Noreuil

Noreuil
Commune
The town hall of Noreuil
Noreuil
Location within Hauts-de-France region
Noreuil
Coordinates: 50°10′17″N 2°56′07″E / 50.1714°N 2.9353°E / 50.1714; 2.9353Coordinates: 50°10′17″N 2°56′07″E / 50.1714°N 2.9353°E / 50.1714; 2.9353
Country France
Region Hauts-de-France
Department Pas-de-Calais
Arrondissement Arras
Canton Bapaume
Intercommunality CC Sud-Artois
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Jean-Paul Boussemard
Area1 4.79 km2 (1.85 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 126
 • Density 26/km2 (68/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code 62619 /62128
Elevation 72–110 m (236–361 ft)
(avg. 80 m or 260 ft)

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.

Noreuil is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.

Geography

Noreuil is situated 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Arras, on the D5 road.

Population

Population history
1962196819751982199019992006
136143128135117114126
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. A Distinguished Service Order (and his first of two) was awarded to then-Major Noel Medway LOUTIT, an original ANZAC, who 'relieved the pressure' during these operations by working his way partly around the enemy flank and inflicting significant effective opposition. He continued in assisting and re-organising the front line under considerable hostile machine gun fire.

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mallett, Ross (2001). "Brigadier General Robert Smith". Australian Defence Force Academy. Retrieved 2007-01-19.


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