The best traffic-free bike rides around Pozières

Nice view of the ponds and the villa "Les étangs".

The Nymphe d'Aveluy is a historical monument in Aveluy, France, commemorating the artwork created by French soldiers during World War I. During periods of rest between battles, soldiers created sculptures and engravings, including the famous "Nymphe d'Aveluy". These works were often photographed and sent to their families on postcards.

Grove Town Cemetery in Méaulte contains 1,392 graves: 1,365 British, 12 Canadian, 14 Australian, and 1 New Zealander. In September 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, two dressing stations were established at this site, which was known to the troops as Grove Town (grove = grove / town = town), where those who did not survive their wounds were buried until April 1917. In August and September 1918, following the victorious Allied counteroffensive, other bodies were also buried in this cemetery.

The Méaulte Military Cemetery was built in December 1915 and was in use until February 1917, although after the fighting of 1918 and the armistice, more bodies were buried there. It contains 312 graves (303 British, 2 Canadian, 1 Australian, and 6 Indian), including 21 unidentified bodies. The village of Méaulte was occupied by the British from 1915 until March 26, 1918, when it was captured by the Germans. It was finally liberated by the British 12th Division, supported by tanks, on August 22, 2018.

The extension to the Mesnil-Martinsart Communal Cemetery was built in July 1916, at the time of the Battle of the Somme, and contains 333 graves: 321 British, 5 Canadians, and 7 New Zealanders. Since the village of Mesnil was located near the front until September 1916, and again from March to August 1918, this cemetery was begun in July, at the time of the Battle of the Somme. Although bodies were still being buried in 1918, it was mainly after the armistice that a large number of bodies from the nearby battlefield, located northeast of Mesnil, were gathered here. This was the case for 141 British sailors and soldiers, as well as the Canadians from Mesnil Dressing Station Cemetery. This cemetery was located during the war to the west of the village, near a small railway line, which was mainly used to transport munitions. It was used from June 1916 to February 1917, and again from March to July 1918, mainly by the 63rd Division: the Royal Naval Division

Inaugurated in 1930 at a location known as Red Cross Corner, the Pozières Memorial comprises a cemetery with 2,756 graves (1,828 British, 708 Australian, 219 Canadian, and 1 German), including 1,374 unidentified, as well as a memorial commemorating 14,649 victims (14,328 British and 321 South African) who have no known grave, who fell during the German counterattack of March 1918. Their names are engraved on the walls surrounding it. Pozières was attacked on July 23, 1916, by the 1st Australian Division and the 48th (South Midland) Division, and was captured the following day. It was lost on March 24 and 25, 1918, during the major German advance, and recaptured by the 17th Division on August 24. Quote on the entrance pediment: "In memory of the officers and men of the 5th and 4th Armies who fought on the battlefields of the Somme between March 21 and August 7, 1918, and of those of their dead who have no known grave"

The extension of the Aveluy communal cemetery was built by the French, who occupied the village until July 1915. Then relieved by British troops, the latter continued to use it until November 1917. It contains 613 bodies: 549 British, 54 Australian, 7 Canadian, 1 South African, and 2 Indian - the latter three being part of labor units. The thirty graves of French soldiers were moved after the war to a necropolis

The foundations of the blockhouse, captured by the Australians on July 14, 1916, are still visible. It was actually an old cellar that had been reinforced and accessed through a concrete entrance. The village of Pozières had been heavily fortified by the Germans (defended by nearly 200 machine guns). It was located on a ridge (elevation 160) crossed by a double network of trenches. Two enormous blockhouses dominated the battlefield: "Gibraltar" at the southern entrance (coming from Albert), and "Le Moulin à Vent" at the northern entrance from Bapaume (which would not be captured until August 4).