AVELUY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.02455, Longitude: 2.6572
Location Information
Aveluy is a village in the Department of the Somme, immediately north of Albert. Using the D929 from Bapaume to Albert, continue until you come to La Boisselle, and then take the right turning signposted to Aveluy on the D20. On entering Aveluy the cemetery will be found after taking the first right turn in the village.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Aveluy village was held by Commonwealth forces from July 1915 to 26 March 1918. The extension to the communal cemetery, begun by the French who held this part of the line previously, was continued by our units and field ambulances from August 1915 to March 1917. In the latter month, the 3rd and 9th Casualty Clearing Stations began to use it, the 9th remaining until November 1917. On 26-27 March 1918, the village and the cemetery were lost during the German advance, but were retaken at the end of August.
Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension contains 613 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 26 of the burials are unidentified and three graves, the exact locations of which could not be found, are represented by special memorials.
Total Burials: 613.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 523, Australia 54, Canada 7, India 2, South Africa 1. Total 587.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 26.
The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Arthur James Scott Hutton
1911/A Private
Andrew Gay
50th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th April 1917, aged 35.
Row N. 35.
A labourer from Nonning via Port Augusta, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 3rd Reinforcements from Adelaide on 13 July 1916 aboard HMAT Seang Bee for Plymouth England. Following training in England he joined his battalion on the Western Front near Albert, France, in mid-December 1916. Pte Gay was wounded on action near Bapaume, France, on 6 April 1917, died of these wounds three days later.
Andrew Gay
50th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th April 1917, aged 35.
Row N. 35.
A labourer from Nonning via Port Augusta, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 3rd Reinforcements from Adelaide on 13 July 1916 aboard HMAT Seang Bee for Plymouth England. Following training in England he joined his battalion on the Western Front near Albert, France, in mid-December 1916. Pte Gay was wounded on action near Bapaume, France, on 6 April 1917, died of these wounds three days later.
444 Private
Thomas Linton
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
31st March 1917
Row N. 17.
Son of Hannah Linton, of Forester, Scottsdale, Tasmania, and the late William Linton. Native of Nook, Sheffield, Tasmania.
A dairy farmer prior to enlistment, Pte Linton embarked on board HMAT Berrima (A35) with the 40th Battalion on 1 July 1916. He served on the Western Front with the 51st Battalion from October 1916. On 31 March 1917, Pte Linton died of wounds received in action at Lagnicourt, France. On the same day his brother, 2932 Pte William Welsh Linton, also died at Lagnicourt. He is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
Thomas Linton
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
31st March 1917
Row N. 17.
Son of Hannah Linton, of Forester, Scottsdale, Tasmania, and the late William Linton. Native of Nook, Sheffield, Tasmania.
A dairy farmer prior to enlistment, Pte Linton embarked on board HMAT Berrima (A35) with the 40th Battalion on 1 July 1916. He served on the Western Front with the 51st Battalion from October 1916. On 31 March 1917, Pte Linton died of wounds received in action at Lagnicourt, France. On the same day his brother, 2932 Pte William Welsh Linton, also died at Lagnicourt. He is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
14476 Driver
Fred Newman
2nd Div. Ammunition Column. Royal Field Artillery
3rd February 1917.
Row K. 5.
Lived at 131 Waidshouse Road, Nelson, Lancs.
Fred Newman
2nd Div. Ammunition Column. Royal Field Artillery
3rd February 1917.
Row K. 5.
Lived at 131 Waidshouse Road, Nelson, Lancs.
Men of the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment resting by the roadside near Aveluy, September 1916. © IWM (Q 1459)
Images in gallery below © Geerhard Joos
Horse and motor transport in difficulties caused by mud and rainflooded shell holes on the Aveluy-Albert road, 16th December 1917. Aveluy is seen in the distance. © IWM Q 3084
The Battle of Ancre Heights 10 -11 November. British lightly wounded soldiers having food at the Dressing Station at Aveluy Wood. 13 November 1916. © IWM (Q 4501)
British soldier resting near Aveluy Wood, September 1916.© IWM (Q 1340)
British soldier carrying a wounded comrade on his back on the way to the dressing station; near Aveluy Wood, September 1916 (turning on right goes through Aveluy Wood to Thiepval; road straight on leads to Hamel). Note a German helmet worn by a wounded soldier. © IWM (Q 1334)
Battle of the Ancre. An Army Chaplain of the Army Chaplains' Department helping along a wounded German prisoner taken on the 13th of November 1916. Near Aveluy Wood. © IWM (Q 4505)
