ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.13597, Longitude: 2.77508
Location Information
Achiet-le-Grand is a village 19 Kms south of Arras.
Take the main road from Arras to Bapaume (N17). At Ervillers turn right onto the D9 towards Achiet. At the first junction in the village a CWGC signpost indicates the way towards the right.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
Achiet-le-Grand was occupied by the 7th Bedfords on 17 March 1917, lost on 25 March 1918 after a defence by the 1st/6th Manchesters, and recaptured on 23 August 1918. From April 1917 to March 1918, the village was occupied by the 45th and 49th Casualty Clearing Stations. Achiet station was an allied railhead.
The communal cemetery and extension were used by Commonwealth medical units from April 1917 to March 1918. The extension was also used by the Germans to a small extent in March and April 1918, and again by Commonwealth troops in August 1918. After the Armistice Plot III and most of Plot IV were made when 645 graves, mainly of 1916 and March and August 1918, were brought in from the battlefields around Achiet and from the following small burial grounds:-
ACHIET-LE-GRAND GERMAN CEMETERY, on the road to Bihucourt, in which one soldier from the United Kingdom was buried by the Germans, and five by their comrades in August, 1918.
ACHIET-LE-PETIT COMMUNAL CEMETERY and the GERMAN EXTENSION on the East of it. The former contained the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from New Zealand, buried by the Germans. The latter was begun by the Germans, carried on by the 1st Bedfords and other units in August, 1918, and completed after the Armistice by the concentration to it of 360 German Graves; it contained, in all, the graves of 50 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 39 from New Zealand and 1,147 German.
BEAUMETZ-LES-CAMBRAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY, containing the graves of six soldiers from the United Kingdom, three from Australia and one from Canada, all buried by the Germans, and 201 German soldiers; and the GERMAN EXTENSION, containing the graves of one soldier from the United Kingdom and 298 German soldiers.
BEHAGNIES CHURCHYARD, used by the Germans in 1916, and containing the graves of 86 German soldiers and one from the United Kingdom.
BEHAGNIES GERMAN CEMETERY, on the main road through the village, used in 1918 and containing the graves of 100 German soldiers, four French and one from the United Kingdom.
BEUGNATRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION, containing 200 German graves and those of two soldiers from the United Kingdom, (one of whom is now buried in Bancourt British Cemetery).
BEUGNY CHURCHYARD and GERMAN EXTENSION, containing the graves of 46 soldiers from the United Kingdom and six from Australia (who fell, for the most part, in 1917, and of whom 34 belonged to the R.G.A.), and 19 French and 183 German soldiers.
BEUGNY GERMAN CEMETERY, called the Heldenfriedhof, and one of many in BEUGNY. It was in the North-West quarter of the village, and it contained the graves of five soldiers from Australia, four from the United Kingdom and 831 German.
BOURSIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION, containing the graves of 173 German soldiers, one R.A.F. officer, and one Canadian soldier.
DOIGNIES GERMAN CEMETERY, on the South side of the village, containing the graves of 15 soldiers from the United Kingdom, one from Australia, and 150 German.
HERMIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY, in which six soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and two Australian soldiers were buried by the Germans.
LOUVERVAL GERMAN CEMETERY, DOIGNIES, outside the Eastern angle of Louverval Chateau grounds, containing the graves of seven unidentified Highlanders and 138 German soldiers.
QUEANT COMMUNAL CEMETERY, containing the graves of 180 German soldiers and of three from the United Kingdom who fell in March, 1918; and the GERMAN EXTENSION, in which ten soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and 140 German and four Russian soldiers were buried by the Germans, and 420 German soldiers by the British.
VELU GERMAN CEMETERY, on the East side of the village, containing the graves of 850 German soldiers, five from the United Kingdom, two from Newfoundland, one Australian, one Indian and one French.
VILLERS-AU-FLOS GERMAN CEMETERY, on the North side of the village; it contained the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom and three from Australia who fell in 1916.
VRAUCOURT CHURCHYARD, VAULX-VRAUCOURT, it contained the graves of two Australian soldiers who fell in 1917.
The Communal Cemetery contains four Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
The EXTENSION contains 1,424 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 182 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of ten casualties buried in other cemeteries whose graves could not be found. There are also 42 German war graves in the extension.
