Pozières

Pozières is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.

Geography
The commune is situated on the D929 road, some 21 mi northeast of Amiens between Albert and Bapaume, on the Pozières ridge.

History


The village was completely destroyed in World War I during what became the Battle of Pozières (23 July–7 August 1916), which was part of the Battle of the Somme. The village was subsequently rebuilt, and is now the site of several war memorials. The Australian flag flies over Pozières in recognition of the sacrifice of the ANZACs in the Battle of Pozières. Amongst the British and other Commonwealth forces who fought at Pozières, the Australians suffered over 5,000 killed, wounded or taken prisoner.

One of those killed, on 5 August, was the English composer George Butterworth, and in 2008 the road between the town and Martinpuich was renamed Chemin George Butterworth (George Butterworth Lane); 50.04117°N, 2.73311°W).