The Bellicourt Monument, located 9 miles north of St. Quentin, France, near Somme American Cemetery, commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of 90,000 American troops who served with the British Armies during World War I. Designed by Paul Philippe Cret, an American Battle Monuments Commission consulting architect, the monument reflects the Commission’s approach to combining architecture and landscape to tell the story of American service. It stands directly above the St. Quentin Canal tunnel—part of the German Hindenburg Line—and features an engraved map illustrating American operations, along with an orientation table that connects visitors to the surrounding battlefield. 

From Belgium to Bellicourt 

The 27th and 30th divisions reached the Bellicourt sector after fighting in Belgium earlier in September 1918. Their arrival highlighted how American forces shifted across the front to meet Allied priorities during the final phase of the war. At Bellicourt, they became part of a coordinated effort to break through one of Germany’s strongest defensive systems, the Hindenburg Line. 

Under Australian command 

At Bellicourt, the 27th and 30th divisions were placed under the tactical control of the Australian Corps, reflecting the integrated nature of Allied operations in 1918. They entered the line Sept. 24 and 25 and took part in the offensive launched Sept. 29. Fighting in adjoining sectors, the divisions sustained heavy losses before Australian troops passed through their positions to continue the attack. 

Built over the battlefield 

The monument’s location is central to its meaning. It stands above the St. Quentin Canal tunnel, a key component of the Hindenburg Line that German forces relied on for defense. By placing the memorial directly over this position, the site marks where American troops helped breach the line in September 1918, anchoring remembrance in the physical landscape of the battle.

Bellicourt Monument not only honors those who fought but also places visitors at the very ground where the Hindenburg Line was breached. 

The American Battle Monuments Commission sites are a constant reminder of Gen. John J. Pershing’s promise that, “time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”