Le Touret Military Cemetery and the Le Touret Memorial, Richebourg l'Avoue, Pas de Calais, France

Le Touret Military Cemetery

and the

Le Touret Memorial

Richebourg L' Avoue

Pas de Calais

France

General Directions: From Bethune follow the signs for Armentieres until you are on the D171. Continue on this road through Essars and Le Touret village. Approximately 1 kilometre after Le Touret village and about 5 kilometres before you reach the intersection with the D947, Estaires to La Bassee road, the Cemetery lies on the right hand side of the road. Located at the east end of the cemetery is Le Touret Memorial, which commemorates over 13,000 servicemen who fell in this area before 25 September 1915 and who have no known grave.

The Cemetery was begun by the Indian Corps (and in particular by the 2nd Leicesters) in November, 1914, and it was used continuously by Field Ambulances and fighting units until March, 1918. It passed into German hands in April, 1918, and after its recapture a few further burials were made in Plot IV in September and October. The grave of one Officer of the London Regiment was brought in in 1925 from a position on the Estaires-La Bassee road near "Port Arthur", and the 264 Portuguese graves of March, 1917 and April, 1919 were removed to Richebourg-L'Avoue Portuguese National Cemetery after the Armistice.

Casualty Details: UK 891, Canada 11, India 9, Germany 4, Total Burials: 915 (Cemetery)

7960 Private

John Thomas Emmett

2nd Bn. Border Regiment

25/11/1915, aged 29.

Husband of Hannah Caroline Flood (formerly Emmett), of 5, Globe Court, Ethelred St., Kennington, London.

Plot III. C. 9. Cemetery

My grandfather John Thomas Emmett who was known as Jack Emmett served as a regular soldier in the Boer Wars and eventually retired after serving his full term of service. He was recalled to the colours at the outbreak of the Great War and was in the Border Regiment when he was killed during the First Battle of Ypres in 1915.

He had a fine singing voice and played the concertina. It was while entertaining his comrades that he was shot by a sniper and died shortly afterwards.

He was very popular and my grandmother was told his death - and the circumstances in which it occurred - had devastated morale.

I still have some of his things including the blood-stained cord and identity tag that he was wearing when shot in the throat.

Picture courtesy of Stephen May, grandson of this soldier.

83554 Gunner

Samuel Floyd

88th Bde. Royal Field Artillery.

03/10/1915, aged 28.

Son of Richard Floyd and Mary Floyd, nee Capel. Born in Llansamlet, South Wales.

Plot II. H. 23. Cemetery

Picture courtesy of Stacey O'Brien, Great, great granddaughter of this soldier

1418 Corporal

Christopher Noel Borrett

4th Bn. Suffolk Regiment

05/02/1915, aged 19.

Much loved son of Charles Edgar and Esther Borrett.

Plot I. A. 13. Cemetery

Died of wounds received near Neuve-Chapelle while serving alongside his brother Private Stanley Borrett.

Picture courtesy of niece, Marjorie Wrightson and great, great nephew Keith Robson

The Le Touret Memorial

The Memorial takes the form of a loggia surrounding an open rectangular court. The court is enclosed by three solid walls and on the eastern side by a colonnade. East of the colonnade is a wall and the colonnade and wall are prolonged northwards (to the road) and southwards, forming a long gallery. Small pavilions mark the ends of the gallery and the western corners of the court.

The Panel Numbers quoted at the end of each entry relate to the panels dedicated to the Regiment served with. In some instances where a casualty is recorded as attached to another Regiment, his name may alternatively appear within their Regimental Panels. Please refer to the on-site Memorial Register Introduction to determine the alternative panel numbers if you do not find the name within the quoted Panels.

The Memorial in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-l'Avoue, is one of those erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to record the names of the officers and men who fell in the Great War and whose graves are not known. It serves the area enclosed on the North by the river Lys and a line drawn from Estaires to Fournes, and on the South by the old Southern boundary of the First Army about Grenay. It covers the period from the arrival of the II Corps in Flanders in 1914, to the eve of the Battle of Loos. It does not include the names of officers and men of Canadian or Indian regiments (they are found on the Memorials at Vimy and Neuve-Chapelle) and those lost at the Battle of Aubers Ridge, 9 May 1915, who were involved in the Northern Pincer (the 7th, 8th and 49th Divisions - they are commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial).

