Monument to the Polish volunteers who fell in the Third Battle of Artois, May 9, 1915, at La Targette. Across the front of the monument is inscribed "Za Wasza I Nasza Wolnosc", For your freedom; for our freedom. © 2013 by John M. Shea

Across the front of the monument is inscribed "Za Wasza I Nasza Wolnosc", For your freedom; for our freedom.



À la memoire des volontaires Polonais tombés au champs d'honneur sur les collines de l'Artois le 9 Mai 1915



Monument renové 1994



In memory of Polish volunteers fallen on the fields of honor / killed in action on the hills of Artois May 9, 1915



Monument renovated 1994

Other views: Detail, Front

Artois is a region in France through which the front line ran. The Race to the Sea of 1914 snaked northwards through Artois after crossing the Somme River. As each side tried to outflank the other, trying to capture or hold territory and cities of strategic value, the line passed into Artois from September 27 to October 10, east of Albert, west of Bapaume, through Arras, west of Vimy, through Lens and Loos, east of Festubert, through La Bassée, east of Neuve Chapelle, west of Lille, and across the Lys River into Belgium.

Some of the war's most-contested territory was in Artois including the cities of Arras and Lens, and the high ground of Vimy Ridge and Loretto Heights.

The First Battle of Artois was fought in December, 1914, and the Second in the spring of 1915. The Champagne-Loos-Artois Offensive in the autumn of 1915 was an Anglo-French offensive fought in Champagne and Artois. In Artois, the Battle of Loos was the British offensive and the Third Battle of Artois the French.

The 1917 Battles of Arras and Vimy Ridge were fought over some of the same land, with Canadians troops finally capturing the high ground of Vimy in the latter battle.

Artois is a region in France.

Some books about Artois (1)

Title	Author Last Name	Author First Name
The First Hundred Thousand; Being the Unofficial Chronicle of a Unit of "K (1)"	Hay	Ian