ADANAC MILITARY CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.07404, Longitude: 2.74348
Location Information
Miraumont is a village about 14.5 Kms north-north-east of Albert and the Cemetery is some 3 Kms south of the village on the east side of the road to Courcelette (D107). The cemetery is signposted in the centre of Miraumont.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible to this cemetery with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The villages of Miraumont and Pys were occupied on 24-25 February 1917 following the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. They were retaken by the Germans on 25 March 1918, but recovered the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on the following 24 August.
Adanac Military Cemetery (the name was formed by reversing the name "Canada") was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the Canadian battlefields around Courcelette and small cemeteries surrounding Miraumont, including:-
PYS BRITISH CEMETERY, about two thirds of the way from Pys to Courcelette. It contained the graves of 22 soldiers from Canada, two from the United Kingdom and five of unknown Units, and a memorial to 33 men of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.
PYS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, in the village, made by the 42nd Division in August and September, 1918, and containing the graves of 35 soldiers (and sailors and Marines) from the United Kingdom and one from New Zealand.
AQUEDUCT ROAD CEMETERY, PYS, between Pys and Le Sars, made by the 6th and 99th Infantry Brigades in March, 1917, and containing the graves of eleven soldiers from the United Kingdom.
NEW ZEALAND CEMETERY, GREVILLERS, close to Grevillers Churchyard, containing the graves of 19 New Zealand soldiers who fell in August-September, 1918.
SHRINE CEMETERY, GREVILLERS, about 500 metres from Grevillers on the road to Irles, containing the graves of thirteen soldiers from New Zealand and two from the United Kingdom who fell at the end of August, 1918.
One grave (Plot IV, Row D, Grave 30) was left in its original position.
There are now 3,187 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War in this cemetery. 1,709 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate 13 casualties known or believed to be buried among them.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton
Total Burials: 3,187.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 818, Canada 562, New Zealand 64, Australia 34. Total 1,478.
Unidentified Casualties: 1,709.
Miraumont is a village about 14.5 Kms north-north-east of Albert and the Cemetery is some 3 Kms south of the village on the east side of the road to Courcelette (D107). The cemetery is signposted in the centre of Miraumont.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible to this cemetery with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The villages of Miraumont and Pys were occupied on 24-25 February 1917 following the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. They were retaken by the Germans on 25 March 1918, but recovered the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on the following 24 August.
Adanac Military Cemetery (the name was formed by reversing the name "Canada") was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the Canadian battlefields around Courcelette and small cemeteries surrounding Miraumont, including:-
PYS BRITISH CEMETERY, about two thirds of the way from Pys to Courcelette. It contained the graves of 22 soldiers from Canada, two from the United Kingdom and five of unknown Units, and a memorial to 33 men of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.
PYS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, in the village, made by the 42nd Division in August and September, 1918, and containing the graves of 35 soldiers (and sailors and Marines) from the United Kingdom and one from New Zealand.
AQUEDUCT ROAD CEMETERY, PYS, between Pys and Le Sars, made by the 6th and 99th Infantry Brigades in March, 1917, and containing the graves of eleven soldiers from the United Kingdom.
NEW ZEALAND CEMETERY, GREVILLERS, close to Grevillers Churchyard, containing the graves of 19 New Zealand soldiers who fell in August-September, 1918.
SHRINE CEMETERY, GREVILLERS, about 500 metres from Grevillers on the road to Irles, containing the graves of thirteen soldiers from New Zealand and two from the United Kingdom who fell at the end of August, 1918.
One grave (Plot IV, Row D, Grave 30) was left in its original position.
There are now 3,187 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War in this cemetery. 1,709 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate 13 casualties known or believed to be buried among them.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton
Total Burials: 3,187.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 818, Canada 562, New Zealand 64, Australia 34. Total 1,478.
Unidentified Casualties: 1,709.
4/400 Serjeant, Samuel Forsyth, V. C.
No.3 Field Company, New Zealand Engineers
24th August 1918, aged 25,
Plot I. I. 39.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Forsyth, of Wellington, New Zealand; husband of Mary S. Forsyth, of 79, John Knox St., Glasgow, Scotland.
Citation:
An extract from the London Gazette No. 30967 dated 18th Oct. 1918, records the following:
"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On meeting the objective, his company came under heavy machine-gun fire. Through Sgt. Forsyth's dashing leadership and total disregard of danger, three machine-gun positions were rushed and the crews taken prisoner before they could inflict many casualties on our troops. During subsequent advance his company came under heavy fire from several machine-guns, two of which he located by a daring reconnaissance. In his endeavour to gain support from a Tank, he was wounded, but after having the wound bandaged, he again got in touch with the Tank, which in the face of very heavy fire from machine-guns and anti-Tank guns, he endeavoured to lead with magnificent coolness to a favourable position. The Tank, however, was put out of action. Sgt. Forsyth then organised the Tank crew and several of his men into a section, and led them to a position where the machine-gun could be outflanked. Always under heavy fire, he directed them into positions which brought about a retirement of the enemy machine-guns and enabled the advance to continue. This gallant N.C.O. was at that moment killed by a sniper. From the commencement of the attack until the time of his death Sgt. Forsyth's courage and coolness, combined with great power of initiative, proved an invaluable incentive to all who were with him and he undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades.
28930 Piper, James (Jimmy) Clelland Richardson, V. C.
16th Bn. Canadian (Manitoba) Infantry
9th October 1916, aged 20.
Plot III. F. 36
Son of David and Mary Prosser Richardson, of Princess Avenue, Chilliwack, British Columbia. Native of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His remains were discovered in 1920 and buried in plot III. F. 36.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
Citation:
An extract from the London Gazette No. 30967 dated 18th Oct. 1918 records the following, " For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, prior to attack, he obtained permission from his C.O. to play his company 'over the top'. As the company approached the objective, it was help up by very strong wire and came under intense fire, which caused heavy casualties and demoralised the formation for the moment. Realising the situation, Piper Richardson strode up and down outside the wire, playing his pipes with the greatest coolness. The effect was instantaneous. Inspired by his splendid example, the company rushed the wire with such fury and determination that the obstacle was overcome and the position captured. Later, after participating in bombing operations he was detailed to take back a wounded comrade and prisoners. After proceeding about 200 yards, Piper Richardson, remembered that he had left his pipes behind. Although strongly urged not to do so, he insisted on returning to recover his pipes. He has never been seen since, and death has been presumed accordingly owing to lapse of time.
The Mystery of Jimmy Richardson's Bagpipes
Richardson's bagpipes were believed to have been lost in the mud of the Somme for almost 90 years until 2002, when the Pipe Major of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) responded to an Internet posting. He discovered that Ardvreck preparatory school in Scotland had possession of a set of bagpipes with the unique Lennox tartan on them, the same tartan used by the pipers of the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion. A British Army Chaplain, Major Edward Yeld Bate, had found the pipes in 1917 and brought them back home after the war to a school in Scotland where he was a teacher. The pipes were unidentified for several decades, and served as a broken, mud-caked, and blood-stained reminder of an unknown piper from the Great War.
Andrew Winstanley of The Canadian Club and Pipe Major Roger McGuire were largely responsible for the investigative work into identifying Richardson's pipes. With the support of The Canadian Club and a group of patriotic citizens, Pipe Major McGuire travelled to Scotland in January 2003 to help identify the pipes that had been displayed at Ardvreck School in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland, for over seven decades. Tomas Christie, a parent of students there and also a piper, initiated the search for the origin of the pipes.
Their collective effort led to conclusive evidence that identified the pipes as those played by Piper Richardson on that fateful day in 1916. An anonymous donor facilitated the purchase of the pipes on behalf of the citizens of Canada. In October 2006, a party of dignitaries visited Scotland and received the pipes from the Headmaster of Ardvreck School for repatriation to Canada.
On 8 November 2006, the bagpipes were officially repatriated when troops from The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) placed them at the British Columbia Legislature as a reminder of a generation's valour. They are currently on public display. There is a statue of him on display at the museum in Chilliwack, BC. (Source- Wiki)
Headstones

