BÉTHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
Location Information
Béthune is a town 29 kilometres north of Arras.
The cemetery can easily be found, from any point in Bethune, by following the French signs indicating 'CIMETIERE NORD'.
More precisely, from the town centre, turn right in front of the Tribunal and second right at the bottom of the road down to the cul-de-sac where the cemetery will be found.
Historical Information
For much of the First World War, Bethune was comparatively free from bombardment and remained an important railway and hospital centre, as well as a corps and divisional headquarters. The 33rd Casualty Clearing Station was in the town until December 1917. Early in 1918, Bethune began to suffer from constant shell fire and in April 1918, German forces reached Locon, five kilometres to the north. The bombardment of 21 May did great damage to the town and it was not till October that pressure from the Germans was relaxed.
Bethune Town Cemetery contains 3,004 Commonwealth burials of the First World War,11 being unidentified. This includes 26 men of the 1/8th Manchester Regiment who were killed by a bomb on 22 December 1917 while marching to rest billets. Second World War burials number 19, 2 being unidentified. There are also 122 French and 87 German war graves, 38 of the German burials are unidentified.
The Commonwealth section of the cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith
Dedications
40059 Private Leonard Horace Evans, 11th Bn. Essex Regiment, 28th December 1916, aged 35. Son of Tomas and Ann Evans of Foxearth, Essex
Remembered by great niece, Juliet Keel
41077 Corporal Frederick John Thomas Hutchinson, Royal Field Artillery, Y3rd Trench Mortar Battery. 6th February 1917, aged 29.
Remembered by The Hutchinson Family
Béthune is a town 29 kilometres north of Arras.
The cemetery can easily be found, from any point in Bethune, by following the French signs indicating 'CIMETIERE NORD'.
More precisely, from the town centre, turn right in front of the Tribunal and second right at the bottom of the road down to the cul-de-sac where the cemetery will be found.
Historical Information
For much of the First World War, Bethune was comparatively free from bombardment and remained an important railway and hospital centre, as well as a corps and divisional headquarters. The 33rd Casualty Clearing Station was in the town until December 1917. Early in 1918, Bethune began to suffer from constant shell fire and in April 1918, German forces reached Locon, five kilometres to the north. The bombardment of 21 May did great damage to the town and it was not till October that pressure from the Germans was relaxed.
Bethune Town Cemetery contains 3,004 Commonwealth burials of the First World War,11 being unidentified. This includes 26 men of the 1/8th Manchester Regiment who were killed by a bomb on 22 December 1917 while marching to rest billets. Second World War burials number 19, 2 being unidentified. There are also 122 French and 87 German war graves, 38 of the German burials are unidentified.
The Commonwealth section of the cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith
Dedications
40059 Private Leonard Horace Evans, 11th Bn. Essex Regiment, 28th December 1916, aged 35. Son of Tomas and Ann Evans of Foxearth, Essex
Remembered by great niece, Juliet Keel
41077 Corporal Frederick John Thomas Hutchinson, Royal Field Artillery, Y3rd Trench Mortar Battery. 6th February 1917, aged 29.
Remembered by The Hutchinson Family
Lieutenant Frank Alexander De Pass, V. C. Mentioned in Despatches,
34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse, killed in action 25th November 1914 aged 27. Plot I. A. 24.
Born on 26 April 1887 to Eliot and Beatrice de Pass of Kensington, London
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29074, dated 16th Feb., 1915, records the following:-"For conspicuous bravery near Festubert on the 24th November, in entering a German sap and destroying a traverse in the face of the enemy's bombs, and for subsequently rescuing, under heavy fire, a wounded man who was lying exposed in the open."
34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse, killed in action 25th November 1914 aged 27. Plot I. A. 24.
Born on 26 April 1887 to Eliot and Beatrice de Pass of Kensington, London
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29074, dated 16th Feb., 1915, records the following:-"For conspicuous bravery near Festubert on the 24th November, in entering a German sap and destroying a traverse in the face of the enemy's bombs, and for subsequently rescuing, under heavy fire, a wounded man who was lying exposed in the open."
Some Individual Graves in the Cemetery
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
(Click on Headstone for Details)
701294 Private
Richard Henry Arnold
16th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
27th February 1917, aged 20.
Plot VI. B. 78.
Son of Mr. J. W. Arnold, of Hyas, Saskatchewan.
Picture courtesy of Marilyn Arnold Wilkie, niece of this soldier.
Richard Henry Arnold
16th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
27th February 1917, aged 20.
Plot VI. B. 78.
Son of Mr. J. W. Arnold, of Hyas, Saskatchewan.
