BERTRANCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY
Somme
France
Location Information
Bertrancourt is a village in the Department of the Somme.
Using the D919 from Arras to Amiens you will drive through the villages of Bucquoy, Puisieux, Serre-les-Puisieux and then Mailly-Maillet (approximately 25 kilometres south of Arras).
On leaving Mailly-Maillet, 100 metres further along the D919, turn right following the signs for Bertrancourt village (approximately 3 kilometres).
On arrival at Bertrancourt take the first turning left and continue for 300 metres. A signpost will be seen which will direct you right onto a small lane which continues straight to Bertrancourt Military Cemetery.
Historical Information
The cemetery was used by field ambulances in 1916 and 1917 and again by corps and divisional burial parties in the critical months of June, July and August 1918, when German advances brought the front line to within 8 kilometres of Bertrancourt.
There are 416 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery. Many of the graves are of Yorkshire or Lancashire regiments.
Casualty Details: UK 388, Canada 2, New Zealand 26, Germany 3, Total Burials: 419
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Dedications
59713 Private Percy Humphries, 1st / 7th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, 17th August 1918, aged 19. Son of the late John Thomas Humphries and Emma Humphries of 9 Gloucester Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
Remembered by his great nephew, Robert Harrison
Bertrancourt is a village in the Department of the Somme.
Using the D919 from Arras to Amiens you will drive through the villages of Bucquoy, Puisieux, Serre-les-Puisieux and then Mailly-Maillet (approximately 25 kilometres south of Arras).
On leaving Mailly-Maillet, 100 metres further along the D919, turn right following the signs for Bertrancourt village (approximately 3 kilometres).
On arrival at Bertrancourt take the first turning left and continue for 300 metres. A signpost will be seen which will direct you right onto a small lane which continues straight to Bertrancourt Military Cemetery.
Historical Information
The cemetery was used by field ambulances in 1916 and 1917 and again by corps and divisional burial parties in the critical months of June, July and August 1918, when German advances brought the front line to within 8 kilometres of Bertrancourt.
There are 416 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery. Many of the graves are of Yorkshire or Lancashire regiments.
Casualty Details: UK 388, Canada 2, New Zealand 26, Germany 3, Total Burials: 419
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Dedications
59713 Private Percy Humphries, 1st / 7th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, 17th August 1918, aged 19. Son of the late John Thomas Humphries and Emma Humphries of 9 Gloucester Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
Remembered by his great nephew, Robert Harrison
8545 Serjeant
Arthur Bowes
8th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
13th November 1916, aged 29.
Plot 1. K. 4.
Husband of Mary Bowes, of 41, Parker Lane, Burnley.
Arthur Bowes
8th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
13th November 1916, aged 29.
Plot 1. K. 4.
Husband of Mary Bowes, of 41, Parker Lane, Burnley.
Captain
Hugh Dart
13th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 34.
Plot 1. E. 15.
Son of Richard and Ellen Dart, of Liverpool. M.A. (Cantab.).
Hugh Dart
13th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 34.
Plot 1. E. 15.
Son of Richard and Ellen Dart, of Liverpool. M.A. (Cantab.).
15984 Serjeant
William Duckworth
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
20th June 1916, aged 20.
Plot 1. C. 13.
Son of Edward and Sarah Duckworth, of Oswaldtwistle, nr. Accrington.
William Duckworth
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
20th June 1916, aged 20.
Plot 1. C. 13.
Son of Edward and Sarah Duckworth, of Oswaldtwistle, nr. Accrington.
241103 Private
Arthur Edmondson
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
8th June 1918, aged 27.
Plot 2. C. 20.
Son of James and Sarah Ann Edmondson, of Harle Syke, Burnley, Lancs. Lived at Queen Street, Harle Syke, Burnley and worked at Queen Street Mill as a weaver.
Arthur Edmondson
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
8th June 1918, aged 27.
Plot 2. C. 20.
Son of James and Sarah Ann Edmondson, of Harle Syke, Burnley, Lancs. Lived at Queen Street, Harle Syke, Burnley and worked at Queen Street Mill as a weaver.
15932 Private
Frank Fawcett
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
23rd June 1916
Plot 1. A. 14.
Frank Fawcett
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
23rd June 1916
Plot 1. A. 14.
8198 Private
Albert Greenwood
12th Field Amb. Royal Army Medical Corps.
1st July 1916, aged 19.
Plot 1. G. 19.
Son of Joseph and Sarah A. Greenwood, of 80 Peart Street, Burnley, Lancs.
Albert Greenwood
12th Field Amb. Royal Army Medical Corps.
1st July 1916, aged 19.
Plot 1. G. 19.
Son of Joseph and Sarah A. Greenwood, of 80 Peart Street, Burnley, Lancs.
15760 Private
James Edward Heys
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
26th June 1916, aged 35
Plot 1. D. 18.
Native of Burnley, Lancs.
James Edward Heys
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
26th June 1916, aged 35
Plot 1. D. 18.
Native of Burnley, Lancs.