The names of those commemorated are listed on panels set into the walls of the court and the gallery, arranged by Regiment, Rank and alphabetically by surname within the rank. Over 13,000 names are listed on the memorial of men who fell in this area before 25 September 1915 and who have no known grave.

The memorial was designed by John Reginald Truelove and unveiled by Lord Tyrrell on 22 March 1930.

Victoria Cross: 10694 Private Abraham Acton, VC. "B" Coy. 2nd Bn. Border Regiment, 16/05/1915, aged 21. Panel 19 and 20. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Eleanor Acton, of 4, Regent Square, Senhouse St., Whitehaven, Cumberland.

Citation:

An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 18th Feb., 1915, records the following:-"For conspicuous bravery on the 21st December, at Rouges-Bancs, in voluntarily going from his trench and rescuing a wounded man who had been lying exposed against the enemy's trenches for 75 hours; and on the same day again leaving his trench voluntarily, under heavy fire to bring into cover another wounded man. He was under fire for 60 minutes whilst conveying the wounded men into safety".

Victoria Cross: 8191 Corporal William Anderson, VC. 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Regiment, 13/03/1915, aged 29. Panel 12. Native of Dallas, Elgin, Morayshire.

Citation:

An extract from "The London Gazette", dated 21st May, 1915, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve-Chapelle on 12th March, 1915, when he led three men with bombs against a large party of the enemy who had entered our trenches, and by his prompt and determined action saved, what might otherwise have become, a serious situation. Cpl. Anderson first threw his own bombs, then those in possession of his three men (who had been wounded) amongst the Germans, after which he opened rapid rifle fire upon them with great effect, notwithstanding that he was at the time quite alone".

Victoria Cross: 15518 Private Edward Barber, VC. 1st Bn. Grenadier Guards, 12/03/1915, aged 22. Panel 2. Son of William and Sarah Ann Barber, of Miswell Lane, Tring, Herts.

Citation:

An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 19th April, 1915, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery on 12th March, 1915, at Neuve Chapelle. He ran speedily in front of the grenade company to which he belonged, and threw bombs on the enemy with such effect that a very great number of them at once surrendered. When the grenade party reached Pte. Barber they found him quite alone and unsupported, with the enemy surrendering all about him."

Victoria Cross: 6016 Private Jacob Rivers, VC. 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 12/03/1915, aged 32. Panel 26 and 27. Son of Mrs. Adeline Rivers, of 4 House, Wide Yard, Bridge Gate, Derby.

Citation:

An extract from the "London Gazette", dated 27th April, 1915, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve-Chapelle on 12th March, 1915, when he, on his own initiative, crept to within a few yards of a very large number of the enemy who were massed on the flank of an advanced company of his battalion, and hurled bombs on them. His action caused the enemy to retire, and so relieved the situation. Pte. Rivers performed a second act of great bravery on the same day, similar to the first mentioned, again causing the enemy to retire. He was killed on this occasion."

Shot at Dawn: 5919 Private Edward Tanner, 1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment, executed for desertion 27/10/1914, aged 33. Panel 33 and 34.

Shot at Dawn: 14164 Private F. Sheffield, 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment, executed for desertion 12/01/1915, aged 26. Panels 31 and 32. Brother of James Sheffield, of 42, Franklin St., South Tottenham, London.

Shot at Dawn: 14232 Private Joseph Ball, 4th Coy. 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment, executed for desertion 12/01/1915 aged 20. Panel 31 and 32. Son of Thomas and Emily Ball, of 112, Lancefield St., Queen's Park, London.

Shot at Dawn: 2222 Private Thomas Cummings, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, executed for desertion 28/01/1915. Panel 4. Son of William Cummings, of Tully Muckamore, Belfast.

