ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.12141, Longitude: 1.83222
Location Information
The town of Abbeville is on the main road from Paris to Boulogne (N1), about 80 kilometres south of Boulogne. The communal cemetery and communal cemetery extension are located on the left hand side of the road when leaving the town in a north-east direction for Drucat.
CWGC direction signs will be found within the cemetery. Enter the Communal Cemetery by the left hand side main gate and follow CWGC signs within the Cemetery.
Visiting Information
Opening hours from 1st April to 30th September Monday to Sunday : 8.30 to 19.00
Opening hours from 1st October to 31 March Monday to Sunday : 8.30 to 17.00
Visitors should be aware that there are Plots 3, 4, 5 & 6 in both the Communal Cemetery and the Communal Cemetery Extension. Those in the Communal Cemetery will be found in the upper terrace.
Historical Information
For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. The extension was begun in September 1916.
During the early part of the Second World War, Abbeville was a major operational aerodrome, but the town fell to the Germans at the end of May 1940. On 4 June, an attempt was made by the 51st Division, in conjunction with the French, to break the German bridgehead, but without success. Towards the end of 1943, eight large ski shaped buildings appeared near Abbeville. These proved to be storage units for flying bomb components an they were heavily bombed by Commonwealth air forces. Abbeville was retaken on 4 September 1944 by Canadian and Polish units.
Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second.
Total Burials: 804.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 737, Australia 13, South Africa 10, Canada 9, India 2, New Zealand 1. Total 737.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: 37.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 16, Canada 6, New Zealand 2. Total 24.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 6.
Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension contains 1,754 First World War burials and 348 from the Second.
Total Burials: 2,106.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,373, Australia 227, Canada 109, New Zealand 33, South Africa 8, India 1. Total 1,751.
World War Two Identifed Casualties: United Kingdom 220, Canada 10, Australia 8, New Zealand 3, Poland 3. Total 244.
The Commonwealth sections of both cemetery and extension were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Dedications
4516 Private Michael Stack,1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, died 8th April 1918. Husband of Ellen and Father of Mary, Catherine and William of Fortwilliam Abbeydorney, Kerry, Ireland.
Remembered with honour by his Grandson Michael Emery of Hall Green, Birmingham
The town of Abbeville is on the main road from Paris to Boulogne (N1), about 80 kilometres south of Boulogne. The communal cemetery and communal cemetery extension are located on the left hand side of the road when leaving the town in a north-east direction for Drucat.
CWGC direction signs will be found within the cemetery. Enter the Communal Cemetery by the left hand side main gate and follow CWGC signs within the Cemetery.
Visiting Information
Opening hours from 1st April to 30th September Monday to Sunday : 8.30 to 19.00
Opening hours from 1st October to 31 March Monday to Sunday : 8.30 to 17.00
Visitors should be aware that there are Plots 3, 4, 5 & 6 in both the Communal Cemetery and the Communal Cemetery Extension. Those in the Communal Cemetery will be found in the upper terrace.
Historical Information
For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. The extension was begun in September 1916.
During the early part of the Second World War, Abbeville was a major operational aerodrome, but the town fell to the Germans at the end of May 1940. On 4 June, an attempt was made by the 51st Division, in conjunction with the French, to break the German bridgehead, but without success. Towards the end of 1943, eight large ski shaped buildings appeared near Abbeville. These proved to be storage units for flying bomb components an they were heavily bombed by Commonwealth air forces. Abbeville was retaken on 4 September 1944 by Canadian and Polish units.
Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second.
Total Burials: 804.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 737, Australia 13, South Africa 10, Canada 9, India 2, New Zealand 1. Total 737.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: 37.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 16, Canada 6, New Zealand 2. Total 24.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 6.
Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension contains 1,754 First World War burials and 348 from the Second.
Total Burials: 2,106.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,373, Australia 227, Canada 109, New Zealand 33, South Africa 8, India 1. Total 1,751.
World War Two Identifed Casualties: United Kingdom 220, Canada 10, Australia 8, New Zealand 3, Poland 3. Total 244.