Total Burials: 1,466.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,068, New Zealand 92, Australia 55, Germany 32, Canada 5, South Africa 4. Total 1,256.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 191, Germany 10, Australia 6, New Zealand 3. Total 210.
The extension was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens George Hartley Goldsmith
Dedications
38369 Private Richard Arthur Grantham, 8th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment, Died of wounds on 28th November 1917, aged 39. Plot I. Q. 11. (Age on CWGC headstone states 42 years which is incorrect) Husband of Mrs. T. Vessey (formerly Grantham), of Westgate, Hornsea, Hull.
Remembered by his Grandson Michael Grantham
267395 Private
Frederick William Cann
6th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
29th June 1917, aged 24.
Plot I. N. 2.
Husband of Jane Isabella Cann, of 22, Bewicke St., Willington Quay, Northumberland.
Born 1891 at Swanton Morley, Norfolk. Died of wounds possibly overnight as his death is dated 30th on a casualty report. His Service Number was 267395, he also had service numbers 8123 and 7940 he is also believed to have been in 4th battalion.
Picture courtesy of Moira McKeown, great niece of this soldier
Frederick William Cann
6th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
29th June 1917, aged 24.
Plot I. N. 2.
Husband of Jane Isabella Cann, of 22, Bewicke St., Willington Quay, Northumberland.
Born 1891 at Swanton Morley, Norfolk. Died of wounds possibly overnight as his death is dated 30th on a casualty report. His Service Number was 267395, he also had service numbers 8123 and 7940 he is also believed to have been in 4th battalion.
Picture courtesy of Moira McKeown, great niece of this soldier
5811 Private
Albert Leslie Elrington
17th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
16th April 1917, aged 26.
Plot I. C. 6.
Inscription "Gone But Not Forgotten A Vacant Place That Can Never Be Filled"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Gerard Sandys Elrington and Henrietta Jane Elrington, of Leeton, New South Wales.
Studio portrait of 5811 Private (Pte) Albert Leslie Elrington, 17th Battalion, of Leeton, NSW. A farmer prior to enlisting in March 1916, Pte Elrington embarked from Sydney with the 16th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 7 October 1916. Pte Elrington was wounded in action at Lagnicourt, France. He died of his wounds the next day, 16 April 1917, at a nearby casualty clearing station. Pte Elrington was 26 years of age.
Albert Leslie Elrington
17th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
16th April 1917, aged 26.
Plot I. C. 6.
Inscription "Gone But Not Forgotten A Vacant Place That Can Never Be Filled"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Gerard Sandys Elrington and Henrietta Jane Elrington, of Leeton, New South Wales.
Studio portrait of 5811 Private (Pte) Albert Leslie Elrington, 17th Battalion, of Leeton, NSW. A farmer prior to enlisting in March 1916, Pte Elrington embarked from Sydney with the 16th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 7 October 1916. Pte Elrington was wounded in action at Lagnicourt, France. He died of his wounds the next day, 16 April 1917, at a nearby casualty clearing station. Pte Elrington was 26 years of age.
28465 Private
Walter Charles Hardy, M. M.
6th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
17th July 1917, aged 25.
Plot I. E. 11.
Son of Walter John and Alice Maude Hardy, of 20, Providence Row, Beverley Rd., Hull.
Walter Charles Hardy, M. M.
6th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
17th July 1917, aged 25.
Plot I. E. 11.
Son of Walter John and Alice Maude Hardy, of 20, Providence Row, Beverley Rd., Hull.
292 Corporal
Stephen Henry Horrocks
28th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
2nd August 1916, aged 28.
Plot IV. X. 1.
Inscription "Jesus Said" "Im With You Always"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Henry and Mary Ann Horrocks, of Forest St., Palmyro East, Fremantle, Western Australia. Of Wigan, Lancs, England.
Studio portrait of 292 Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Stephen Henry (Harry) Horrocks, 28th Battalion, of Fremantle, WA, (originally of Wigan, Lancashire, England) who enlisted on 3 March 1915. He was wounded in France and was taken Prisoner of War (POW). He died in Germany on 2 August 1916, aged 23 years.