18037 Private
Ernest Kenyon
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
23rd June 1916, aged 37.
Plot 1. A. 13.
Husband of Mrs. Kenyon, of 493, Manchester Road, Baxenden, Accrington.
Ernest Kenyon
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
23rd June 1916, aged 37.
Plot 1. A. 13.
Husband of Mrs. Kenyon, of 493, Manchester Road, Baxenden, Accrington.
16043 Private
Arthur Nutter
"B" Coy. 11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
17th June 1916, aged 23.
Plot 1. C. 12.
Son of Albert and Elizabeth Ellen Nutter, of Burnley.
Arthur Nutter
"B" Coy. 11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
17th June 1916, aged 23.
Plot 1. C. 12.
Son of Albert and Elizabeth Ellen Nutter, of Burnley.
L/17777 Gunner
John Riding
"Z" 31st Trench Mortar Bty., Royal Field Artillery
29th June 1916, aged 36.
Plot 1. E. 7.
Brother of Mr. J. Riding, of 153, Downham Street. Blackburn.
Formerly employed on the South Lancashire Tramways, prior to enlisting he was working as a Driver for Burnley Tramways. He lived at 25 Kyan Street, Burnley.
John Riding
"Z" 31st Trench Mortar Bty., Royal Field Artillery
29th June 1916, aged 36.
Plot 1. E. 7.
Brother of Mr. J. Riding, of 153, Downham Street. Blackburn.
Formerly employed on the South Lancashire Tramways, prior to enlisting he was working as a Driver for Burnley Tramways. He lived at 25 Kyan Street, Burnley.
24175 Private
Frederick Roberts
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
22nd June 1916, aged 22.
Plot 1. B. 16.
Son of Thomas and Ellen Roberts, of Blackburn.
Frederick Roberts
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
22nd June 1916, aged 22.
Plot 1. B. 16.
Son of Thomas and Ellen Roberts, of Blackburn.
Shot at Dawn
L/11710 Private, Alfred Thomas Ansted, 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, executed for desertion, 15th November 1916, aged 29. Plot 1. J. 12. Son of Mary Ann and the late Henry John Ansted, of 9, Wood End Cottages, Northolt, Middlesex.
Recalled from the Reserve,he arrived in France in February 1915, but in May 1916 went absent,for which a suspended sentence was imposed. However, in August he again went absent from Guillemont on the Somme, having been warned for the trenches. Some 2 months later, he surrendered to the Military Police at Corbie; & at trial claimed to have been unnerved by shellfire. (Putkowski, pp 133-134)
251482 Private, William Murphey, 1st/5th Bn. Royal Scots, executed for desertion, 7th February 1917. Plot 2. A. 19. Son of Mrs. Jane Murphey, of Blackridge, West Lothian. A Kitchener volunteer, he deserted during a march towards the front, though still a considerable distance from the trenches. (Putkowski, p. 161)
12384 Private, Alexander Reid, 16th Bn. Highland Light Infantry, executed for desertion, 31st January 1917, aged 30. Plot 2. A. 17. He deserted having served for most of 1916 on the Somme. (Putkowski, p. 159)
27555 Private, John Taylor, 15th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, executed for desertion, 27th January 1917. Plot 2. A. 15. Husband of Gertrude Taylor, of 24, Mount St., Hulme, Manchester. He had seen considerable action on the Somme, but was under a suspended sentence of 5 years’ penal servitude imposed for quitting his post when he deserted. (Putkowski, p. 159)
L/11710 Private, Alfred Thomas Ansted, 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, executed for desertion, 15th November 1916, aged 29. Plot 1. J. 12. Son of Mary Ann and the late Henry John Ansted, of 9, Wood End Cottages, Northolt, Middlesex.
Recalled from the Reserve,he arrived in France in February 1915, but in May 1916 went absent,for which a suspended sentence was imposed. However, in August he again went absent from Guillemont on the Somme, having been warned for the trenches. Some 2 months later, he surrendered to the Military Police at Corbie; & at trial claimed to have been unnerved by shellfire. (Putkowski, pp 133-134)
251482 Private, William Murphey, 1st/5th Bn. Royal Scots, executed for desertion, 7th February 1917. Plot 2. A. 19. Son of Mrs. Jane Murphey, of Blackridge, West Lothian. A Kitchener volunteer, he deserted during a march towards the front, though still a considerable distance from the trenches. (Putkowski, p. 161)
12384 Private, Alexander Reid, 16th Bn. Highland Light Infantry, executed for desertion, 31st January 1917, aged 30. Plot 2. A. 17. He deserted having served for most of 1916 on the Somme. (Putkowski, p. 159)
27555 Private, John Taylor, 15th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, executed for desertion, 27th January 1917. Plot 2. A. 15. Husband of Gertrude Taylor, of 24, Mount St., Hulme, Manchester. He had seen considerable action on the Somme, but was under a suspended sentence of 5 years’ penal servitude imposed for quitting his post when he deserted. (Putkowski, p. 159)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Pictures in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
