Masnières

Masnières
Coat of arms
Masnières
Location within Nord-Pas-de-Calais region Masnières
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardy
Department	Nord
Arrondissement	Cambrai
Canton	Marcoing
Intercommunality	Vacquerie
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Colette Dessaint
Area1	10.97 km2 (4.24 sq mi)
Population (1999)2	2,525
• Density	230/km2 (600/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	59389 / 59241
Elevation	54–119 m (177–390 ft) (avg. 62 m or 203 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Masnières is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.

Heraldry

The arms of Masnières are blazoned: Azure, an inescutcheon between in orle 11 billets argent. (Ligny-en-Cambrésis, Masnières and Villers-au-Tertre use the same arms.)

History

Masnières figured into the 1917 Battle of Cambrai during which time it was briefly captured by the British on the first day of the battle, November 20, and held for twelve days to protect vital bridgeheads between Masnières and Marcoing before the British withdrawal under the weight of heavy German counter-attack.

The actions of the battle are commemorated in and around Masnières by several Commonwealth War Graves Commission landmarks in and around the town, including:
Masnières Newfoundland Memorial
Masnières British Cemetery
Marcoing British Cemetery

See also

• Communes of the Nord department
• Marcel Gaumont. Sculpture on church

References

• INSEE commune file