Shot at Dawn: 3379 Private Albert Smythe, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, executed for desertion 28/01/1915. Panel 4.

Shot at Dawn: 5231 Private James Briggs, 2nd Bn. Border Regiment, executed for desertion 06/03/1915. Panel 19 and 20.

Shot at Dawn: 6584 Private Alexander Sinclair (Served as John Duncan), 1st Bn. Cameron Highlanders, executed for desertion 07/03/1915. Panel 41 and 42. Son of William Cummings, of Tully Muckamore, Belfast.

Shot at Dawn: 70304 Driver John Bell, 57th Bty, Royal Field Artillery, executed for desertion 25/04/1915. Panel 1. Son of John Bell, of Finglas, Co. Dublin.

The mass pardon of 306 British Empire soldiers executed for certain offences during the Great War was enacted in section 359 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, which came into effect on royal assent on 8 November 2006.

Casualty Details: 13394 Identified casualties

Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial:

Corporal William Anderson, VC.

"The London Gazette" 21st March 1915 records the following:

For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve-Chapelle on 12th March 1915, when he led three men with bombs against a large party of the enemy who had entered our trenches, and by his prompt and determined action saved, what otherwise might have become a serious situation. Cpl Anderson first threw his own bombs, then those in the possession of his three men (who had been wounded) amongst the Germans, after which he opened rapid rifle fire upon them with great effect, notwithstanding that at the time he was quite alone.

