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Contalmaison

Coordinates: 50°01′26″N 2°43′52″E / 50.0239°N 2.7311°E / 50.0239; 2.7311
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Contalmaison
Fields in Contalmaison
Fields in Contalmaison
Coat of arms of Contalmaison
Location of Contalmaison
Map
Contalmaison is located in France
Contalmaison
Contalmaison
Contalmaison is located in Hauts-de-France
Contalmaison
Contalmaison
Coordinates: 50°01′26″N 2°43′52″E / 50.0239°N 2.7311°E / 50.0239; 2.7311
CountryFrance
RegionHauts-de-France
DepartmentSomme
ArrondissementPéronne
CantonAlbert
IntercommunalityPays du Coquelicot
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jocelyne Gougeon[1]
Area
1
5.67 km2 (2.19 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
120
 • Density21/km2 (55/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
80206 /80300
Elevation87–161 m (285–528 ft)
(avg. 120 m or 390 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Contalmaison (French pronunciation: [kɔ̃talmɛzɔ̃]) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Geography

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Contalmaison is situated on the D147 and D20 crossroads, some 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Amiens.

History

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As with many towns in this part of France, Contalmaison saw a great deal of fighting during World War I and was one of the allied objectives in the first Battle of the Somme.

A high number of casualties fell on the first day: 1 July 1916. The advance from the British line in front of Albert, was led by the 34th Division, a New Army formation recruited in Edinburgh, Northumberland, Grimsby and Cambridge. Elements of the 16th Royal Scots ('McCrae's Battalion') and of Tyneside Irish battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers succeeded in penetrating the village defences on 1 July before being outnumbered and forced to withdraw by stubborn German opposition.

entrance to Contalmaison Chateau cemetery

The village is notable for its McCrae's Battalion Great War Memorial which honours the fallen of the 16th Royal Scots. Designed by the historian Jack Alexander, the 'Contalmaison Cairn' was unveiled in November 2004, completing a project first proposed by veterans of the battalion in 1919. As such, it remains the last of the 'original' Great War memorials to be built.[3]

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 84—    
1975 106+3.38%
1982 101−0.69%
1990 104+0.37%
1999 98−0.66%
2007 119+2.46%
2012 122+0.50%
2017 118−0.66%
Source: INSEE[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "McCrae's Battalion - the Contalmaison Cairn - Historical Background". 7 January 2013.
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE