Noreuil
Noreuil is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.
Noreuil | |
|---|---|
 The town hall of Noreuil | |
Location of Noreuil 
| |
  Noreuil  Noreuil | |
| Coordinates: 50°10′17″N 2°56′07″E | |
| 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 |
| Area 1 | 4.79 km2 (1.85 sq mi) |
| Population (2017-01-01)[1] | 160 |
| • Density | 33/km2 (87/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (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. | |
Geography
Noreuil is situated 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Arras, on the D5 road.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 143 | — |
| 1975 | 128 | −1.57% |
| 1982 | 135 | +0.76% |
| 1990 | 117 | −1.77% |
| 1999 | 114 | −0.29% |
| 2007 | 130 | +1.66% |
| 2012 | 141 | +1.64% |
| 2017 | 160 | +2.56% |
| Source: INSEE[2] | ||
History
World War One
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).[3]
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.
References
- "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- Mallett, Ross (2001). "Brigadier General Robert Smith". Australian Defence Force Academy. Archived from the original on 2007-06-02. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
