COUIN NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
Couin
Pas de Calais
France
General Directions: Couin is a village 15 kilometres east of Doullens. Visitors should follow the main Doullens to Arras road, N25, as far as the crossroads with the D23. Follow the D23 to Souastre, then the D2 to Couin, as indicated by the CWGC sign. Couin British Cemetery and Couin New British Cemetery are at the side of the road just before entering the village.
The New British Cemetery was opened across the road from the British Cemetery, and was used by field ambulances from January 1917 (with a long interval in 1917-18) to the end of the war. One grave was moved there after the Armistice from a cemetery at Coigneux.
Victoria Cross:
Serjeant Dickson Cornelius Savage, VC, DCM, MM, Twice mentioned in Despatches, 2nd Bn. Otago Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, killed in action 25/07/1918 aged 34 years, Row G. 5. (Served as Serjeant Richard Charles Travis), Son of the late James and Frances Theresa Savage, of Otara, Opotiki, New Zealand. Known as "Prince of Scouts," and "King of No Man's Land." Also served in Egypt and Gallipoli. Awarded Croix de Guerre (Belgium).
Citation:
The Victoria Cross was a posthumous award. An extract from the
"London Gazette," dated 27th Sep., 1918, records the following:- "For most
conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During 'surprise' operations it
was necessary to destroy an impassable wire block. Serjt. Travis, regardless
of personal danger, volunteered for this duty. Before zero hour, in broad
daylight and in close proximity to enemy posts he crawled out and
successfully destroyed the block with bombs, thus enabling the attacking
parties to pass through. A few minutes later a bombing party on the right of
the attack was held up by two enemy machine guns, and the success of the
whole operation was in danger. Perceiving this Serjt. Travis with great
galantry and utter disregard of danger, rushed the position, killed the
crews and captured the guns. An enemy officer and three men immediately
rushed at him from a bend in the trench and attempted to retake the guns.
These four he killed single handed, thus allowing the bombing party on which
much depended to advance. The success of the operation was almost entirely
due to the heroic work of this gallant N.C.O. and the vigour with which he
made and used opportunities for inflicting casualties on the enemy. He was
killed 24 hours later when, in a most intense bombardment prior to an enemy
counter-attack, he was going from post to post encouraging the men." The
D.C.M. was awarded "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He went out by
himself and accounted for several enemy snipers who were firing at a working
party. He has on many previous occasions done very fine work."
Casualty Details: UK 344, Canada 2, New Zealand 14, Germany 2, Total Burials: 362
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