AUBERCHICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.32682, Longitude: 3.22192
Location Information
Auberchicourt is a village 11.5 Kms east of Douai on the road to Valenciennes.
Auberchicourt British Cemetery is 1 Km west of the village on the northside of the road to Erchin, 300 yards away from the Communal Cemetery.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The village was occupied by Commonwealth troops in October 1918. The cemetery was begun at the end of that month and used until February 1919 while the 6th, 23rd and 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Stations were in the neighbourhood. These original graves are in Plot I, but the cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves (mainly of 1918-19, but also of August 1914) were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from the following smaller burial grounds.
AUBERCHICOURT CHURCHYARD, in which one Canadian soldier was buried in October 1918.
LIEU-ST. AMAND BRITISH CEMETERY, at the South-West corner of the village, used by units and Field Ambulances of the 51st and another Division, in October 1918, for the burial of 28 soldiers from the United Kingdom.
MONTIGNY BRITISH CEMETERY (Nord, East of Douai), near the South-West angle of the Bois de Montigny. This cemetery, made by the 6th Casualty Clearing Station in November 1918-February 1919, contained the graves of 20 Canadian soldiers, 16 (and one airman) from the United Kingdom, and one of the United States Army.
SOMAIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY, in which one R.F.C. officer who fell in 1916, is still buried. The graves of seven Canadian soldiers who fell in October 1918, and one from the United Kingdom buried by the enemy in March 1918, have been removed.
WALLERS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, in which nine Canadian soldiers were buried in October 1918.
Auberchicourt British Cemetery contains 288 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 19 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to one soldier from the United Kingdom but there is a special memorial to one casualty known to be buried among them.
Total Burials: 288.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 183, Canada 86. Total 269.
Unidentified Casualties: 19.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and William Harrison Cowlishaw
Cemetery images below © Johan Pauwels
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472168 Sergeant Hugh Cairns, V. C., D. C. M.
46th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment).
Died of wounds on 2nd November 1918, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 8.
Son of George H. and Elizabeth D. Cairns, of 832, Avenue "G" North, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
His headstone bears the inscription "Leaving Us An Example That Ye Should Follow His Steps". "Thy Will Be Done"
Citation:
An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31155, dated 28th Jan., 1919, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery before Valenciennes on 1st November, 1918, when a machine gun opened on his platoon. Without a moment's hesitation Serjt. Cairns seized a Lewis gun and single-handed in the face of direct fire, rushed the post, killed the crew of five, and captured the gun. Later, when the line was held up by machine-gun fire, he again rushed forward, killing 12 enemy and capturing 18 and two guns. Subsequently when the advance was held up by machine-guns and field guns, although wounded, he led a small party to outflank them, killing many, forcing about 50 to surrender, and capturing all the guns. After consolidation he went with a battle patrol to exploit Marly and forced 60 enemy to surrender. Whilst disarming this party he was severely wounded. Nevertheless he opened fire and inflicted heavy losses. Finally he was rushed by about 20 enemy and collapsed from weakness and loss of blood. Throughout the operation he showed the highest degree of valour, and his leadership greatly contributed to the success of the attack. He died on the 2nd November from wounds."
Headstone
Picture © Johan Pauwels
Lieutenant
John McClelland Adie
1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade
3rd November 1918, aged 35.
Plot I. B. 11.
Son of John A. and Frances Adie, of 5, Adam St., St. Catharines, Ontario. His brothers Allan Adie and Archibald William Adie also fell. Allan is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in Belgium and Archibald is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery In France.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
John McClelland Adie
1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade
3rd November 1918, aged 35.
Plot I. B. 11.
Son of John A. and Frances Adie, of 5, Adam St., St. Catharines, Ontario. His brothers Allan Adie and Archibald William Adie also fell. Allan is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in Belgium and Archibald is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery In France.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
279581 Gunner
Peter Blundell
46th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
16th November 1918, aged 39.
Plot I. A. 17.
Son of Thomas and Harriett Blundell; husband of Maggie Howarth Blundell, of 33, Vista Rd., Haydock, St. Helens, Lancs. Born at Haydock.
Peter died after the armistice from Pneumonia.
Peter Blundell
46th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
16th November 1918, aged 39.
Plot I. A. 17.
Son of Thomas and Harriett Blundell; husband of Maggie Howarth Blundell, of 33, Vista Rd., Haydock, St. Helens, Lancs. Born at Haydock.
Peter died after the armistice from Pneumonia.
928681 Private
John Carlyle Matthews
50th Bn. Canadian Infantry, (Alberta Regiment)
2nd November 1918.
Plot I. B. 2.
Son of Samuel and Margaret Matthews; husband of Lillian Matthews (on their wedding day), of Fordwich, Ontario.
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Don Matthews
John Carlyle Matthews
50th Bn. Canadian Infantry, (Alberta Regiment)
2nd November 1918.
Plot I. B. 2.
Son of Samuel and Margaret Matthews; husband of Lillian Matthews (on their wedding day), of Fordwich, Ontario.
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Don Matthews
Captain
Edward Thomas Mennie
38th Bn. Canadian Infantry
7th November 1918, aged 27.
Plot I. D. 17.
Youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Mennie, of Clarence, Ontario; husband of Annie Mennie, of 66, Russell Avenue, Ottawa.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
Edward Thomas Mennie
38th Bn. Canadian Infantry
7th November 1918, aged 27.
Plot I. D. 17.
Youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Mennie, of Clarence, Ontario; husband of Annie Mennie, of 66, Russell Avenue, Ottawa.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
Lieutenant
John Percy Orr
54th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th December 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. C. 22.
Son of Edward E. and Ellen Orr, of 54, Albion St., Brantford, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "Gone But Not Forgotten"
John Percy Orr
54th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th December 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. C. 22.
Son of Edward E. and Ellen Orr, of 54, Albion St., Brantford, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "Gone But Not Forgotten"
