Commemorations have been taking place in France to remember the Battle of Loos, fought 100 years ago as part of Allied offensives in Artois and Champagne.
French and British representatives gathered at St Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery near Haisnes on September 25th 2015, the centenary of the British Army’s attack at Loos.
A remembrance service was held at Loos British Cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle the following day.
Commemorations this weekend in Auchy-les-Mines (Saturday October 10th) will remember those lost in the fighting for a German defensive position known as the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
John Kipling
Children from schools in Haisnes took part in the tributes at St Mary’s, reading extracts from First World War diaries and performing songs of the time.
The cemetery, cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), lies on the site of ‘St Mary’s Advanced Dressing Station’, established during the Battle of Loos.
More than 2,000 casualties are commemorated here, among them Lieutenant John Kipling, only son of the British author, Rudyard Kipling.
Centenary events in Haisnes have included an open-air screening of the TV film ‘My Boy Jack’, starring Daniel Radcliffe.
View of St Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery with the Loos Centenary service in progress (© Office de tourisme de Béthune-Bruay)
The service of commemoration at Loos British Cemetery on September 26th was organised by the London Irish Rifles Regimental Association.
Afterwards, French veterans groups and brass bands joined the Pipes and Drums of the London Irish Rifle Association for a parade through Loos-en-Gohelle.
The Mayor of Loos and the association’s president unveiled a memorial marking the Centenary.
Loos Centenary October events:
An exhibition devoted to the Archaeology of the Great War runs at the Mairie in Haines until October 19th. There’s also an evening conference on Friday October 9th. More details here.
A tribute takes place at Auchy-le-Mines, site of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, on October 10th. There will be a procession to the 9th Scottish Division and 46th (North Midland) Division Memorials, ending with a ceremony at the Paul Barrois Sports Complex. Children will sing hymns and French and English. The parade departs starts from Place Jean Jaurès, Auchy-Les-Mines at 2pm.
A guide to the main battlefield sites and events can be found here.
Also in Centenary News:
Battlefield remembrance trail launched by Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Centenary News reports from Scotland’s Battle of Loos tribute in Dundee
Sources: Béthune-Bruay Tourisme; Mairie de Haines; Commonwealth War Graves Commission
©Images courtesy of Office de tourisme de Béthune-Bruay
Posted by: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News