Erin, Pas de Calais – A Little Place with a Big History
There can be few places as small as the village of Erin that featured so prominently in history.
In the Great War it was the site of a Tank Repair Workshop partly manned by members of the Chinese Labour Corps, a memorial to four of whom stands in the centre of the village. In WW2 it was a focal point along with the neighbouring villages of Fleury and Siracourt for two of the German V1 rocket launching ramps. Siracourt has the dubious distinction of being the most bombed village in history courtesy of the USAF. The surrounding area has featured in numerous conflicts; The Hundred Years War (Azincourt and Crecy are nearby) and The War of the Spanish Succession to name just two.
Comparatively recently the village has opened a new Mairie/Salle des Fetes and the original Mairie/Village School became available as a Museum & Exhibition Centre to display war relics. A few small exhibitions have already been held to raise funds for the purchase of those buildings the association didn’t already own. In the past two summers convoys of historic military vehicles have followed 10Km routes around the area visiting historical sites.
It is early days and it will take some time before it is fully functioning but the group (GRHAT ERIN Association} are looking for volunteers and supporters. In time there will be a library/resource centre and both permanent and temporary exhibitions with tanks and rockets expected to feature.
The first week in May 2027 has been earmarked for the next group refurbishment works.
Further details of the help required will be made available in due course but initial expressions of interest can be e-mailed to 7vmmnet@Gmail.com marked “Erin Project”.
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