St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France

ST. SEVER CEMETERY

Rouen

Seine-Maritime

France

General Directions: OPENING TIMES 1 March - 1 November: Monday-Saturday: 0815 - 1745 Sundays/Public Holidays : 0815 - 1745 2 November-28 February: Every Day: 0815 - 1645

St Sever Cemetery and St Sever Cemetery Extension are located within a large communal cemetery situated on the eastern edge of the southern Rouen suburbs of Le Grand Quevilly and Le Petit Quevilly. If approaching Rouen from the north, head for the centre of town and cross over the river Seine, following signs for Caen. Follow this route until you get to the 'Rond Point des Bruyeres' roundabout (next to the football stadium), then take the first exit into the Boulevard Stanislas Girardin. The cemetery is 150 metres down this road on the left. If approaching Rouen from the south, follow the N138 (Avenue des Canadiens) towards the centre of town. At the 'Rond Point des Bruyeres' roundabout (next to the football stadium), take the fourth exit into the Boulevard Stanislas Girardin. The cemetery is 150 metres down this road on the left. If arriving on foot, take the metro to St Sever Metro Station, then follow the Avenue de Caen until you get to the Avenue de la Liberation, then take this road and follow this, which will become the Boulevard du 11 Novembre. At the end of this road is the 'Rond Point des Bruyeres' roundabout. Take the first exit from this into the Boulevard Stanislas Girardin. The cemetery is 150 metres down this road on the left.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city. Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension. St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield

Casualty Details: UK 2689, Canada 137, Australia 112, New Zealand 51, South Africa 19, India 75, Total Burials: 3083


23153 Private Hubert Stanislaus Lovelace 1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Died of wounds 24/10/1916. Aged 32. Only surviving son of the late John and Magdalen Lovelace, of Preston. Plot B. 14. 1. Picture courtesy of John Garlington	17455 Private Arthur James Frederick Percival 1st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment 11/09/1916, aged 20. Plot B. 25. 38. Picture courtesy of Chas Whight	T2/11320 Driver James Joseph Hullett 208th Auxiliary Horse Transport Coy. Army Service Corps. 21/06/1915, aged 21. Son of John Edward and Jane Hullett, of 16, Parlock Place, Long Lane, Bermondsey, London. Plot A. 8. 34. Picture courtesy of Ted Reed	73025 Private Leonard Newitt 11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 03/10/1916, aged 26. Plot B. 17. 60. Picture courtesy of Bob Shaw

14592 Private

Arthur George William Wright

10th Bn. Essex Regiment

19/09/1916, aged 20.

Son of Arthur and Caroline Ann Wright, of Clavering, Newport, Essex.

Row B. 22. 58.

Arthur George William Wright (Pte 14592) was born on the 31st October 1895 at Hamlet House, Lower Pond Street, Wenden Lofts, near Elmdon, Essex. He was the son of Arthur Wright and Caroline Ann Baker. The family later moved to Clavering. Always known as George, he joined the 10th Battalion of the Essex Regiment in 1914, trained at the Hyderabad Barracks in Colchester and at Codford St Mary in Wiltshire. He arrived in France in July 1915. He served at the front at numerous locations on The Somme including the Wellington Redoubt, La Boiselle and Maricourt.

On 1st July 1916, George took part in the successful taking of Montauban. He could have been injured here, or possibly continued to fight at Delville Wood. He was withdrawn to Rouen where at Hospital No 9 he died of injuries on 19th September 1916. He is commemorated on the brass wall plaque on an interior wall in Clavering Church.

Picture and information courtesy of great nephew, Mark Ward margarwar@hotmail.co.uk