Dury Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Dury Memorial is a World War I Canadian war memorial
that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps
in the Second Battle of Arras, particularly the their breakthrough at the Drocourt-Quéant Line switch of the Hindenburg Line just south of the town of Dury
. The Drocourt-Quéant Line was a main position in the German Army's defensive position in the area. The action took place on 2 and 3 September 1918 during a period known as the Hundred Days Offensive
or Canada's Hundred Days
. Particularly noteworthy for such a brief battle was that 7 Canadians earned a Victoria Cross
on September 2 during the battle.
at Vimy Ridge was selected as the national memorial site and seven other locations at Hill 62
, St. Julien
and Passchendaele
in Belgium, as well as Le Quesnel
, Dury, Courcelette
and Bourlon Wood
in France were chosen to commemorate significant battles the Canadian Expeditionary Force
had engaged in. Each of the seven sites were to have an identical granite block inscribed with a brief description of the battle in both English and French.
and Cambrai
. Tall, stately maple trees line three edges of the park and well kept lawns surround the low circular flagstone terrace that the granite memorial block rests on.
Canadian war memorials
The history of Canada comprises hundreds of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing modern Canada, and the role of the Canadian military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. Many of these armed engagements are commemorated today with memorials across Canada and around the world...
that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
in the Second Battle of Arras, particularly the their breakthrough at the Drocourt-Quéant Line switch of the Hindenburg Line just south of the town of Dury
Dury, Pas-de-Calais
Dury is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village southeast of Arras at the junction of the D956 and D9E roads...
. The Drocourt-Quéant Line was a main position in the German Army's defensive position in the area. The action took place on 2 and 3 September 1918 during a period known as the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
or Canada's Hundred Days
Canada's Hundred Days
Canada’s Hundred Days was a series of attacks made along the Western Front by the Canadian Corps during the Hundred Days Offensive of World War I...
. Particularly noteworthy for such a brief battle was that 7 Canadians earned a Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
on September 2 during the battle.
Site Selection
The Canadian Battlefield Monument Commission established after the Great War was appointed to select the location and design of the memorials to commemorate the Canadian participation in the First World War. The Canadian National Vimy MemorialCanadian National Vimy Memorial
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a 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 First World War Canadian soldiers killed or presumed dead in France who have no known...
at Vimy Ridge was selected as the national memorial site and seven other locations at Hill 62
Hill 62 Memorial
The Canadian Hill 62 Memorial is a war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in defending the southern stretches of the Ypres Salient between April and August 1916 including actions in battle at the St. Eloi Craters, Hill 62, Mount Sorrel and Sanctuary Wood...
, St. Julien
Saint Julien Memorial
The St. Julien Memorial is a Canadian war memorial and small commemorative park located in the village of Saint Julien , Belgium. The memorial commemorates the Canadian First Division's participation in the Second Battle of Ypres of World War I which included the defence against the first poison...
and Passchendaele
Passchendaele Memorial
The Passchendaele Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in the Second Battle of Passchendaele of World War I...
in Belgium, as well as Le Quesnel
Le Quesnel Memorial
The Le Quesnel Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps during the 1918 Battle of Amiens during World War I...
, Dury, Courcelette
Courcelette Memorial
The Courcelette Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in the final two and a half months of the infamous four and a half month long Somme Offensive of the First World War...
and Bourlon Wood
Bourlon Wood Memorial
The Bourlon Wood Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps during the final months of the First World War; a period also known as Canada's Hundred Days, part of the Hundred Days Offensive...
in France were chosen to commemorate significant battles the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
had engaged in. Each of the seven sites were to have an identical granite block inscribed with a brief description of the battle in both English and French.
Design & Location
The Dury Memorial site is a small square park located on the north side of the D939 Route Nationale, south of Dury, between the cities of ArrasArras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
and Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
. Tall, stately maple trees line three edges of the park and well kept lawns surround the low circular flagstone terrace that the granite memorial block rests on.