Monchy-le-Preux Memorial

The Monchy-le-Preux Memorial is a bronze caribou statue standing on a hill above the Scarpe Plain, positioned atop former German fortifications. The statue overlooks the terrain where some of the fiercest fighting took place during the war.

The memorial commemorates events in April 1917, when a small group of soldiers from Newfoundland held their position against a much larger German force during the Battle of Arras. This clash marked a turning point in the fighting for the region.

This memorial is part of a series of five caribou statues placed across Europe, each honoring soldiers from Newfoundland who served in World War I. The statue has become a symbol of their contributions to the conflict across the continent.

The site is easy to access and offers interpretive panels in multiple languages explaining details of the battle and the soldiers involved. The hilltop location also provides good vantage points to understand the surrounding terrain and its military significance.

The statue depicts a caribou, an animal native to Newfoundland, often surprising visitors as an unexpected symbol on the European battlefield. This detail connects the history of a distant land to the fighting grounds of France.