BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
Bethune
Pas de Calais
France
General Directions: Bethune is 29 kilometres north of Arras. From the town centre of Bethune, turn right in front of the Tribunal and second right at the bottom of the road down to the cul-de-sac where the cemetery will be found.
For much of the First World War, Bethune was comparatively free from bombardment and remained an important railway and hospital centre, as well as a corps and divisional headquarters. The 33rd Casualty Clearing Station was in the town until December 1917. Early in 1918, Bethune began to suffer from constant shell fire and in April 1918, German forces reached Locon, five kilometres to the north. The bombardment of 21 May did great damage to the town and it was not till October that pressure from the Germans was relaxed. Buried within this cemetery are 26 men of the 1/8th Manchester Regiment who were killed by a bomb on 22 December 1917 while marching to rest billets.
Victoria Cross: Lieutenant Frank Alexander De Pass, VC. Mentioned in Despatches, 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse, killed in action 25/11/1914. Plot 1. A. 24.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29074, dated 16th Feb., 1915, records the following:-"For conspicuous bravery near Festubert on the 24th November, in entering a German sap and destroying a traverse in the face of the enemy's bombs, and for subsequently rescuing, under heavy fire, a wounded man who was lying exposed in the open."
Shot at Dawn: 11967 Private R. Morgan, 2nd Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for murder 15/02/1915. Plot 4. A. 17.
Shot at Dawn: 12942 Lance Corporal W. Price, 2nd Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for murder 15/02/1915. Plot 4. A. 18.
Shot at Dawn: 20101 Private E. Bryant, 10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, executed for desertion 27/10/1917. Plot 6. H. 3.
Casualty Details: UK 2923, Canada 55, India 26, Germany 87, France 122, Total Burials: 3295
10125 Private
Joseph Hateley
1st Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
20/05/1915, aged 33.
Son of Joseph Henry and Anne Hateley, of Walsall, Staffs.;
husband of Gertrude Fallon (formerly Hateley), of 24, Chester St., Liverpool.
Plot IV. C. 23.
Joseph was a caster by trade and formerly employed by Messrs. Mason and Burns, Pleck Road Walsall.
He died of wounds on 20/05/1915 through loss of blood, his arm having been blown off by a shell.
Picture courtesy of Carol Davey, great Granddaughter of this soldier
701294 Private
Richard Henry Arnold
16th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
27/02/1917, aged 20.
Son of Mr. J. W. Arnold, of Hyas, Saskatchewan.
Plot VI. B. 78.
Picture courtesy of Marilyn Arnold Wilkie, niece of this soldier.
Second Lieutenant
Henry Alexander Birkby
5th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
20/04/1916, aged 26.
Plot III. K. 5.
Picture courtesy of great, great nephew, Mark Galvin
2719 Corporal
Joseph Stanislaus Maley
"B" Coy. 9th (Glasgow Hds.) Bn.
Highland Light Infantry
17/05/1915, aged 22.
Plot III. D. 21.
Son of Thomas E. Maley and Elizabeth Maley of 66, Wilton St. Glasgow. Known as Josie to his family and friends. Died of wounds 17.05.1915 aged 22 at the battle of Festubert.
Josie's memory was kept alive by his family and he was never forgotten by his three younger sisters. In later years this photograph always had pride of place in the home of one of them; my late mother.
R.I.P
Picture courtesy of Dorothy Quail (niece)
30673 Private
Harry Jones
1st Bn. Welsh Regiment
04/10/1915
Born Liverpool, residence Caerphilly, Glam.
Plot IV. E. 83.
Picture courtesy of Joe Jones
Latest additions to the site | Belgian Cemetery Index | French Cemetery Index
Other Cemeteries and Memorials around the world | British Cemeteries and Memorials | 1939-1945 Cemetery Index
Cemeteries with Victoria Cross burials | Cemeteries with "Shot at Dawn" burials | Regimental Badge Archive | Roll of Honour
Information on how to submit a photograph or image to the site | Book Reviews | About Us and our task | Links
Site Map | Miscellaneous articles |