Picture courtesy of Marilyn Arnold Wilkie, niece of this soldier.
4828 Corporal
John Bentham
2nd Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
30th July 1916, aged 22.
Plot V. G. 58.
Son of John and Elizabeth Bentham, of 52, Esp Lane, Barnoldswick, Yorks.
John Bentham
2nd Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
30th July 1916, aged 22.
Plot V. G. 58.
Son of John and Elizabeth Bentham, of 52, Esp Lane, Barnoldswick, Yorks.
Second Lieutenant
Henry Alexander Birkby
5th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
20th April 1916, aged 26.
Plot III. K. 5.
Picture courtesy of great, great nephew, Mark Galvin
Henry Alexander Birkby
5th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
20th April 1916, aged 26.
Plot III. K. 5.
Picture courtesy of great, great nephew, Mark Galvin
240837 Private
Michael Boyle
2nd/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
9th June 1917, aged 19.
Plot VI. E. 78.
Son of Mr and Mrs Boyle, 27, Master Street, Burnley.
Formerly a weaver at Messrs. Browning's Turf Street Shed, Burnley. He was hit by shrapnel and badly wounded in the back and forearm on 01/06/17, he died of his wounds 8 days later in hospital.
Michael Boyle
2nd/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
9th June 1917, aged 19.
Plot VI. E. 78.
Son of Mr and Mrs Boyle, 27, Master Street, Burnley.
Formerly a weaver at Messrs. Browning's Turf Street Shed, Burnley. He was hit by shrapnel and badly wounded in the back and forearm on 01/06/17, he died of his wounds 8 days later in hospital.
2040 Private
Henry Claud Robert Bruce
1st Bn. Hertfordshire Regiment
22nd April 1915, aged 21.
Plot IV. B. 51.
Prior to enlisting Henry was apprenticed to Mr. Baker, baker & confectioner at Buntingford. He was a member of the Buntingford Football Club, and well known in the district. He joined the Royston Company of the Hertfordshire Regiment some two years before the outbreak of war, and went with the Regiment in November, 1914 on active service in France. He would have been 21 years of age on April 24. Pte. H Bruce had another brother Bertie, also in the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment, and his father served in the Royal Navy on one of H.M. Torpedo boats."
'Never Forgotten'
Picture and obituary below courtesy of Jackie Raw, Kerry Fielding & Caroline Lee. (Great Nieces)
Henry Claud Robert Bruce
1st Bn. Hertfordshire Regiment
22nd April 1915, aged 21.
Plot IV. B. 51.
Prior to enlisting Henry was apprenticed to Mr. Baker, baker & confectioner at Buntingford. He was a member of the Buntingford Football Club, and well known in the district. He joined the Royston Company of the Hertfordshire Regiment some two years before the outbreak of war, and went with the Regiment in November, 1914 on active service in France. He would have been 21 years of age on April 24. Pte. H Bruce had another brother Bertie, also in the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment, and his father served in the Royal Navy on one of H.M. Torpedo boats."
'Never Forgotten'
Picture and obituary below courtesy of Jackie Raw, Kerry Fielding & Caroline Lee. (Great Nieces)
2282 Private
Alexander (Sandy) Burrows
2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
18th March 1915, aged 33.
Plot IV. A. 79.
Son of the late Richard and Margaret Burrows, of Burnley; husband of M. E. Burrows, of 22, Prestwich St., Burnley, Lancs.
Prior to enlisting he was the licensee of the Cross Gates Inn, Finsley Gate, Burnley. The Inn did not survive the war, it was closed in 1915 and compensation paid for the licence. The building remained empty until demolished in 1953.
Alexander (Sandy) Burrows
2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
18th March 1915, aged 33.
Plot IV. A. 79.
Son of the late Richard and Margaret Burrows, of Burnley; husband of M. E. Burrows, of 22, Prestwich St., Burnley, Lancs.
Prior to enlisting he was the licensee of the Cross Gates Inn, Finsley Gate, Burnley. The Inn did not survive the war, it was closed in 1915 and compensation paid for the licence. The building remained empty until demolished in 1953.
16933 Private
Thomas Albert Butterworth 10th Bn. Cameronians , (Scottish Rifles) 11th June 1916, aged 24. Plot V. E. 16. Son of Joseph Ernest and Sarah Emily Butterworth, of 13, Cliffe St., Nelson; husband of Maria Butterworth, of 10, Crowther St., Nelson, Lancs. Native of Dalton-in-Furness, Lancs. |
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22276 Private
Albert Graham
10th Bn. Cameronians, (Scottish Rifles)
17th May 1916, aged 20.
