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Gommecourt, Pas-de-Calais

Coordinates: 50°08′27″N 2°38′46″E / 50.1408°N 2.6461°E / 50.1408; 2.6461
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(Redirected from Battle of Gommecourt)

Gommecourt
The main road of Gommecourt
The main road of Gommecourt
Coat of arms of Gommecourt
Location of Gommecourt
Map
Gommecourt is located in France
Gommecourt
Gommecourt
Gommecourt is located in Hauts-de-France
Gommecourt
Gommecourt
Coordinates: 50°08′27″N 2°38′46″E / 50.1408°N 2.6461°E / 50.1408; 2.6461
CountryFrance
RegionHauts-de-France
DepartmentPas-de-Calais
ArrondissementArras
CantonAvesnes-le-Comte
IntercommunalityCC Sud-Artois
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Daniel Ledru[1]
Area
1
3.35 km2 (1.29 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
88
 • Density26/km2 (68/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
62375 /62111
Elevation124–155 m (407–509 ft)
(avg. 148 m or 486 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Gommecourt (French pronunciation: [ɡɔmkuʁ]) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.[3]

Geography

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A small farming village situated 14 miles (23 km) south of Arras, on the D6 road.

History

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Formerly within the ancient County of Artois, the village was redesignated within the new Department of the Pas de Calais after the French Revolution.

World War I

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During most of the period of hostilities between 1914 and 1918 (World War I) Gommecourt was in the front line of the Western Front, occupied by the Imperial German Army, and was virtually destroyed as a result of the violence to which it was exposed.

The neighbouring villages of Hebuterne and Foncquevillers 800 yards or so to the west, being conversely in Allied forces occupation, were used as bases for an unsuccessful assault on Gommecourt carried out by the British Army on 1 July 1916, as a part of the Battle of the Somme offensive.

The German troops who defended the village during the battle were the 52nd Infantry Division from Baden together with 2nd Guards Reserve Division from Westphalia; the British troops taking part in the attack comprised the 56th (1/1st London) and the 46th (North Midland) Divisions.
The graves of the British casualties are located in a number of local war cemeteries around the site, the graves of German casualties having been relocated further North after the war to the Neuville-St Vaast German war cemetery.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 169—    
1975 132−3.47%
1982 132+0.00%
1990 116−1.60%
1999 126+0.92%
2007 111−1.57%
2012 109−0.36%
2017 96−2.51%
Source: INSEE[4]

Places of interest

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ INSEE commune file
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
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