- Noreuil
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Noreuil
NoreuilLocation within Nord-Pas-de-Calais region
NoreuilAdministration Country France Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais Department Pas-de-Calais Arrondissement Arras Canton Croisilles Intercommunality Communauté de communes du Sud Arrageois Mayor Jean-Paul Boussemard
(2008–2014)Statistics Elevation 72–110 m (236–360 ft)
(avg. 80 m/260 ft)Land area1 4.79 km2 (1.85 sq mi) Population2 126 (2006) - Density 26 /km2 (67 /sq mi) INSEE/Postal code 62619/ 62128 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. Coordinates: 50°10′17″N 2°56′07″E / 50.1713888889°N 2.93527777778°E
Noreuil is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
Contents
Geography
Noreuil is situated 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Arras, on the D5 road.
Population
Population history 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2006 136 143 128 135 117 114 126 Census count starting from 1962: Population without duplicates History
World War One
The grave of 6042 Private Charles Buckley, 27th Battalion, of Melbourne, Vic, killed in action 21 April 1917, in the Noreuil Australian Cemetery
In 1917 it was the location of fighting during World War I. In early 1917, General John Gellibrand, acting commander of the 2nd Division, advanced as he suspected that the Germans were withdrawing. Gellibrand's advance began well but ended with a disastrous, ill planned and ill executed "unauthorised" attack on Noreuil.
On the morning of 2 April 1917, the village was attacked by the 50th and 51st Battalions, with the 49th and 52nd in support. Danish-born Australian Private Jørgen Christian Jensen of the 50th Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross for the part he played.
On 15 April 1917 the Germans launched a major counter-attack against the Australians at Lagnicourt-Marcel. Robert Smith, at his headquarters in a ruined house in Noreuil, about 1500 metres from Lagnicourt, directed the defeat of the German counter-attack. For his efforts in that engagement Smith was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[1]
Noreuil is close to Bullecourt, the southern end of the battlefront for the Battle of Arras.
Noreuil Park in Albury, New South Wales, Australia, is named in dedication to the men of the 13th battery, 5th field artillery brigade.
Places of interest
- The twentieth century church of St.Brice, rebuilt after World War I
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Australian cemetery.
See also
References
- ^ Mallett, Ross (2001). "Brigadier General Robert Smith". Australian Defence Force Academy. http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/Generals/smith.html. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
External links
Categories:- Communes of Pas-de-Calais
- Battles of the Western Front (World War I)
- Battles of World War I involving Australia
- Battles of World War I involving Germany
- Arras arrondissement geography stubs
- World War I stubs
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