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Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery: A Place of Remembrance

Reflect on the sacrifices of WWI soldiers at this peaceful and historically significant cemetery in Fleurbaix, France.

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Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery in Fleurbaix, France, is a poignant reminder of the First World War. It serves as the final resting place for over 1,500 casualties, including soldiers from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and India. The cemetery offers a tranquil environment for reflection and remembrance of the sacrifices made during the war.

A brief summary to Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix

Local tips

  • Take your time to walk through the cemetery and read the inscriptions on the tombstones to reflect on the individual stories of those who are buried here.
  • Check the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website for historical information, visitor details, and casualty records before your visit.
  • The cemetery is signposted on Rue du Petillon (D175) and has a parking area in front of the main entrance.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From Lille, take a train to Armentières. Trains run regularly and the journey takes about 30 minutes. From Armentières station, take local bus Line 5 towards Fleurbaix and get off at 'Fleurbaix Centre'. From there, it's about a 15-minute walk to Rue du Petillon. Head south on Rue de la République and turn left onto Rue du Petillon. The cemetery will be on your right. Train and bus fare will cost approximately €4-€9.

  • Car

    If driving from Lille, take the A1 motorway towards Lille. Exit at 'Lille Sud' and follow the D641 road towards Fleurbaix. Continue on the D641, which will take you directly to Fleurbaix. Once in the town, follow Rue du Petillon until you reach the cemetery at 1 Rue du Petillon, 62840 Fleurbaix. Parking is available on the street near the cemetery. Driving distance is approximately 21 km and will take around 19 minutes. Expect to pay €3-€5 in tolls.

  • Taxi

    From Armentières, a taxi to Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery will cost approximately €23-€54 and take about 16 minutes. From Lille, a taxi will cost approximately €45-€55 and take about 19 minutes.

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Discover more about Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix

Located in the village of Fleurbaix, Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery is a significant World War I site. British soldiers began using the grounds as a burial place in December 1914, and it continued to be used until March 1918 when the area fell into German hands. After the Allies regained the sector in September 1918, one further burial occurred. At the end of the war, the cemetery consisted of twelve battalion burial grounds. Many soldiers buried here died from wounds sustained at a nearby dressing station known as 'Eaton Hall'. Following the Armistice, the cemetery was enlarged to include graves concentrated from the surrounding battlefields and smaller burial grounds. Today, the cemetery commemorates over 1,500 war dead from various Commonwealth nations. Nearly half of the graves are unidentified, and a special memorial honors a soldier from the United Kingdom believed to be among them. Special memorials also recognize two Indian soldiers and a group of Canadian, United Kingdom, and Australian soldiers whose graves were destroyed by shelling. The cemetery's layout is irregular due to the conditions under which it was created, with concentrated burials among the original grave groupings.

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