Cemeteries and a Family Friendship

Day 5 was underway bright and early. Our first stop was at Notre Dame De Lorette Cemetery, the largest World War I cemetery in France. Our next stop was at Cabaret Rouge, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in France.

Many of us visited marker 7E on row 5. That marker belonged to an unknown Canadian soldier whose body was exhumed in May 2000 and brought to Canada to symbolize the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers. Following Cabaret Rouge we went to Neuville St Vast & La Targette Cemetery, a German cemetery. We made a quick stop at the French-British Memorial on the way to Arras. Around 12:30 PM we arrived in Arras for an Exhibition organised by EF. There was food, war documentaries, and interactive activities such as virtual reality in the trenches, and stations about the food, healthcare, and deadly gasses used in the Great War. It was very informative and the people running the stations were all dressed up in the traditional occupation outfits. We spent two and a half hours at the exhibition and then all of us went off in separate directions to explore downtown Arras.

Our last stop was at the Indian Memorial in Neuve Chappelle. This was a special moment for me as my great- great grandfather Manta Singh Johal fought in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force. Whilst on the Battlefield his fellow comrade Captain Henderson was injured, so Manta Singh found a wheelbarrow and brought his friend to safety. However, in doing so Manta Singh got shot in the leg. He was transferred to Brighton England and he died a couple of days later. Manta Singh’s son (my great grandfather) fought in World War II alongside Captain Henderson’s son and ever since, the families have kept close.