Bapaume Communal Cemetery

About

The Bapaume Communal Cemetery (French: Communal Cemetery of Bapaume) is a cemetery located in the French commune of Bapaume (Pas-de-Calais). It is in part a military cemetery, one of several in the area maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The CWGC graves are in small plots scattered in different parts of the cemetery and commemorate British and Commonwealth soldiers who are found in World War I and World War II.

Rental: The cemetery is located north of Bapaume, which is itsself located on the D917 road between the cities of Arras and Paris.

History: First World War Bapaume was conquered by the Germans on 26 September 1914 and was retaken by the British on 17 March 1917. The Germans took the village again on 24 March 1918 during their spring offensive, but the Allied New Zealand Division was able to take it back on 29 August. Two battles, occupying on 24–25 March 1918 and 31 August – 3 September 1918, respectively, are named after the village. Second World War Bapaume was occupied by Nazi Germany in May 1940 as German forces pursued the British Expeditionary Force in the Battle of France.