Plot V. C. 77.
Son of John and Agnes Alice Graham, of 29, Tunnel St., Burnley.
Albert Graham
10th Bn. Cameronians, (Scottish Rifles)
17th May 1916, aged 20.
Plot V. C. 77.
Son of John and Agnes Alice Graham, of 29, Tunnel St., Burnley.
10125 Private
Joseph Hateley
1st Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
20th May 1915, aged 33.
Plot IV. C. 23.
Son of Joseph Henry and Anne Hateley, of Walsall, Staffs.; husband of Gertrude Fallon (formerly Hateley), of 24, Chester St., Liverpool.
Joseph was a caster by trade and formerly employed by Messrs. Mason and Burns, Pleck Road Walsall.
He died of wounds on 20/05/1915 through loss of blood, his arm having been blown off by a shell.
Picture courtesy of Carol Davey, great Granddaughter of this soldier
Joseph Hateley
1st Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
20th May 1915, aged 33.
Plot IV. C. 23.
Son of Joseph Henry and Anne Hateley, of Walsall, Staffs.; husband of Gertrude Fallon (formerly Hateley), of 24, Chester St., Liverpool.
Joseph was a caster by trade and formerly employed by Messrs. Mason and Burns, Pleck Road Walsall.
He died of wounds on 20/05/1915 through loss of blood, his arm having been blown off by a shell.
Picture courtesy of Carol Davey, great Granddaughter of this soldier
50363 Private
Albert Hector Holman
9th Bn. Suffolk Regiment
Died of Wounds 23rd April 1917, aged 28.
Plot VI, D. 65.
Husband of Ethel Holman, of 45, Milner St., Burnley.
Albert Hector Holman
9th Bn. Suffolk Regiment
Died of Wounds 23rd April 1917, aged 28.
Plot VI, D. 65.
Husband of Ethel Holman, of 45, Milner St., Burnley.
30673 Private
Harry Jones
1st Bn. Welsh Regiment
4th October 1915
Plot IV. E. 83.
Born Liverpool, residence Caerphilly, Glam.
Picture courtesy of Joe Jones
Harry Jones
1st Bn. Welsh Regiment
4th October 1915
Plot IV. E. 83.
Born Liverpool, residence Caerphilly, Glam.
Picture courtesy of Joe Jones
7331 Corporal
John George Jones, M. I. D.
2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment
15th October 1914, aged 29.
Plot I. D. 22.
Husband of H. E. Armstrong (formerly Jones), of 24, Prince St., Haworth Brow, Keighley.
Native of Scarborough, Yorkshire, he had lived in Burnley since the age of six.
John George Jones, M. I. D.
2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment
15th October 1914, aged 29.
Plot I. D. 22.
Husband of H. E. Armstrong (formerly Jones), of 24, Prince St., Haworth Brow, Keighley.
Native of Scarborough, Yorkshire, he had lived in Burnley since the age of six.
2719 Corporal
Joseph Stanislaus Maley
"B" Coy. 9th (Glasgow Hds.) Bn. Highland Light Infantry
17th May 1915, aged 22.
Plot III. D. 21.
Son of Thomas E. Maley and Elizabeth Maley of 66, Wilton St. Glasgow. Known as Josie to his family and friends. Died of wounds 17/05/1915 aged 22 at the battle of Festubert.
Josie's memory was kept alive by his family and he was never forgotten by his three younger sisters. In later years this photograph always had pride of place in the home of one of them; my late mother.
R.I.P
Picture courtesy of Dorothy Quail (niece)
Joseph Stanislaus Maley
"B" Coy. 9th (Glasgow Hds.) Bn. Highland Light Infantry
17th May 1915, aged 22.
Plot III. D. 21.
Son of Thomas E. Maley and Elizabeth Maley of 66, Wilton St. Glasgow. Known as Josie to his family and friends. Died of wounds 17/05/1915 aged 22 at the battle of Festubert.
Josie's memory was kept alive by his family and he was never forgotten by his three younger sisters. In later years this photograph always had pride of place in the home of one of them; my late mother.
R.I.P
Picture courtesy of Dorothy Quail (niece)
14073 Private
Sidney Herbert Matthews
1st Bn. South Wales Borderers
10th May 1915, aged 30.
Plot III. C. 16.
Pictures and Text provided by Cheryl Miller
Served with the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers having previously served in Wiltshire Militia.
Sidney was born at Foxham Lock Cottages, Bremhill on 3 April 1885, he was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Matthews (nee Thorne) of Foxham, Bremhill. He had one brother Ernest born in 1887.
