AVAL WOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Vieux-Berquin
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.68324, Longitude: 2.62008
Location Information
Vieux-Berquin is a village 8 Kms south-west of Bailleul and a similar distance south-east of Hazebrouck.
Leave the village on the 947 heading for Neuf-Berquin/Estaires. Turn right 800 metres from the centre of the village on the Rue Merville. Continue for 700 metres to the junction and take the right hand fork towards Caudescure on the D69. The Cemetery is another 1.5 Kms along this road on the right hand side.
Historical Information
The Battle of Hazebrouck (one of the Battles of the Lys), including the Defence of Nieppe Forest, lasted from 12 to 15 April 1918. The line east of Nieppe Forest was defended against overwhelming forces by the 29th and 31st Divisions, the latter including the 4th Guards Brigade. Although Vieux-Berquin village was lost on 13 April, the rest of the line was held until the 1st Australian Division had detrained and arrived on the field.
The cemetery was made in June and August 1918, largely by the 11th Battalions of the East Yorkshire and East Lancashire Regiments, who completed Plot I. Plots II and III were added after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Vieux-Berquin and Merville and from CAUDESCURE BRITISH CEMETERY, which lay South of Aval Wood, a little West of the hamlet of Caudescure. It contained the graves of 35 soldiers from the United Kingdom and one German prisoner, who fell in April-August, 1918.
Aval Wood Military Cemetery contains 412 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 156 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials commemorate two casualties believed to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains two burials from the Second World War and one German grave.
Total Burials: 415.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 253, Australia 3. Total 256.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: Unknown 156, Germany 1. Total 157.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 2.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton
Cemetery images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
36531 Private
Harold Brennand
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
22nd August 1918.
Plot III. A. 19.
Harold Brennand
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
22nd August 1918.
Plot III. A. 19.
29381 Private
Arthur John Clements
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
29th June 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. B. 2.
Son of John and Elizabeth Clements, of 13, Station St., Cheltenham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
Arthur John Clements
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
29th June 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. B. 2.
Son of John and Elizabeth Clements, of 13, Station St., Cheltenham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
35627 Private
Joseph Finnigan
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
28th June 1918.
Plot I. B. 34.
Husband of Mrs. E. Finnigan, of 54, Adamson St., Padiham, Lancs.
Joseph Finnigan
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
28th June 1918.
Plot I. B. 34.
Husband of Mrs. E. Finnigan, of 54, Adamson St., Padiham, Lancs.
24463 Private
Archibald Victor Gabb
12th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
28th June 1918, aged 20.
Plot III. B. 3.
Son of Thomas and Edith Gabb, of 7, Tivoli St., Cheltenham.
Archibald Victor Gabb
12th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
28th June 1918, aged 20.
Plot III. B. 3.
Son of Thomas and Edith Gabb, of 7, Tivoli St., Cheltenham.
Lieutenant
Reginald Edward Guise, M. C.
12th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
29th June 1918, aged 21.
Plot III. A. 8.
Son of Rivett Francis Guise (Indian Police) and Mary Guise (nee Boissier).
Reginald Edward Guise, M. C.
12th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
29th June 1918, aged 21.
Plot III. A. 8.
Son of Rivett Francis Guise (Indian Police) and Mary Guise (nee Boissier).
20405 Private
Samuel Millar
1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
20th April 1918.
Plot I. AA. 4.
My great uncle, Samuel Millar was the son of William John Millar and Rachel Millar, both born in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Samuel was one of five children. He had two elder brothers Robert (my grandfather) and Thomas, a younger brother James and a sister Agnes, Sam was born in Liverpool on 26 October 1888. He enlisted with the Lancashire Fusiliers, 1st Bn. Samuel was killed in action on 20 April 1918. He is buried at Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin, France. Another Great Hero.
Image courtesy of great niece, Julie Owen
Samuel Millar
1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
20th April 1918.
Plot I. AA. 4.
My great uncle, Samuel Millar was the son of William John Millar and Rachel Millar, both born in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Samuel was one of five children. He had two elder brothers Robert (my grandfather) and Thomas, a younger brother James and a sister Agnes, Sam was born in Liverpool on 26 October 1888. He enlisted with the Lancashire Fusiliers, 1st Bn. Samuel was killed in action on 20 April 1918. He is buried at Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin, France. Another Great Hero.
Image courtesy of great niece, Julie Owen
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