Bellenglise

Bellenglise (French pronunciation: [bɛlɑ̃ɡliz]) is a commune in the department of Aisne in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Bellenglise
Commune
Town hall and school
Location of Bellenglise
Bellenglise Show map of France Bellenglise Show map of Hauts-de-France
Coordinates: 49°55′21″N 3°14′39″E
Country	France
Region	Hauts-de-France
Department	Aisne
Arrondissement	Saint-Quentin
Canton	Bohain-en-Vermandois
Intercommunality	Pays du Vermandois
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Vincent Duquenne[1]
Area 1	6.4 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	379
• Density	59/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	02063 /02420
Elevation	77–129 m (253–423 ft) (avg. 88 m or 289 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

The village lies close to the N44, in a loop of the St. Quentin Canal, nine kilometres north of St. Quentin.

Brigadier General J V Campbell addressing troops of the 137th Brigade from the Riqueval Bridge over the St. Quentin Canal, 2 October 1918

History

About two kilometres to the north is the Riqueval souterrain.

On the 28 August 1914 the French 10th Regiment of Territorial Infantry opposed a German invading force. The French unit was essentially from the local Département, with its depot in St Quentin. Despite a fierce defence, the French line gave and a battalion (1000 men) of the unit was taken prisoner.

The famous picture of the British 137th Brigade, gathered on the canal bank at Riqueval Bridge, for a pep talk after the crossing of the St. Quentin Canal, was taken nearby.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	426	—
1975	517	+2.80%
1982	479	−1.08%
1990	441	−1.03%
1999	410	−0.81%
2007	389	−0.66%
2012	383	−0.31%
2017	381	−0.10%
Source: INSEE[3]

Plaque at the entrance to the cemetery. It reads 'French memory. Military Square. Graves of soldiers who died for France.'

Sites and monuments

• The commune cemetery, with its military square just to the left of the entrance, where are buried soldiers who died for France.

See also

• Communes of the Aisne department