ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
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 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. 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.
Burial Details
307017 Rifleman J. Atha, 2nd/8th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), died 4th April 1917.
Flight Commander Colin Roy Mackenzie D. S. O. Mentioned in Despatches, Pilot in 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, died 24th January 1917, aged 24. Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Dr. Alexander L. and Marion P. Mackenzie, of 6, The Circus, Bath.
12708 Air Mechanic 1st Class Frank Russell, 23rd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, died 24th March 1917, aged 20. Son of James Thomas Russell, of 6, Arnold St., Rochdale.
630452 Gunner Alexander Wyness, "B" Bty. 317th Bde. Royal Field Artillery, died 26th August 1918.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
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 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. 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.
Burial Details
307017 Rifleman J. Atha, 2nd/8th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), died 4th April 1917.
Flight Commander Colin Roy Mackenzie D. S. O. Mentioned in Despatches, Pilot in 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, died 24th January 1917, aged 24. Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Dr. Alexander L. and Marion P. Mackenzie, of 6, The Circus, Bath.
12708 Air Mechanic 1st Class Frank Russell, 23rd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, died 24th March 1917, aged 20. Son of James Thomas Russell, of 6, Arnold St., Rochdale.
630452 Gunner Alexander Wyness, "B" Bty. 317th Bde. Royal Field Artillery, died 26th August 1918.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
