BELLACOURT MILITARY CEMETERY
Rivière
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.23154, Longitude: 2.67439
Location Information
Bellacourt is a village in the commune of Rivière, in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 10 kilometres south-west of Arras.
Visitors should take the N25, Arras to Doullens main road, as far as Beaumetz les Loges. Take the D34 to Rivière, fork right onto the D7, still in the direction of Rivière, and then turn left to the cemetery as indicated by the CWGC sign.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun by French troops in October 1914, and carried on by the 46th (North Midland), 55th (West Lancashire), 58th (London), 49th (West Riding) and other Divisions, and later by the Canadian Corps, from February 1916, to September 1918; and the French plot was increased in 1923 by concentrations from other cemeteries. The 16 American graves of July and August, 1918 (all but one of which belonged to the 320th Regiment) have been removed to another place of burial.
There are 432 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-18 war commemorated in this site, 1 being unidentified. There are also 117 French burials here and 1 Unknown German Burial.
The Cemetery covers an area of 3,582 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Total Burials: 550.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 258, Canada 173. Total 431.
Unidentified Casualties: Germany, 1, Unknown 1. Total 2.
French War Graves: 117.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens & Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, MC
Lieutenant
Gilbert Edgar Adamson, M. C.
"C" Coy. 7th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
24th August 1918, aged 23.
Plot III. G. 2.
Son of John William and Amanda Adamson, of 44, Whitehall Park, Highgate, London. Educated at City of London School (1906-14), and Merton College, Oxford, (Oct., 1914-March, 1915).
His headstone bears the inscription "Killed In Action Croisilles. Quit You Like Men In Manus Tuas Domine"
Gilbert Edgar Adamson, M. C.
"C" Coy. 7th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
24th August 1918, aged 23.
Plot III. G. 2.
Son of John William and Amanda Adamson, of 44, Whitehall Park, Highgate, London. Educated at City of London School (1906-14), and Merton College, Oxford, (Oct., 1914-March, 1915).
His headstone bears the inscription "Killed In Action Croisilles. Quit You Like Men In Manus Tuas Domine"
2114975 Private
Arthur Frederick Bagg
27th Bn. Canadian Infantry
9th April 1918, aged 25.
Plot II. C. 2.
Son of Frederick William and Annie Elizabeth Bagg, of Hespeler, Ontario.
Arthur Frederick Bagg
27th Bn. Canadian Infantry
9th April 1918, aged 25.
Plot II. C. 2.
Son of Frederick William and Annie Elizabeth Bagg, of Hespeler, Ontario.
799565 Private
Leonard William Busst
19th Bn. Canadian Infantry
24th April 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. F. 3.
Son of Albert Benjamin and Alice Busst, of 68, Dixon Avenue, Toronto, Ontario. Native of Birmingham, England.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away"
Leonard William Busst
19th Bn. Canadian Infantry
24th April 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. F. 3.
Son of Albert Benjamin and Alice Busst, of 68, Dixon Avenue, Toronto, Ontario. Native of Birmingham, England.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away"
880476 Private
James William Comboye
18th Bn. Canadian Infantry
2nd April 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. A. 12.
James William Comboye
18th Bn. Canadian Infantry
2nd April 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. A. 12.
748566 Sergeant
Charles Frederick Franklin, M. M.
"B" Company, 24th Bn. Canadian Infantry
10th April 1918, aged 22.
Plot II. C. 3.
Son of Richard Henry and Eliza Hannah Franklin, of Battleford, Saskatchewan. Native of Caterharn, Surrey, England.
His headstone bears the inscription "Waiting Till The Roll Is Called Up Yonder"
Charles Frederick Franklin, M. M.
"B" Company, 24th Bn. Canadian Infantry
10th April 1918, aged 22.
Plot II. C. 3.
Son of Richard Henry and Eliza Hannah Franklin, of Battleford, Saskatchewan. Native of Caterharn, Surrey, England.
His headstone bears the inscription "Waiting Till The Roll Is Called Up Yonder"
2964 Private
William Herbert (Henry) Hammond
8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
7th October 1916.
Plot I. A. 1.
Son of George and Mary Hammond of 10 The Green, South Collingham, Newark.
Worked for a Mansfield company. Enlisted at Newark giving address of 20 High Street, Mansfield.
His brother Albert Edward Hammond served as a private with Durham Light Infantry and was killed in action on 11th April 1918 aged 19 and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
William Herbert (Henry) Hammond
8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
7th October 1916.
Plot I. A. 1.
Son of George and Mary Hammond of 10 The Green, South Collingham, Newark.
Worked for a Mansfield company. Enlisted at Newark giving address of 20 High Street, Mansfield.
His brother Albert Edward Hammond served as a private with Durham Light Infantry and was killed in action on 11th April 1918 aged 19 and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
3/7103 Private
Gordon Stewart Ingram
1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders
29th March 1918, aged 32.