472234 Private
Heber John Walter Bamford
44th Bn. Canadian Infantry (New Brunswick Regiment)
25th October 1916, aged 36.
Plot VI. B. 10.
Husband of Bertha Bamford
Picture courtesy of grandson, Pat Schile
Heber John Walter Bamford
44th Bn. Canadian Infantry (New Brunswick Regiment)
25th October 1916, aged 36.
Plot VI. B. 10.
Husband of Bertha Bamford
Picture courtesy of grandson, Pat Schile

36223 Private
Walter Birch
7th Bn. Border Regiment
26th August 1918, aged 19.
Plot VI. F. 36.
Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Birch, of 28, Mizpah St., Burnley.
Walter Birch
7th Bn. Border Regiment
26th August 1918, aged 19.
Plot VI. F. 36.
Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Birch, of 28, Mizpah St., Burnley.

Lieutenant
Elmer Clark Bryson
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)
8th October 1916, aged 23.
Plot III. G. 34.
Son of McCully and Lida Bryson, of Hilden, Nova Scotia. Enlisted Aug., 1914. His brother Private Lyle Bryson was killed at the Battle of Vimy, 09/04/1917 and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial
Picture courtesy of his nephew, Lyle L. Bryson
Elmer Clark Bryson
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)
8th October 1916, aged 23.
Plot III. G. 34.
Son of McCully and Lida Bryson, of Hilden, Nova Scotia. Enlisted Aug., 1914. His brother Private Lyle Bryson was killed at the Battle of Vimy, 09/04/1917 and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial
Picture courtesy of his nephew, Lyle L. Bryson