The Commonwealth sections of both cemetery and extension were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Dedications
4516 Private Michael Stack,1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, died 8th April 1918. Husband of Ellen and Father of Mary, Catherine and William of Fortwilliam Abbeydorney, Kerry, Ireland.
Remembered with honour by his Grandson Michael Emery of Hall Green, Birmingham
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
Members of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps carrying wreaths to place on the graves of British soldiers buried at Abbeville, 9 February 1918. © IWM (Q 8471)
World War One Roll of Honour
10584 Corporal
Edwin Benner, M. M.
3rd Signal Coy. Australian Engineers
10th November 1918.
Plot V. B. 46.
Son of Arthur Sydney and Francis Annie Benner; husband of Nellie Benner, of 166, St. Mary's Rd., Southampton, England. Native of Tinsley, Sheffield, England.
Edwin Benner, M. M.
3rd Signal Coy. Australian Engineers
10th November 1918.
Plot V. B. 46.
Son of Arthur Sydney and Francis Annie Benner; husband of Nellie Benner, of 166, St. Mary's Rd., Southampton, England. Native of Tinsley, Sheffield, England.
8773 Corporal
Harold Burchell
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
19th October 1918, aged 32.
Plot IV. H. 20.
Son of Arthur and the late Emily Burchell, of 99, Gilbert St., Adelaide, South Australia.
Harold Burchell
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
19th October 1918, aged 32.
Plot IV. H. 20.
Son of Arthur and the late Emily Burchell, of 99, Gilbert St., Adelaide, South Australia.
730 Private
Herbert Robert Duncan Cherry
35th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th November 1918.
Plot V. D. 6.
Son of James and Ellen Cherry; husband of Margaret E. Cherry, of Killingworth, New South Wales. of Barnsley, New South Wales.
Herbert Robert Duncan Cherry
35th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th November 1918.
Plot V. D. 6.
Son of James and Ellen Cherry; husband of Margaret E. Cherry, of Killingworth, New South Wales. of Barnsley, New South Wales.
5351 Private
Thomas Harman Cooper
53rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
29th May 1917.
Plot III. A. 17.
From Majura, NSW. Enlisted on 5th November 1915.
Thomas Harman Cooper
53rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
29th May 1917.
Plot III. A. 17.
From Majura, NSW. Enlisted on 5th November 1915.
8628 Private
John Coulson
"C" Coy. 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
22nd November 1916, aged 36.
Plot I. J. 19.
Husband of Elizabeth A. Coulson, of 29, Stainton St., West Hartlepool.
Picture courtesy of Tony Rob
John Coulson
"C" Coy. 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
22nd November 1916, aged 36.
Plot I. J. 19.
Husband of Elizabeth A. Coulson, of 29, Stainton St., West Hartlepool.
Picture courtesy of Tony Rob
437 Driver
Edward James Furneyvall
31st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
23rd November 1918.
Plot V. D. 46.
Son of Charles and Annie Furneyvall. Of The Leap, Mackay, Queensland.
Edward James Furneyvall
31st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
23rd November 1918.
Plot V. D. 46.
Son of Charles and Annie Furneyvall. Of The Leap, Mackay, Queensland.
51896 Private
John Charles Kennewell
57th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd November 1918.
Plot V. D. 49.
Son of A. J. and Rose John Kennewell, of Gawler East. South Australia.
John Charles Kennewell
57th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd November 1918.
Plot V. D. 49.
Son of A. J. and Rose John Kennewell, of Gawler East. South Australia.
4895 Driver
Robert Thomas Straughair
16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st October 1918, aged 23.
Plot IV. H. 23.
Son of Robert and Sarah Straughair. His brother George Angove Straughair also fell.
Robert Thomas Straughair
16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st October 1918, aged 23.
Plot IV. H. 23.
Son of Robert and Sarah Straughair. His brother George Angove Straughair also fell.
6827 Private
Horace John Towers
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
11th November 1918, aged 30.
Plot V. C. 12.
Son of John and Catherine Towers, of Harte Brooke Rd., Auburn, New South Wales. Of Cootamundra, New South Wales.
Horace John Towers
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
11th November 1918, aged 30.
Plot V. C. 12.