Sapper 2214 John Dunlop 1st Lowland Field Company, Royal Engineers KIA 09/05/1915, aged 22. Son of Hugh and J.S.M. Dunlop, of 116C, Deedes St., Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Le Touret Memorial, Panel 1. Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour	Lance Corporal 1225 George McKee 1st Lowland Field Company, Royal Engineers. KIA 09/05/1915, aged 27 Son of John McKee, of Forest St., Airdrie; husband of Isabella Smith McKee, of 1H, Buchanan St., Airdrie. Le Touret Memorial, Panel 1. Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour
Sapper 2057 Alexander Arthur 1st Lowland Field Company, Royal Engineers KIA 09/05/1915 Le Touret Memorial Panel 1 Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour	Private 8149 John Findlay 2nd Bn. Highland Light Infantry KIA 17/05/1915 Le Touret Memorial Panel 37 & 38 Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour
Private S/5039 Allan Gillespie 2nd Bn. The Black Watch KIA 08/05/1915, aged 26 Husband of Elizabeth Gillespie, of 61, Deedes St., Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Le Touret Memorial Panel 24 & 26 Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour	5179 Private John Campbell 2nd Bn. Border Regiment Killed in action at Festubert 16/05/1915, aged 33. Son of Mary Campbell, of 48, Sterne St., West Derby Rd., Liverpool, and the late Henry Campbell. Le Touret Memorial Panel 19 and 20 Picture Courtesy of Ian Campbell of Rochdale
9092 Corporal Albert Slack 2nd Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 27/10/1914 Le Touret Memorial Panel 1. Picture courtesy of John Barker	10471 Private Sydney Lucas "C" Coy. 2nd Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers Killed in action at Festubert 17/05/1915, aged 23. Le Touret Memorial Panel 12 & 13 Son of Henry & Jessie Lucas of Reading, Berkshire, Sydney born in 1891 had a twin brother William Lucas and was one of eleven children. Picture courtesy of Peter Thompson
4426 Private John Murray 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 13/03/1915, aged 20. Son of John and Bridget Murray, of 49, Canal Parade, Newport, Mon. Panel 13 & 14. Lovingly remembered always by his family in Wales and Australia Picture courtesy of Ali Gibbs	6152 Private William Avons 1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment 26/10/1914, aged 32. Son of F. C. and Annie Avons, of Dymott Square, Hilperton, Trowbridge. Panel 33 and 34. William joined the 3rd Wilts. in 1900 and was posted to St Helena to guard Boer prisoners, he was mobilised the day the first world war broke out. Picture courtesy of John Birch, great nephew of this soldier
8718 Private William George Grinstead 2nd Manchester Regiment Killed in action at the Battle of La Bassee, 29/10/1914. Panel 34 and 35 Picture courtesy of his granddaughter; Judy Norman	22 Company Quartermaster Serjeant Joseph Harry George Sheen 1st/24th Bn. London Regiment (The Queen's) 26/05/1915, aged 29. Son of Mr. and Mrs. George William Sheen, of 323, Church Rd., Merton Abbey, London; husband of Elsie Mary Sheen, of Boughton Rd., Stoke Ferry, King's Lynn. Panel 46 and 47 Picture courtesy of Ian White, grandson of this soldier
1681 Private Thomas Rawsthorne 1st/9th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 09/05/1915. Panels 6 to 8 Picture courtesy of Brian Pillier, great nephew of this soldier	5696 Private Samuel Welch 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 16/05/1915. Panel 13 and 14 "With love, from your son Sam" Picture courtesy of Roy Hughes
8836 Private Samuel Dryhurst Roberts 4th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 16/05/1915, aged 25. Son of Thomas and Susannah Roberts, of Liverpool; husband of Susan Roberts, of 32, Clifton St., Liverpool. Panels 6 to 8, Le Touret Memorial Picture courtesy of grandson Rob Roberts	17452 Private Charles Coulson 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 23/09/1915, aged 22. Panels 13 and 14. Le Touret Memorial Son of Joseph and Ann Coulson of Hafodarthen Road, Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire. His brother 93924 Private Albert John Coulson, 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers was KIA on 4th November 1918 and is buried at Englefontaine British Cemetery. Remembered by his great neices and great nephew, Jennifer Price, Maureen Thompson and Glyn Coulson. Image courtesy of Hugh Price
1301 Corporal Frederick Scott 1st/24th Bn. London Regiment 26/05/1915, aged 20. Son of Thomas Angelo & Sophia Scott of Newington Southwark husband of Florence Ellen Kings Panels 46 and 47 Picture courtesy of great niece Catherine Hunt	126222 Private Cain Garrett 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment 01/08/1915 Panel 17 and 18 Picture courtesy of Bill Richards
9176 Private Ernest Clarence Phillips 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment 10/03/1915, aged 22. Panel 21 & 22 Le Touret Memorial Picture courtesy of Bob Shaw	1445 Private Magnus Nicol 2nd Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 27/11/1914, aged 22. Son of the late Alexander Nicol, of 8, Bute Wynd, Kirkcaldy Panels 24 to 26 Picture courtesy of great, great nephew, Barry Nicol
8633 Serjeant John A. J. Stephen 1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders 24/10/1914 Panel 39 to 41, Le Touret Memorial Born St Nicholas, Aberdeenshire, enlisted Aberdeen, Scotland Husband to Maggie Coutts of Aboyn, Scotland Picture courtesy of granddaughter Maggie McGregor	12972 Private James William Gregory 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards 24/12/1914 Panel 2, Le Touret Memorial James William was born in in 1883 in Morrison, Jefferson County, Colorado, U.S.A where his parents had moved a short time earlier. After his father died, his mother moved back to England with her infant son. James joined the Grenadier Guards in 1906 and after serving for three years he was placed on the reserve. He was among the first to be called up in 1914 and was with the 2nd Bn. in December 1914 at Festubert. After a German attack the battalion were sent to relieve an Indian Corps. The position was impossible to hold with water up to their waists in some trenches and eventually the order was given to withdraw. James never came out of the trenches. Picture courtesy of grandson, Graham Freeman
9117 Corporal Charles Smith 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 12/03/1915, aged 29. Son of Joe and Sarah Smith, of 14, Birken Avenue, Nottingham; husband of Elizabeth Ann Thompson (formerly Smith), of 40, Garden St., New Radford, Nottingham. Panel 26 & 27 Le Touret Memorial Picture courtesy of granddaughter Gillian Whitbread	9176 Private Ernest Clarence Phillips 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment 10/03/1915, aged 22. Panel 21 & 22 Le Touret Memorial Picture courtesy of Bob Shaw