LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY
St. Omer
Pas de Calais
France
General Directions: St. Omer is a large town 45 kilometres south-east of Calais. Longuenesse is a commune on the southern outskirts of St. Omer. The Cemetery is approximately 3 kilometres from St Omer, beside the Wizernes (Abbeville) road (the D928), at its junction with the Rue des Bruyeres. There is a large car park to the rear of the cemetery.
St. Omer was the General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force from October 1914 to March 1916. Lord Roberts died there in November 1914. The town was a considerable hospital centre with the 4th, 10th, 7th Canadian, 9th Canadian and New Zealand Stationary Hospitals, the 7th, 58th (Scottish) and 59th (Northern) General Hospitals, and the 17th, 18th and 1st and 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations all stationed there at some time during the war. St. Omer suffered air raids in November 1917 and May 1918, with serious loss of life.
Victoria Cross: Lance Corporal Cecil Reginald Noble, VC. C Company, 2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade, died of wounds 13/03/1915, plot I. A. 57.
Shot at Dawn: Lance Sergeant W. Walton, 2nd Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps, executed for desertion 23/03/1915, plot 1. A. 68.
Private I. Reid, 2nd Bn. Scots Guards, executed for desertion 09/04/1915, plot 3. B. 26.
Private J. Cuthbert, 9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, executed for disobedience 06/05/1916, plot 5. F. 71.
Private E. J. Reynolds, 3rd Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed for desertion 23/08/1916, plot 4. A. 39.
Private C. B. Nicholson, 8th Bn. Yorks and Lancs Regiment, executed for desertion 27/10/1917, plot 4. E. 66.
Casualty Details: UK 2486, Canada 150, Australia 155, New Zealand 53, South Africa 24, India 6, Germany 187, France 10,
Total Burials: 3096
Buried within this cemetery:
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Gunner 26365 Robert Johnston 1st Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery Died of wounds 19/05/1915 Plot I. A. 25
Image courtesy of Joe O'Raw and William Kilgour
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33875 Private George Eastick 1st/7th Bn. Duke of Wellington's Regiment. 30/06/1918, aged 17. (Age officially given as 19) Born Great Yarmouth. Son of James Alfred and Alice Maud Eastick, of 20, Norfolk Place, Boston. Plot V. C. 22
Picture courtesy of Glynis Eastick
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3/9906 Private George Sibley 2nd Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment 06/10/1915, aged 20. Son of Alfred W. and Avis A. Sibley, of New Lodge, Warkton, Kettering. Native of Stamford Hill, Kettering. Plot II. A. 48.
Picture courtesy of Mrs Sandy Hall, niece of this soldier
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Lieutenant Edward Leslie Graham Rowell MC 25th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 15/11/1917, aged 25. Son of Robert and Helena M. Rowell, of Victoria St., Warwick, Queensland. Native of Northumberland, England Plot IV. F. 3
Edward Leslie Graham Rowell was born at Walbottle House, Northumberland, England. He enlisted in March 1915 and left for the Front as a member of the 25th Battalion A. I. F. He played his honoured part as an ANZAC, having spent four months in the winter campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula. He then served with the first Australian divisions in France fighting on the Western Front where he won his commission in the field. AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS At Westhoek Ridge on the 20th of September 1917 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, when during the advance an enemy Pill-box from which the enemy were emerging, seemed likely to hold up the advance, this Officer rushed it single handed. Although his revolver was shot out of his hand, he engaged them with bombs, killing four and taking 20 prisoners. Later, when his Company Commander was wounded, he took charge of the Company, eventually carrying out a relief under heavy shell fire. Throughout his courage and coolness were a fine example to all ranks.
Picture courtesy of David Backhouse, great nephew of this officer |
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14107 Private William Stanley Argyle Gammon 4th Bn. Coldstream Guards 15/09/1915, aged 21. Son of William and Eva L. Gammon, of 90, Divinity Rd., Oxford. Plot II. A. 29.
Picture courtesy of Wendy Purslow
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681649 Driver Ralph Toone "B" Battery, 286th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 28/11/1917, aged 22. Son of James and Alice Ann Toone, of 2, Hoyle Mill Rd., Stairfoot, Barnsley. Native of Hoyland, Barnsley. Plot IV. F. 12.
Picture courtesy of Jennie Nuttall, his niece.
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