Plot II. E. 1.
Son of William Ingram, of Everton, Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, and the late Mary Jane Mackie Ingram. Born at Towie, Clatt, Aberdeenshire.
Gordon Stewart Ingram
1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders
29th March 1918, aged 32.
Plot II. E. 1.
Son of William Ingram, of Everton, Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, and the late Mary Jane Mackie Ingram. Born at Towie, Clatt, Aberdeenshire.
742313 Private
Byrne Thomas McNamara
26th Bn. Canadian Infantry
7th May 1918, aged 21.
Plot II. G. 12.
Son of Catherine McNamara, of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and the late Patrick James McNamara.
His headstone bears the inscription "May His Soul Rest In Peace Amen"
Byrne Thomas McNamara
26th Bn. Canadian Infantry
7th May 1918, aged 21.
Plot II. G. 12.
Son of Catherine McNamara, of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and the late Patrick James McNamara.
His headstone bears the inscription "May His Soul Rest In Peace Amen"
2942 Lance Corporal
Ernest Pride
8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
13th July 1916, aged 19.
Plot I. D. 3.
Son of John and Alice Pride, of Farndon Fields, Newark, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Noble Life Laid Down (M)"
Ernest Pride
8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
13th July 1916, aged 19.
Plot I. D. 3.
Son of John and Alice Pride, of Farndon Fields, Newark, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Noble Life Laid Down (M)"
6376 Private
John William Spencer
1st/5th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
14th February 1917, aged 19.
Plot I. K. 8.
Son of John and Martha Spencer, of 63, West St., Retford, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Only Child Jack Never Forgotten Ma And Dad"
John William Spencer
1st/5th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
14th February 1917, aged 19.
Plot I. K. 8.
Son of John and Martha Spencer, of 63, West St., Retford, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Only Child Jack Never Forgotten Ma And Dad"
Major
Bernard Charles Tennent, M. C.
7th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
22nd August 1918.
Plot III. F. 3.
Husband of Daisy Tennent, of 3, Hans Crescent, Sloane St., London.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Thank My God Upon Every Remembrance Of You. Philippians I Verse 3"
Bernard Charles Tennent, M. C.
7th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
22nd August 1918.
Plot III. F. 3.
Husband of Daisy Tennent, of 3, Hans Crescent, Sloane St., London.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Thank My God Upon Every Remembrance Of You. Philippians I Verse 3"
Shot at Dawn
62218 Private Leopold DeLisle, 22nd Bn. Canadian Infantry, executed for desertion 21st May 1918, aged 25. Plot II. J. 6. Son of Philippe and Hectorine Larose Delisle, of 1553, Jeanne Mance St., Montreal. A former labourer, of uncertain age (Army records are not consistent), he enlisted in April, reaching England in May 1915. There, DeLisle was sentenced for absence; insubordination; disobedience; drunkenness; & absence from parade. Following his arrival in France in early 1916, 28 days’ Field Punishment No 1 was imposed for 3 further similar offences. In March 1917, he was released from serving — in full — 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour imposed for striking a superior officer; & returned to his unit. Apart from an admission to a Field Ambulance suffering from ‘convulsions’ (but being discharged the next day), he seems to have behaved till 29 March 1918, when he absconded, being arrested 8 days later; he was executed on May 20. (Putkowski, pp. 243-244)
62218 Private Leopold DeLisle, 22nd Bn. Canadian Infantry, executed for desertion 21st May 1918, aged 25. Plot II. J. 6. Son of Philippe and Hectorine Larose Delisle, of 1553, Jeanne Mance St., Montreal. A former labourer, of uncertain age (Army records are not consistent), he enlisted in April, reaching England in May 1915. There, DeLisle was sentenced for absence; insubordination; disobedience; drunkenness; & absence from parade. Following his arrival in France in early 1916, 28 days’ Field Punishment No 1 was imposed for 3 further similar offences. In March 1917, he was released from serving — in full — 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour imposed for striking a superior officer; & returned to his unit. Apart from an admission to a Field Ambulance suffering from ‘convulsions’ (but being discharged the next day), he seems to have behaved till 29 March 1918, when he absconded, being arrested 8 days later; he was executed on May 20. (Putkowski, pp. 243-244)
Click on image to enlarge
Original wooden cross from the grave of Corporal Joshua Strong, 29th Canadian Infantry Battalion (British Columbia Regiment), killed in action on 26 April 1918. Corporal Strong (son of Joseph and Mary Strong, of Elterwater, Westmorland, England) served in the 3rd Company of 29th Battalion (British Columbia Regiment); he was aged 29 at the time of his death. His remains are buried at Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Rivière. Plot II. E. 14. © IWM (EPH 9460)