The 1891 census shows all four family members listed in Foxham. Jacob was an agricultural labourer aged 24 and born in Foxham, Elizabeth was also aged 24 and born in South Marston, Sidney was at school aged 6 years old and Ernest listed as aged 4. Both children born in Foxham. In 1901 the family without Jacob are listed as living in houses at Foxham Lock, Bremhill Elizabeth is recorded as married so presumably Jacob was working away on the census night. The two boys Sidney and Ernest are listed as agricultural labourers. By 1911 Elizabeth had been widowed and was recorded as visiting (presumably her mother Mary Ann Thorn) at Gorse Hill, Swindon.
Sidney married Jennie Sinclair Anderson on 27th October 1906 at Tredegar Register Office, Tredegar, Monmouthshire. Jennie was born in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland on 8th May, 1892 and died on 16th July 1980. When they married, they lived at 20 Bedwellty Pits, Tredegar and Sidney was a coal miner.
The 1911 Census has the family as living at 26 Upper Coronation Street, Tredegar Monmouthshire. The family consisted of Sidney Herbert aged 26 an hewer in a coal mine, Jennie his wife aged 21, with children St. Clair (daughter) aged 4, Ernest aged 3 and Kenneth aged 1. The two older children were born in Tredegar and the youngest son in Bremhill. Also listed is a lodger, William J. Whale of Hilmarton, aged 26, single and also a hewer in a coalmine.
Three other children were born after the 1911 Census including Sidney Herbert, born on 11th May 1911, Wilhelmina J. (Molly) born 1912 and Barbara J. was born in 1914.
All of Sidney’s children married, except Ernest. Sidney’s children between them produced at least 15 grandchildren for Sidney and Jennie.
Sidney Herbert Mathews enlisted into the army at the Newport Recruiting Office. He was recruited into the 1st Battalion South Wales Borders. He was killed in action on 10th May 1915 and is buried at Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France - Grave Reference:- III C 16. He is also commemorated on the Central Memorial, Bedwellty Park, Tredegar.
In all probability Sidney would have been awarded the three medals affectionately known as ‘Pip, Squeak and Wilfred’ otherwise known as the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
©Wiltshire OPC Project/2015/Teresa Lewis
Sidney Herbert Matthews
1st Bn. South Wales Borderers
10th May 1915, aged 30.
Plot III. C. 16.
Pictures and Text provided by Cheryl Miller
Served with the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers having previously served in Wiltshire Militia.
Sidney was born at Foxham Lock Cottages, Bremhill on 3 April 1885, he was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Matthews (nee Thorne) of Foxham, Bremhill. He had one brother Ernest born in 1887.
The 1891 census shows all four family members listed in Foxham. Jacob was an agricultural labourer aged 24 and born in Foxham, Elizabeth was also aged 24 and born in South Marston, Sidney was at school aged 6 years old and Ernest listed as aged 4. Both children born in Foxham. In 1901 the family without Jacob are listed as living in houses at Foxham Lock, Bremhill Elizabeth is recorded as married so presumably Jacob was working away on the census night. The two boys Sidney and Ernest are listed as agricultural labourers. By 1911 Elizabeth had been widowed and was recorded as visiting (presumably her mother Mary Ann Thorn) at Gorse Hill, Swindon.
Sidney married Jennie Sinclair Anderson on 27th October 1906 at Tredegar Register Office, Tredegar, Monmouthshire. Jennie was born in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland on 8th May, 1892 and died on 16th July 1980. When they married, they lived at 20 Bedwellty Pits, Tredegar and Sidney was a coal miner.
The 1911 Census has the family as living at 26 Upper Coronation Street, Tredegar Monmouthshire. The family consisted of Sidney Herbert aged 26 an hewer in a coal mine, Jennie his wife aged 21, with children St. Clair (daughter) aged 4, Ernest aged 3 and Kenneth aged 1. The two older children were born in Tredegar and the youngest son in Bremhill. Also listed is a lodger, William J. Whale of Hilmarton, aged 26, single and also a hewer in a coalmine.
Three other children were born after the 1911 Census including Sidney Herbert, born on 11th May 1911, Wilhelmina J. (Molly) born 1912 and Barbara J. was born in 1914.
All of Sidney’s children married, except Ernest. Sidney’s children between them produced at least 15 grandchildren for Sidney and Jennie.
Sidney Herbert Mathews enlisted into the army at the Newport Recruiting Office. He was recruited into the 1st Battalion South Wales Borders. He was killed in action on 10th May 1915 and is buried at Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France - Grave Reference:- III C 16. He is also commemorated on the Central Memorial, Bedwellty Park, Tredegar.
