Oppy: History and Memorial Sites

Those interested in the history of the First World War can understand Oppy’s place in it through specific events, memorial sites and historical accounts. The dates in April, May and June 1917 mark different stages of the fighting around Oppy and Oppy Wood. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish these events from the later memorial sites and the planned improvements to walking routes.

Fighting around Oppy and Oppy Wood

A British attack on Oppy on 28 April 1917 failed. The attack on 3 May, which aimed in part to capture Oppy, was also unsuccessful and resulted in heavy losses. Oppy Wood was captured on 28 June 1917; during this attack, 280 German soldiers were taken prisoner. These three dates provide a chronological overview without conflating the events into a single attack.

The Oppy-Méricourt-Vendin Line is also part of the historical context of the area. It ran west of Oppy and its wood, then branched off to run on both sides of Arleux. This describes the course of the line; it should be distinguished from the individual attacks on Oppy and Oppy Wood.

Commemorations in Oppy Wood and the village

After the First World War, Kingston upon Hull chose Oppy Wood as the site for its war memorial. The memorial was unveiled in October 1927. Its history links the choice of site after the war with a clearly dated act of commemoration. When considering the events of 1917, this later development provides a separate point of reference in time.

The Oppy Memorial stands in the village square in Oppy. It commemorates those from Kingston upon Hull who fell, as well as members of all local units who died in the First World War. The plot for the memorial was donated in memory of Pierre, a non-commissioned officer in the French 504th Tank Regiment. Pierre fell at Guyencourt on 8 August 1918. The dedication and commemorative purpose give this site its own place in the history of the village.

Church, eyewitness account and walking routes

Oppy is home to the Église Saint-Nicolas. An eyewitness account by a First World War veteran places troops at the Oppy Wood front shortly after the Battle of Vimy. The church and the account offer different ways of exploring the area: one identifies a building in Oppy, while the other records a historical view of the front.

Plans call for the GR 121 and local walking routes in Oppy to be maintained and made more accessible to visitors. The plans include parking areas, rest and picnic areas, and information boards. These facilities should be understood as planned projects. If they are important to your plans, check the current status of the proposed improvements before travelling.

Planning your trip

There is no British military cemetery in Oppy. The nearest British cemeteries are in Willerval and Farbus. If you are exploring the memorial sites and the fighting, this distinction helps provide context: Oppy offers a connection to the memorial and the history of the village, while the cemeteries mentioned are located elsewhere.

Different interests may therefore guide your choice of destination: the events of 1917, the history of the memorial sites, or the planned development of the walking routes. You can consider these topics separately or compare their chronological and geographical connections without treating the respective accounts as equivalent.

Discover more destinations: Agnez-lès-Duisans, Meurchin, Beauvois, Ligny-Sur-Canche, Hames-Boucres, Busnes, Tortefontaine, Haucourt

For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.