French National Cemetery
This French Military Cemetery is a reminder that for the opening of the war
the northern flank of the Ypres Salient was held by the French Army (with the
Belgian Army on their left).
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On 22 April 1915 it was
against the French that the Germans launched the first ever
gas attack.
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There are 3547 soldiers buried here plus a mass grave for 609 unknown
Some of the French Cemeteries have their own area for Muslims who are all
facing Mecca, but here at St Charles the two faiths mingle together.
The statue near the entrance by the sculptor Freour represents a family
devastated by the loss of a member - lost without trace.
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On 27 September 2001 nine unidentified
French soldiers were buried in this cemetery. Their bodies had been found
during last months of excavations by the
group called The Diggers on an industrial estate at Boezinge.
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