In all probability Sidney would have been awarded the three medals affectionately known as ‘Pip, Squeak and Wilfred’ otherwise known as the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
©Wiltshire OPC Project/2015/Teresa Lewis
Lieutenant
Charles Edward Newell
8th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
25th May 1916, aged 19.
Plot III. K. 16
Son of A. C. Newell (late R.M.) and K. M. Newell, of Romanesca, Sandycove, Kingstown, Co. Dublin. Born at Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
Charles Edward Newell
8th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
25th May 1916, aged 19.
Plot III. K. 16
Son of A. C. Newell (late R.M.) and K. M. Newell, of Romanesca, Sandycove, Kingstown, Co. Dublin. Born at Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
50376 Private
James O'Brien
9th Bn. Suffolk Regiment
23rd March 1917
Plot VI. C. 26.
Resided at 40 Hargreaves Street, Colne.
James O'Brien
9th Bn. Suffolk Regiment
23rd March 1917
Plot VI. C. 26.
Resided at 40 Hargreaves Street, Colne.
155926 Lance Corporal
James Tighe
170th Tunnelling Coy. Royal Engineers
25th July 1917, aged 22.
Plot VI. F. 57.
Son of Michael and Maria Tighe, of 39, Lyndhurst Rd., Burnley. His brother John Tighe also fell a fortnight later. He is buried at Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery
Formerly 17588 Scottish Rifles, received serious gunshot wounds on 24th July 1917 and died the following day in hospital.
James Tighe
170th Tunnelling Coy. Royal Engineers
25th July 1917, aged 22.
Plot VI. F. 57.
Son of Michael and Maria Tighe, of 39, Lyndhurst Rd., Burnley. His brother John Tighe also fell a fortnight later. He is buried at Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery
Formerly 17588 Scottish Rifles, received serious gunshot wounds on 24th July 1917 and died the following day in hospital.
17332 Private
George Tipping
9th Bn. Cameronians, (Scottish Rifles)
22nd September 1915, aged 20.
Plot IV. D. 83.
Son of Lawrence and Alice Tipping, of 36, Guy St., Padiham, Lancs.
George Tipping
9th Bn. Cameronians, (Scottish Rifles)
22nd September 1915, aged 20.
Plot IV. D. 83.
Son of Lawrence and Alice Tipping, of 36, Guy St., Padiham, Lancs.
Just 2 of the 17 World War Two Burials in the Cemetery
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
(Click on Headstone for Details)
Shot at Dawn Burials
(Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem)
20101 Private Ernest Bryant, 10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, executed for desertion 27th October 1917, aged 33. Plot VI. H. 3. A gentleman’s servant in civilian life, he was wounded in both legs early in the Somme offensive. On return to his unit, he made off during training exercises, but was arrested 4 days later in Boulogne. On again being returned to his unit, Bryant again absconded just before going into the line. When arrested in Bailleul 9 days later, he gave false particulars of identity. (Putkowski, p 211)
11967 Private R. Morgan, 2nd Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for murder 15th February 1915. Plot IV. A. 17.
12942 Lance Corporal William Price, 2nd Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for murder 15th February 1915, aged 41. Plot IV. A. 18.
On 20 January 1915, the regiment was engaged in digging trenches near Béthune. It was snowing, & the Battalion War Diary records the death of the regimental goat from heart failure. During the evening, Morgan & Price got drunk & shot their Company Sergeant Major. CSM Hayes died the next day: he had enlisted at 14, & seen 18 years’ service, including action in the Boer War. All 3 men, the victim & the murderers, are buried in the same cemetery, the Register giving the cause of death of the victim as ‘accidental injuries’. In 1929, the book ‘Goodbye To All That’ by Robert Graves gives a rather different account but he must have been relying on secondary sources. (Putkowski, pp. 33-34)
11967 Private R. Morgan, 2nd Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for murder 15th February 1915. Plot IV. A. 17.
12942 Lance Corporal William Price, 2nd Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for murder 15th February 1915, aged 41. Plot IV. A. 18.
On 20 January 1915, the regiment was engaged in digging trenches near Béthune. It was snowing, & the Battalion War Diary records the death of the regimental goat from heart failure. During the evening, Morgan & Price got drunk & shot their Company Sergeant Major. CSM Hayes died the next day: he had enlisted at 14, & seen 18 years’ service, including action in the Boer War. All 3 men, the victim & the murderers, are buried in the same cemetery, the Register giving the cause of death of the victim as ‘accidental injuries’. In 1929, the book ‘Goodbye To All That’ by Robert Graves gives a rather different account but he must have been relying on secondary sources. (Putkowski, pp. 33-34)