Stephen Henry Horrocks
28th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
2nd August 1916, aged 28.
Plot IV. X. 1.
Inscription "Jesus Said" "Im With You Always"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Henry and Mary Ann Horrocks, of Forest St., Palmyro East, Fremantle, Western Australia. Of Wigan, Lancs, England.
Studio portrait of 292 Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Stephen Henry (Harry) Horrocks, 28th Battalion, of Fremantle, WA, (originally of Wigan, Lancashire, England) who enlisted on 3 March 1915. He was wounded in France and was taken Prisoner of War (POW). He died in Germany on 2 August 1916, aged 23 years.
Cemetery images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
4019 Lance Corporal
John Charles Riseley
47th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th April 1917.
Plot I. B. 23.
Click on image to enlarge
Studio portrait of 4019 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) John Charles Ernest Riseley, 47th Battalion, with his wife Alice Mary Riseley. L Cpl Riley died of wounds on 13 April 1917 after being admitted to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station, France.
John Charles Riseley
47th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th April 1917.
Plot I. B. 23.
Click on image to enlarge
Studio portrait of 4019 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) John Charles Ernest Riseley, 47th Battalion, with his wife Alice Mary Riseley. L Cpl Riley died of wounds on 13 April 1917 after being admitted to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station, France.
4300 Private
Walter Allan Smith
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st April 1917, aged 23.
Plot II. M. 32.
Son of Walter Allan Smith and Louisa Smith, of 26 Medway Rd., Bow, London, England.
Studio portrait possibly of 4300 Private (Pte) Walter Allan Smith, 13th Reinforcements, 5th Battalion, of Melbourne, Vic. Pte Smith enlisted on 7 May 1915 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 29 december 1915. He died of wounds in Lagnicourt, France, on 21 April 1917.
Walter Allan Smith
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st April 1917, aged 23.
Plot II. M. 32.
Son of Walter Allan Smith and Louisa Smith, of 26 Medway Rd., Bow, London, England.
Studio portrait possibly of 4300 Private (Pte) Walter Allan Smith, 13th Reinforcements, 5th Battalion, of Melbourne, Vic. Pte Smith enlisted on 7 May 1915 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 29 december 1915. He died of wounds in Lagnicourt, France, on 21 April 1917.
131 Serjeant
Robert Stanley Welchman
"A" Company, 11th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment
13th September 1916, aged 21.
Plot IV. Y. 5.
Only son of Stanley and Lucy Welchman, of West Lydford, Somerset.
Robert Stanley Welchman
"A" Company, 11th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment
13th September 1916, aged 21.
Plot IV. Y. 5.
Only son of Stanley and Lucy Welchman, of West Lydford, Somerset.
Second Lieutenant
John Cecil Weston
16th Bn. London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)
6th June 1917, aged 36.
Plot I. K. 1.
Son of Charles Henry and Mary Elizabeth Weston, of "Somerville," St. John's Park, Ryde, Isle of Wight
John Cecil Weston
16th Bn. London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)
6th June 1917, aged 36.
Plot I. K. 1.
Son of Charles Henry and Mary Elizabeth Weston, of "Somerville," St. John's Park, Ryde, Isle of Wight
Shot at Dawn
Private Arthur Mitchell, 1st/6th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers executed for desertion, 20th August 1917. Husband of Minnie Mitchell, of Brierley's Cottages, Thames St., Clay Cross, Derbyshire. Plot IV. R. 3. He had served at Gallipoli, & when on the Western Front went absent prior to a tour of duty in the trenches. Mitchell was arrested 9 days later when working in a field. He was without his moustache & uniform, & was wearing blue trousers & a 'French police bonnet'. (Putkowski, p 187)
Private Arthur Mitchell, 1st/6th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers executed for desertion, 20th August 1917. Husband of Minnie Mitchell, of Brierley's Cottages, Thames St., Clay Cross, Derbyshire. Plot IV. R. 3. He had served at Gallipoli, & when on the Western Front went absent prior to a tour of duty in the trenches. Mitchell was arrested 9 days later when working in a field. He was without his moustache & uniform, & was wearing blue trousers & a 'French police bonnet'. (Putkowski, p 187)