LA CHAUDIERE MILITARY CEMETERY
Vimy
Pas de Calais
France
General Directions: La Chaudiere Military Cemetery is approximately 3 kilometres south of Lens and is situated on the north-western outskirts of Vimy.
Vimy Ridge was taken by the Canadian Corps in April 1917 in the Battle
of Vimy Ridge, although the 25th and 47th (London) Divisions had also been
involved in heavy fighting there in May 1916.
The cemetery was made at the foot of the ridge, on the north-eastern side,
next to a house which had contained a camouflaged German gun position. It
remained very small until the summer of 1919, when graves were brought in
from many other small cemeteries and isolated sites (some of these from the
1916 fighting) on or near the ridge. At this time, the cemetery was known as
Vimy Canadian Cemetery No.1.
There are now 908 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated
in this cemetery. 314 of the burials are unidentified but there are special
memorials to a number of casualties known to be buried among them. Other
special memorials commemorate men whose graves in some of the concentrated
cemeteries had been destroyed in subsequent fighting.
The cemetery was designed by
Sir Herbert Baker
Victoria Cross: 808887 Private, John George Pattison, VC, 50th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment), killed in action 03/06/1917, aged 42. Plot VI. C. 14. Son of Harry and Mary Pattison; husband of Mrs. S. L. Pattison, of Suite 12, Curtis Block, Calgary, Alberta. Native of New Cross, England.
Citation:
An extract from "The London Gazette," No.30215, dated 31st July, 1917, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery in attack. When the advance of our troops was held up by an enemy machine gun, which was inflicting severe casualties, Pte. Pattison, with utter disregard of his own safety, sprang forward and, jumping from shell-hole to shell-hole, reached cover within thirty yards of the enemy gun. From this point, in face of heavy fire, he hurled bombs, killing and wounding some of the crew, then rushed forward overcoming and bayoneting the surviving five gunners. His valour and initiative undoubtedly saved the situation and made possible the further advance to the objective."
Casualty Details: UK 268, Canada 638, Total Burials: 906
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838266 Private Allan Daniel Dunoon 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, (Central Ontario Regiment) 09/04/1917, aged 21. Plot VII. C. 15.
He is seen here holding his nephew, William Dunoon-Wilson - QMS B-159312 (WW2) and father of Bob Wilson who submitted this picture of his Great uncle.
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291555 Private Pall Johannesson 46th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Sakatchewan Regiment) 05/05/1917 Plot V. B. 19 He signed his attestation papers on January 8, 1916 in Baldur Manitoba. He was assigned to the 222nd overseas Battalion, C. E. F. Before he was then transferred to the 46th Battalion and killed in action on 5/5/17. Our family, three generations on, still knows how happy and caring Pall was. The family missed him deeply. His two adopted nieces, Florence and Margaret, wanted very badly to have their photo taken with Pall before he left (Image above right) This photo and information is submitted by Al Thorleifson, Pall’s grand nephew.
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