I visited with my teenage daughter during the half term holiday just after she studied WW1 at school. It was very emotional visit thinking so many young healthy men were killed although none of our relatives were here as we are originally from Far East Asia.My daughter said a half of her classmates have been to ski trip during the half term. But she really appreciated our visit here and the Somme area after this.
a wonderful memorial to the hundreds who lost their lives in the war. Graves were well tended and the whole place was very tidy.An emotional experience, but such a special memorial.
A beautiful and fitting memorial that pays fitting tribute to those that bravely gave their lives fighting for King and Country.
We visited early morning and were the only 2 there. So many young lives given up and so many bodies un discovered - we hadn't really realised to what extent. Th Commonwealth War Graves Commission do an excellent job of maintaining it.
Travelled to Lille for couple nights and got train to Arras about30min journey, got taxi to cemetery, such a clean and well kept place, walking around and seeing how young most of them were, went to my Great Grandfathers war grave and laid a couple of poppies, it was in all a very emotional place, but also very beautiful, we walked back to town which was like a smaller version of Lille, plenty of hotels restaurants and bars.
This is the second time I have visited the memorial, the first time i had no idea I have two relatives named on the wall, I have only discovered recently when investigating my family tree so wanted to re-visit, This place is so peaceful even though in the middle of town immaculately kept and very moving, strange but I love it here, a fitting momorial.
A very moving place, I agree with an elderly Dutch acquaintance who said there was a 'great weight of sadness' hanging over it. The headstones are beautifully maintained, the grass and flowers around the graves, immaculate, the stone memorial building is quite imposing yet reverential.The benches in each of the memorial bays feel calm and allow space and time for reflection.The memorial wall which has in excess of 350,000 names engraved on it does require attention as some of the names are faded and unreadable and the stone itself is suffering from water (and possibly heat) damage. In the centenary year of the Great War I would suggest that some effort is made before so many of the names are lost forever.My strongest criticism however is reserved for the lack of facilities at the memorial,unless we missed them, there are no public toilets at the site nor in the car park opposite. Obviously it would be crass to have any type of shop/ cafe there but for the number of visitors and the time they wish to spend there surely this merits a public convenience.
Beautifully maintained graves and impressive memorial to 35,000 Commonwealth lives lost in the First World War.
We went to see my great grandfathers name on the memorial. The site was beautifully maintained. Unfortunately the nearby memorial to the French resistance fighters was closed due to what looked like road maintenance.
This cemetery incorporates the Arras war memorial. It is a superb and awe-inspiring structure. Typically kept in immaculate fashion by the CWGC it is really not to be missed.