The Arras Memorial is a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or works of a ...

in France, located in the Faubourg d'Amiens British Cemetery, in the western part of the town of

Arras Arras ( , ; pcd, Aro; historical nl, Atrecht ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department, which forms part of the regions of France, region of Hauts-de-France; before the regions of France#Reform and mergers of ...

. The memorial commemorates 35,942 soldiers of the forces of the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand, with no known grave, who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918. The major battle in this area during this period was the Battle of Arras. The cut-off date of 7 August 1918 signifies the start of the Advance to Victory, and casualties after that date are listed on other memorials. Also not included here are the names of the missing dead among Canadian and Australian servicemen, who are instead listed at the

Vimy Memorial The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a war memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for Canadian soldiers of the First ...

and the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. Designed by Sir

Edwin Lutyens Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens ( ; 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944) was an English architect known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. He designed many English country houses, war memori ...

, the memorial includes sculpture by Sir

William Reid Dick Sir William Reid Dick, (13 January 1878 – 1 October 1961) was a Scottish sculptor known for his innovative stylisation of form in his monument sculptures and simplicity in his portraits. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1921, a ...

. Located in the same cemetery is the Arras Flying Services Memorial (commemorating 991 airmen with no known grave). Both memorials were unveiled by

Lord Trenchard Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, (3 February 1873 – 10 February 1956) was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force. He has been described as the "Father of the ...

on 31 July 1932. Lord Trenchard had served as the commander of

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

in France from 1915 to 1917. In 1918, he briefly served as the first Chief of the Air Staff before taking up command of the

Independent Air Force The Independent Air Force (IAF), also known as the Independent Force or the Independent Bombing Force and later known as the Inter-Allied Independent Air Force, was a First World War strategic bombing force which was part of Britain's Royal Air ...

in France. Also present at the unveiling ceremony was

Richard Bell-Davies Vice Admiral Richard Bell Davies (19 May 1886 – 26 February 1966), also known as Richard Bell-Davies, was a senior Royal Navy commander, naval aviator, and a First World War recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry ...

, British First World War fighter pilot and Royal Navy officer, and recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

Stone of Remembrance at the Arras Memorial

Those listed on this memorial include poet T.P. Cameron Wilson and the following sportsmen:

Isaac Bentham Isaac Bentham (27 October 1886 Lancashire – 15 May 1917) was a British water polo player who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics. He was part of the British team, which was able to win the gold medal. He was killed in action, aged 30, ...

Walter Tull Walter Daniel John Tull (28 April 1888 – 25 March 1918) was an English professional footballer and British Army officer of Afro-Caribbean descent. He played as an inside forward and half back for Clapton, Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Tow ...

Sandy Turnbull Alexander Turnbull (30 July 1884 – 3 May 1917) was a Scottish footballer who played as a forward for both Manchester City and Manchester United in the early 20th century. Football career Born in Hurlford to James and Jessie Turnbull of 1 Gib ...

, James Williams, and Cecil Bodington. There are a total of 13 recipients of the

commemorated on the Arras Memorial or the Arras Flying Services Memorial: Ernest Frederick Beal,

Bernard Matthew Cassidy Bernard Matthew Cassidy VC (17 August 1892 – 28 March 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth force ...

Alexander Edwards Alexander Edwards VC (4 November 1885 – 24 March 1918) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Life E ...

, John Erskine,

John Harrison John Harrison ( – 24 March 1776) was a self-educated English Carpentry, carpenter and clockmaker who invented the marine chronometer, a long-sought-after device for solving the History of longitude, problem of calculating longitude while at s ...

, Lanoe George Hawker, David Philip Hirsch, Basil Arthur Horsfall, George Jarratt, Richard Basil Brandram Jones,

Edward Mannock Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock (24 May 1887 – 26 July 1918) was a British flying ace in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the First World War. Mannock was a pioneer of fighter aircraft tactics in aerial warfare. At the time ...

Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson VC DSO (7 September 1876 – 28 March 1918) was an English posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British ...

, Albert White.Names of Victoria Cross Holders on the Arras Memorial, France
www.victoriacross.org.uk, accessed 14 January 2010

Footnotes and references

External links

Commonwealth War Graves Commission details of the Arras Memorial
{{World War I War Memorials in France British military memorials and cemeteries World War I memorials in France Buildings and structures completed in 1932 Monuments and memorials in the Pas-de-Calais Buildings and structures in Arras Cemeteries in Pas-de-Calais Works of Edwin Lutyens in France War memorials by Edwin Lutyens Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorials