Cimetière militaire de Calais-Nord
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Cimetière militaire de Calais-Nord
Avenue Pierre de Coubertin - 62100 CALAIS
The Calais-Nord cemetery is one of two cemeteries in Calais. In 1867, the municipality of Calais purchased this land to establish a civilian cemetery. The tragedy of the First World War and its many victims led to the creation of a military section in 1922. This military section is located at the far end of the Calais-Nord cemetery. Soldiers of three nationalities (Belgian, French, and German) are buried there. It is one of the largest Belgian military cemeteries outside of Belgium. Many of those buried there are victims of combat, bombings, and also those who died from wounds. During the First World War, Calais was a vast inter-Allied rear base, approximately 60 kilometers from the front. Supplying, storing, managing logistics, and rehabilitating men and equipment, the Calais base played a vital role from the very beginning of 1914-1918. There were numerous temporary hospitals, and sadly, many people died there from war wounds or illnesses. It's worth noting that the civilian cemetery is the final resting place of local figures such as the privateers Tom Souville and the Margollé brothers, as well as Calais residents with remarkable careers. For example, Antoine Leleu was a close associate of Simón Bolívar, the liberator of South America in the early 19th century; this Calais native also served as Secretary of State of Venezuela! Closer to our time, the parents of Pierre Bachelet are buried in this cemetery. This very popular singer, who enjoyed fame from the 1970s until his death in 2005, spent a significant part of his childhood in Calais.
