LA KREULE MILITARY CEMETERY
Hazebrouck
Nord
France
General Directions: La Kreule is a small hamlet 2 kilometres north of Hazebrouck, on the road to St Sylvestre-Cappel and Steenvoorde. Leave Hazebrouck on the D916 heading north. The Cemetery is visible from the roundabout where the D916 crosses the Hazebrouck by-pass. The access road to the cemetery is 100 metres off the roundabout, on the left hand side.
La Kreule Military Cemetery was opened in April 1918 by the 1st and 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations, which came back from Outtersteene ahead of the German advance, and the 17th, which arrived from Lijssenthoek. These three stations, known collectively as "Ana Jana Siding", were posted to the north of La Kreule, but in the middle of April they withdrew to Blendecques, near St. Omer, and the cemetery was then used by heavy artillery and fighting units. In October 1918, the 17th Casualty Clearing Station returned with the 8th and the 64th and the cemetery was closed at the end of the month.
Shot at Dawn: Private H. Hendricks, 2nd Bn. Leinster Regiment, executed for desertion 23/08/1918, plot 3. C. 1.
Casualty Details: UK 455, Canada 2, Australia 78, South Africa 41, Germany 12, France 1, Total Burials: 512
L/24080 Driver
James Frederick Lesson
"D" Bty. 170th Bde.
Royal Field Artillery
06/09/1918, aged 20.
Son of George and Ellen Jane Lesson, of Horwich, Lancs.
Plot III. C. 16.
Fred, as he was known, of 41 Webb Street, Horwich near Bolton in Lancashire, joined the County Palatine Royal Field Artillery 191 Brigade. At the time of his recruitment on 19th May 1915 he lied about his age saying that he was 19 years old when he was only barely 16. Fred was the only son of George and Ellen Jane (Nellie) Lesson He died on the 6th September 1918. He was conveying some men ,who were going home to England on leave, away from The Front when they were hit directly by a shell from a long range gun. He was just 20 years old.
If there anyone has any information about the activity of the RFA in this region on the day he died 6th September 1918 I would be very grateful for it.
Picture courtesy of Leon Knapper
W/763 Driver
William John Jenkins
"A" Bty. 119th Bde.
Royal Field Artillery
11/09/1918, aged 30.
Plot III. D. 13.
Son of Mary Jenkins, of 4, Mary Street, Twynyrodyn, Merthyr Tydfil.
Picture courtesy of Byron Jenkins
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