Pas-de-Calais
The Pas-de-Calais (, ' strait of Calais'; ; ) is a department in northern France named after the French designation of the Strait of Dover, which it borders. It has the most communes of all the departments of France, with 890, and is the ...
department in the
Hauts-de-France
Hauts-de-France (; ; ), also referred to in English as Upper France, is the northernmost region of France, created by the territorial reform of French regions in 2014, from a merger of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Its prefecture is Lille. ...
A small farming village located 9 miles (15 km) southeast of Arras on the D9 junction with the D38 road.
Population
Places of interest
* The church of Saint-Vaast, rebuilt, like most of the village after the ravages of
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.
*
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
cemeteries.
World War I
Chérisy village, south-east of
Arras
Arras ( , ; ; historical ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a ...
, in the Pas-de-Calais, France, was captured by the 18th Division on 3 May 1917, but lost the same night. On 15 September 1917 a trench raid was carried out by british forces in the area.
It then remained in German hands until it was retaken by the Canadian Corps on 27 August 1918.
It was in the retaking of Chérisy that Major Georges Philias Vanier, the future GOC of the Royal 22e Régiment and
Governor General of Canada
The governor general of Canada () is the federal representative of the . The monarch of Canada is also sovereign and head of state of 14 other Commonwealth realms and resides in the United Kingdom. The monarch, on the Advice (constitutional la ...
(1959–1967) was wounded, as a result of which his leg was amputated. In addition to Vanier, GOC of the 26th Battalion, Lt-Col. A. E. G. McKenzie was killed during action on 28 August 1918.
Quebec Cemetery, Chérisy. Many of those buried there are men of the 22nd and 24th Battalions Canadian Infantry (both from
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
), were killed between 26 August and 28 September 1918. Quebec Cemetery contains 195 First World War burials, 12 of them unidentified.
English émigré to Canada, Private Alfred S. Loose was killed on 28 September 1918, aged 25 years.
The cemetery was designed by G. H. Goldsmith.
Sun Quarry Cemetery Located approx. 1 kilometer southeast of Cherisy and contains 191 First World War burials. Many of the casualties of the August–September 1918 fighting that took place in the area. The cemetery contains many men of the 26th Battalion Canadian Infantry (from
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
). The cemetery was also designed by G. H. Goldsmith.
See also
*
Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department
The following is a list of the 887 communes of the Pas-de-Calais department of France.
The communes cooperate in the following intercommunalities (as of 2025):