ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.13612, Longitude: 2.77603
Location Information
Achiet-le-Grand is a village 19 kilometres 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 possible via 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 round Achiet and from other burial grounds.
The EXTENSION contains 1,424 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 200 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 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 Communal Cemetery contains four Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Achiet-le-Grand is a village 19 kilometres 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 possible via 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 round Achiet and from other burial grounds.
The EXTENSION contains 1,424 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 200 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 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 Communal Cemetery contains four Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Flight Commander
Colin Roy Mackenzie D. S. O. Mentioned in Despatches
Pilot in 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service
24th January 1917, aged 24.
Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Dr. Alexander L. and Marion P. Mackenzie, of 6, The Circus, Bath.
His headstone bears the inscription "Virtute Et Valore Croix De Guerre"
Colin Roy Mackenzie D. S. O. Mentioned in Despatches
Pilot in 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service
24th January 1917, aged 24.
Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Dr. Alexander L. and Marion P. Mackenzie, of 6, The Circus, Bath.
His headstone bears the inscription "Virtute Et Valore Croix De Guerre"
12708 Air Mechanic 1st Class
Frank Russell
23rd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
24th March 1917, aged 20.
Son of James Thomas Russell, of 6, Arnold St., Rochdale.
His headstone bears the inscription "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out"
Frank Russell
23rd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
24th March 1917, aged 20.
Son of James Thomas Russell, of 6, Arnold St., Rochdale.
His headstone bears the inscription "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out"
630452 Gunner
Alexander Wyness
"B" Bty. 317th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
26th August 1918.
Alexander Wyness
"B" Bty. 317th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
26th August 1918.
Other Burial Details
307017 Rifleman J. Atha, 2nd/8th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), died 4th April 1917.
307017 Rifleman J. Atha, 2nd/8th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), died 4th April 1917.
