Ovillers-la-Boisselle is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Geography

The commune of Ovillers-la-Boisselle is situated northeast of Amiens and extends to the north and south of the D 929 Albert–Bapaume road.

The constituent village of Ovillers-la-Boisselle (commonly shortened to "Ovillers") lies on the north of the D 929 road, north-east of Aveluy and south-west of Pozières.

The constituent village of La Boisselle, which had in 1914, lies across the D 929, to the south-west of Ovillers at the junction of the D 104 to Contalmaison.

Population

History

The village of La Boisselle is a settlement dating back to pre-Roman times, and the D 929 Albert–Bapaume road follows the course of a Roman road. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), the area suffered serious damage after the Battle of Bapaume. but is private property and not open to the public.

Places of interest

  • Ovillers British Military Cemetery
  • The Gordon Dump Cemetery
  • Lochnagar Crater, one of the sites of the mines exploded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

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Image:Mines and the Bapaume Road, La Boisselle Art.IWMART2962.jpg|William Orpen: Mines and the Bapaume Road, La Boisselle

Image:Lochnagar Crater Ovillers.JPG|

Image:Lochnagar mine 01.JPG|

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See also

  • Communes of the Somme department
  • Sausage Valley
  • Capture of Ovillers
  • Capture of La Boisselle
  • L'îlot de La Boisselle

References

  • La Boisselle Study Group and La Boisselle Project
  • Ilot de La Boisselle