27608 Private
Leo Eric Greygoose
1st Bn. East Surrey Regiment
23rd August 1918, aged 19.
Plot IV. F. 24
Native of Abridge, Essex. Son of Alfred and Annie Greygoose, of 44, Eastfield Rd., Enfield Wash, Middx.
His brother Lawrence John Victor Greygoose also fell and is buried in Acheux British Cemetery
Picture courtesy of Patrick Horgan
Leo Eric Greygoose
1st Bn. East Surrey Regiment
23rd August 1918, aged 19.
Plot IV. F. 24
Native of Abridge, Essex. Son of Alfred and Annie Greygoose, of 44, Eastfield Rd., Enfield Wash, Middx.
His brother Lawrence John Victor Greygoose also fell and is buried in Acheux British Cemetery
Picture courtesy of Patrick Horgan

439946 Driver
William Hartley
42nd Div. Signal Coy. Royal Engineers
30th August 1918.
Plot VII. J. 9.
William Hartley
42nd Div. Signal Coy. Royal Engineers
30th August 1918.
Plot VII. J. 9.

5042 Private
Herbert Kable
17th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th March 1917
Plot IV. A. 24.
Herbert Kable
17th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th March 1917
Plot IV. A. 24.

8/3206 Serjeant
Arthur Kallstrom (Served as Charles Carson)
2nd Bn. Otago Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
3rd September 1918
Picture courtesy of grand niece, Christina Mitchell
Arthur Kallstrom (Served as Charles Carson)
2nd Bn. Otago Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
3rd September 1918
Picture courtesy of grand niece, Christina Mitchell

5675 Private
George Herbert Roy Marshall
27th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th March 1917.
Plot V. A. 6.
Son of James and Kasiah Marshall, of Iron Knob, South Australia.
George Herbert Roy Marshall
27th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th March 1917.
Plot V. A. 6.
Son of James and Kasiah Marshall, of Iron Knob, South Australia.

463533 Private
Arthur Walter Nicholson
29th Bn. Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
26th September 1916
Plot I. F. 21.
He was the son of Robert and Amelia Nicholson of Tottenham, London, and emigrated to Canada in 1903.
Picture courtesy of great nephew, David Hammond
Arthur Walter Nicholson
29th Bn. Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
26th September 1916
Plot I. F. 21.
He was the son of Robert and Amelia Nicholson of Tottenham, London, and emigrated to Canada in 1903.
Picture courtesy of great nephew, David Hammond

Second Lieutenant
Errol Edward Rodda
8th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th August 1916.
Plot VIII. D. 83.
Son of Samuel and Annie Rodda. Native of Maldon, Victoria, Australia.
Errol Edward Rodda
8th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th August 1916.
Plot VIII. D. 83.
Son of Samuel and Annie Rodda. Native of Maldon, Victoria, Australia.

298 Private
Leslie Trezise
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th March 1917.
Plot II. I. 20.
Son of John Paddy and Edith Trezise. Native of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia.
Leslie Trezise
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th March 1917.
Plot II. I. 20.
Son of John Paddy and Edith Trezise. Native of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia.

Second Lieutenant
William Wright, D. C. M.
2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
17th February 1917, aged 28.
Plot II. E. 16.
Son of Elizabeth Wright, of 3, Wood View, Maltby, Rotherham.
William Wright was born in October 1888 Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire. He enlisted in the South Staffordshire regiment on 4th April, 1908, from his soldiers' small book it says he was 5' 4" tall, dark complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. He served in South Africa before sailing for France, disembarkation date 09/11/914. Company Sergeant Major, June 1915.
Extract from London Gazette dated 21 June 1916.
Distinguished Conduct Medal 8322, Coy. S./M. W. Wright, 2nd Bn., S. Staff. R. For conspicuous and consistent good work. He is always ready to volunteer for dangerous enterprises. On one occasion he voluntarily joined a bombing party to deny a crater to the enemy, and by his courage and good example helped to save a critical situation.
Commissioned 20/9/1916 2nd Lieutenant.
Picture and information courtesy of S. J. Jepson
William Wright, D. C. M.
2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
17th February 1917, aged 28.
Plot II. E. 16.
Son of Elizabeth Wright, of 3, Wood View, Maltby, Rotherham.
William Wright was born in October 1888 Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire. He enlisted in the South Staffordshire regiment on 4th April, 1908, from his soldiers' small book it says he was 5' 4" tall, dark complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. He served in South Africa before sailing for France, disembarkation date 09/11/914. Company Sergeant Major, June 1915.
Extract from London Gazette dated 21 June 1916.
Distinguished Conduct Medal 8322, Coy. S./M. W. Wright, 2nd Bn., S. Staff. R. For conspicuous and consistent good work. He is always ready to volunteer for dangerous enterprises. On one occasion he voluntarily joined a bombing party to deny a crater to the enemy, and by his courage and good example helped to save a critical situation.
Commissioned 20/9/1916 2nd Lieutenant.
Picture and information courtesy of S. J. Jepson