COTE 80 FRENCH NATIONAL CEMETERY
Etinehem
Somme
France
General Directions: Etineham is a village in the Department of the Somme, on the north bank of the Somme River, over 9 kilometres south of Albert. Cote 80 French National Cemetery is about 140 metres east of the road from Etineham and Meaulte, just south of the road from Bray to Corbie.
The village of Etinehem remained in Allied hands until March 1918 and the great German advance; it was retaken by the 50th Australian Battalion on 10 August 1918. Cote 80 French National Cemetery, called originally Point 80 French Military Cemetery, was named from a road crossing near by. In June-October 1916 two French field ambulances made this cemetery and another near by at Cote 77. In the middle of the cemetery at Cote 80, they buried a number of Commonwealth soldiers and in August 1918, Australian troops added graves to the existing Commonwealth rows, and more at the east end. After the Armistice the French authorities moved the French graves from Cote 77 into Cote 80.
Shot at Dawn: Driver J Spencer, 65th Battery, 8th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, executed for desertion 29/09/1915, row B. 2.
Casualty Details: UK 19, Canada 1, Australia 29, Total Burials: 49
3327 Private
Sidney Francis Hatch
35th Bn. Australian Infantry
A. I. F.
22/08/1918, aged 21.
Son of Robert John and Sarah Hatch, of "Glebe", Bungendore, New South Wales.
Row C. 1.
Sidney Francis Hatch was the ninth and youngest child of Robert and Sarah Hatch . He had 3 brothers and 5 sisters .
He was born Australia Day 26th January 1897 in the village of Bungendore New South Wales . He attended a Roman Catholic Convent school in Bungendore . He was described in a school report as having a cheerful and affectionate nature and a bright and intelligent student. He was also a devout Catholic .
He worked as a mechanic at the Buik Company's Works and while there he persuaded his parents to allow him to enlist.
He enlisted in June 1917 . In April 1918 he was severely gassed and after a few months in hospital he was returned to the front and remained there until his death .
He was acting as a stretcher-bearer in the 35th Battalion when he was Killed In Action on the 22nd August 1918 aged 21 years.
The village of Bungendore was greatly saddened by the news of his death as his parents were among the oldest and most respected residents in the village .
Picture courtesy of Wendy Williamson, his second cousin twice removed, Sidney's family history is on the Willow Trees website: http://users.bigpond.net.au/willowstree
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
Contact Us (We always reply) | Site Map | Miscellaneous articles