr.
  2. Web site: Guillemont Road Cemetery. CWGC. 6 June 2017.
  3. Plot I, Row B, Grave 3, headstone inscribed 'Small time but in that small most greatly lived this star of England', see Raymond Asquith entry at CWGC (1916-09-15), accessed 23 October 2017.
  4. Helen McPhail, Philip Guest, Sassoon & Graves: on the Trail of the Poets of the Great War (2001), p. 175.