Le Hamel, Somme

Le Hamel
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Le Hamel
Location within Picardy region Le Hamel
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardy
Department	Somme
Arrondissement	Péronne
Canton	Corbie
Intercommunality	Val de Somme
Government
• Mayor (2001–2008)	Stéphane Chevin
Area1	9.12 km2 (3.52 sq mi)
Population (2006)2	526
• Density	58/km2 (150/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	80411 / 80800
Elevation	28–101 m (92–331 ft) (avg. 83 m or 272 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.

Le Hamel is a commune in the Somme department in Picardy in northern France.

Geography

Le Hamel is situated some 16 miles (26 km) east of Amiens in the valley of the Somme. The surrounding district is the historical Santerre, a lightly wooded and agricultural plateau.

History

The name has the same root as ‘hameau’ (eng:hamlet), a small rural settlement
Mentioned for the first time in 1184 as belonging to the powerful abbey of Corbie.
As with many towns in the region, Le Hamel has experienced the ravages of war over many centuries, between the French kings and their adversaries from England, Burgundy and Spain.
A pivotal place during the First World War, the Battle of Hamel on 4 July 1918 was a prelude to the summer offensive of 8 August later the same year.

Places of interest

• The park commemorating the 1000+ Australian troops that died in the battle was inaugurated on 4 July 1998, exactly 80 years after the day of the battle. The site symbolises the friendship between France and Australia.
• The lakes of the valley of the Somme.

• Le Hamel (Somme) Mairie.jpg

  The Mairie

• Le Hamel (Somme) Grande rue.jpg

  Main Street

Population

Historical population of Le Hamel, Somme

Year	1794	1800	1831	1851	1876	1901	1921	1936	1946	1956	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2006
Population	595	622	960	1256	961	869	386	466	453	495	448	472	469	451	489	519	526
From the year 1962 on: No double counting—residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) are counted only once.

See also

• Communes of the Somme department
• Battle of Le Hamel

References

• INSEE

External links

• Le Hamel
• Santerre 14-18 : World War I in the Santerre
• Le Hamel on the Quid website (French)