Son of John and Catherine Towers, of Harte Brooke Rd., Auburn, New South Wales. Of Cootamundra, New South Wales.
644 Private
Gordon Leslie White
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th October 1918, aged 21.
Plot IV. H. 5.
Son of Thomas Reid White and Amelia Sarah White, of 2, McDonnel Avenue, Hindmarsh, South Australia.
Gordon Leslie White
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th October 1918, aged 21.
Plot IV. H. 5.
Son of Thomas Reid White and Amelia Sarah White, of 2, McDonnel Avenue, Hindmarsh, South Australia.
307566 Private
Levi Whittam
2nd/8th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
28th March 1918, aged 35.
Plot II. B. 30
Son of Smith and Ellen Whittam; husband of Selina Whittam, of 46, Hilary St., Burnley.
Levi Whittam
2nd/8th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
28th March 1918, aged 35.
Plot II. B. 30
Son of Smith and Ellen Whittam; husband of Selina Whittam, of 46, Hilary St., Burnley.
Patients enjoying the sunshine in the lines at No 3 Australian General Hospital at Abbeville.
Abbeville, France. c. 1917. A civilian looks out from a window in the ruins of her house which was demolished during a German air raid.
Members of the WAAC playing with their pet dogs outside their Nissen huts. Abbeville, 15 September 1917. © IWM Q 5964
World War Two Roll of Honour
1343646 Sergeant
John Macfie
61 Sqd. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th June 1944, aged 21.
Plot 6. F. 11.
Son of Andrew B. Macfie and Frances Macfie, of Glasgow.
"Remembered with Honour" By his niece Betty McClennan (nee Macfie)
John Macfie
61 Sqd. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th June 1944, aged 21.
Plot 6. F. 11.
Son of Andrew B. Macfie and Frances Macfie, of Glasgow.
"Remembered with Honour" By his niece Betty McClennan (nee Macfie)
403380 Pilot Flying Officer
James Alexander Saint-Smith, D. F. C., D. F. M.
627 Sqdn. Royal Australian Air Force
29th June 1944, aged 26.
Plot 8. Row D. Joint grave 13-14.
Son of Raymond and Catherine Mary Saint-Smith, of Earlwood, New South Wales, Australia.
403380 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) James Alexander 'Alec' Saint-Smith, 460 Squadron RAAF, seated in the cockpit of the Avro Lancaster bomber 'G for George'. As the first regular captain of the Australian War Memorial's Lancaster 'G for George' (W4789), he flew the aircraft on its first operational sortie to Mannheim in Germany on 6 December 1942. Flt Sgt Saint-Smith flew the aircraft on another 12 occasions, using it as his regular aircraft for the remainder of his tour, which ended in March 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in March 1943 for gallantry in a mission over Berlin. Later promoted to the rank of Flying Officer, Saint-Smith undertook a second tour of operations with 627 Squadron RAF. During his 73rd operation, Saint-Smith was killed in action on 29 June 1944 when his Mosquito IV (DZ516) crashed near Vaulx, Belgium. He and his navigator, Flying Officer (FO) Geoffrey Ernest Heath DFC, DFM, RAAF (who as an NCO had served as Saint-Smith's navigator throughout his first tour of operations, with 460 Squadron) are now buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension in France. FO Saint-Smith was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross on 24 August 1944 for his ‘conspicuous gallantry and determination' in successfully completing numerous sorties over Germany and France with 627 Squadron.
413707 Pilot Officer
Robert Ernest Yarra
Royal Australian Air Force
14th April 1944, aged 21.
Plot 6. Row. H. Grave 3.
Son of Alfred Ernest and Harriet Yarra, of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
Robert Ernest Yarra
Royal Australian Air Force
14th April 1944, aged 21.
Plot 6. Row. H. Grave 3.
Son of Alfred Ernest and Harriet Yarra, of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
A member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) dresses the hand wound of a German prisoner at the dressing station at Abbeville, 27 June 1917. He is guarded by two soldiers. The soldier to the right is holding his rifle with attached bayonet. © IWM (Q 2469)
Women of Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC) in the kitchen of No. 3 QMAAC Camp, Abbeville, France, in 1919. © IWM Q 8043
