QUEANT ROAD CEMETERY
Buissy
Pas de Calais
France
General Directions: Buissy is a village about 2 kilometres south of the main Arras to Cambrai road (D939) and about 25 kilometres from Arras. Queant Road Cemetery is situated on the north side of the D14 road that leads from the village towards Queant, about 3 kilometres from Buissy.
Buissy was reached by the Third Army on 2 September 1918, after the storming of the Drocourt-Queant line, and it was evacuated by the Germans on the following day. Queant Cemetery was made by the 2nd and 57th Casualty Clearing Stations in October and November 1918. It then consisted of 71 graves (now Plot I, Rows A and B) but was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of 1917-1918 between Arras and Bapaume, and from certain smaller burial grounds in the area.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens & George Hartley Goldsmith
Victoria Cross:
Captain Percy Herbert Cherry, VC, MC, 26th Bn. Australian Infantry, Australian Infantry Force, killed in action 27/03/1917 aged 21, plot VIII. 3. 10.
Son of John Gawley Cherry and Elizabeth Cherry, of Cradoc, Huon, Tasmania. Born at Drysdale, Victoria.
Citation: An extract from the "London Gazette," dated 11th May, 1917, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery, determination and leadership when in command of a company detailed to storm and clear a village. After all the officers of his company had become casualties he carried on with care and determination in the face of fierce opposition, and cleared the village of the enemy. He sent frequent reports of progress made, and when held up for some time by an enemy strong point, he organised machine gun and bomb parties and captured the position. His leadership, coolness and bravery set a wonderful example to his men. Having cleared the village, he took charge of the situation and beat off the most resolute and heavy counter-attacks made by the enemy. Wounded about 6.30 a.m., he refused to leave his post, and there remained, encouraging all to hold out at all costs, until, about 4.30 p.m. this very gallant officer was killed by an enemy shell."
Casualty Details: UK 1289, Canada 87, Australia 995, New Zealand 1, Unidentified 5, Total Burials: 2377
4802 Sergeant
John (Jack) James White
22nd Bn. Australian Infantry,
A. I. F.
03/05/1917, aged 29.
Son of Arabella Beddoe White and the late Charles White of "Durban", Foster St., Aspendale, Victoria. Born at Baringhup, Victoria.
Plot VIII. B. 28A
Listed as missing, presumed killed in action, his name is engraved on the wall at Villers-Bretonneux. In 1994, some 77 years after his death, his remains were found quite close to the “Digger” Memorial at Bullecourt.. A re internment ceremony with full military honours saw him finally laid to rest at Queant Road on October 11th, 1995. The photograph shows Jack with his wife Lillian Isabella Mildenhall and children, Colin (1913-1983) and baby daughter Myrle who was only 10 months old when Jack enlisted in 1916. Myrle was aged 80 when she attended the re internment service in France. I delivered the family eulogy at the service.
Photograph and dedication by Colin John (Jack) White (of Beaconsfield Upper, Victoria) Grandson of John James White.
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