ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Achiet-le-Grand

Pas de Calais

France

General Directions: Achiet-le-Grand is a village 19 kilometres south of Arras. Take the main road from Arras to Bapaume (N17). At Ervillers turn right onto the D9 towards Achiet. At the first junction in the village a CWGC signpost indicates the way towards the right. 

Achiet-le-Grand was occupied by the 7th Bedford's on 17 March 1917, lost on 25 March 1918 after a defence by the 1st/6th Manchester's, and recaptured on 23 August 1918. From April 1917 to March 1918, the village was occupied by the 45th and 49th Casualty Clearing Stations. Achiet station was an allied railhead. The communal cemetery and extension were used by Commonwealth medical units from April 1917 to March 1918. The extension was also used by the Germans to a small extent in March and April 1918, and again by Commonwealth troops in August 1918. After the Armistice Plot III and most of Plot IV were made when 645 graves, mainly of 1916 and March and August 1918, were brought in from the battlefields round Achiet and from other burial grounds.

Shot at Dawn: Private, A Mitchell of 1/6 Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers is buried in plot 4. R. 3. He was executed for desertion on 20/08/1917.

Casualty Details: UK 1259, Canada 5, Australia 61, New Zealand 95, South Africa 4,  Germany 37, Total Burials: 1461

267395 Private

Frederick William Cann

6th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers

29/06/1917, aged 24.

Husband of Jane Isabella Cann, of 22, Bewicke St., Willington Quay, Northumberland.

Born 1891 at Swanton Morley, Norfolk. Died of wounds possibly overnight as his death is dated 30th on a casualty report. His Service Number was 267395, he also had service numbers 8123 and 7940 he is also believed to have been in 4th battalion.

Picture courtesy of Moira McKeown, great niece of this soldier
 

Plan of the cemetery

Cemetery plan courtesy of Barry Cuttell

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