BEUVRY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.52312 Longitude: 2.67806
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Beuvry is a town in the Pas de Calais, approximately 3 kilometres east of Bethune.
The Communal Cemetery is 200 metres north of the church on Rue Edouart Vallant, and the Extension is situated to the left of the Communal Cemetery.
Historical Information
Beuvry village was largely occupied during the War by Royal Engineers, Supply units and Artillery horse-lines. It remained in British possession even during the German offensive of April, 1918.
The Cemetery Extension was begun in March, 1916, and used by units and field ambulances until October, 1918. After the Armistice graves were concentrated into it from the battlefields of 1914-18, North and East of Bethune. The Extension covers an area of 846 square metres and is enclosed on two sides by a rubble wall.
There are now 206 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-18 war, 32 being unidentified, commemorated here. There are a further 18 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-45 war commemorated in this site. There is 1 unidentified French soldier of the 1914-18 war buried here.
The burials in the adjacent Communal Cemetery are subject to a separate register entry.
Total Burials: 225.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 172, South Africa 2. Total 174.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: 33.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 18.
The extension was designed by Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, M. C.
Shot at Dawn
25531 Private James Archibald, 17th Bn. Royal Scots, executed for desertion 4th June 1916, aged 20. plot 2. D. 15. Brother of Mrs. E. Gray, of 9, Rosevale Place, Leith, Edinburgh.
He joined up in June 1915, arriving in France in Jan 1916. On 14 May 1916, near Richebourg, his battalion was due to go in the line that night, Archibald to be posted as a sentry. He went missing from the march, & was found the following afternoon in a barn some distance behind the line, asleep & without his equipment.
At trial on 24 May, Archibald made a statement (not on oath) saying: ‘When I was marching along….I felt queer,& do not remember anything until I found myself near a barn’, adding that he had laid himself down inside — where he was awoken the next day.
On his conduct sheet, there was a sentence on 25 April of 28 days’ Field Punishment No 1 for ‘neglect of duty in the trenches’. His CO considered him ‘a typical slum product of a low level of intelligence’; & no mercy was suggested at any stage thereafter. Archibald was the first Bantam soldier to be executed. (Corns, pp 150-151)
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
107894 Lieutenant Edward Smith, V. C., D. C. M. (Both medals were awarded during World War One)
2nd Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, died 12th January 1940, aged 41. Plot I. B. 7.
Native of Maryport, Cumberland.
Citation; The following details were given in the London Gazette supplement of October 18th, 1918. Sjt. Edward Smith, D.C.M., Lancashire Fusiliers, while in command of a platoon, personally took a machine gun post with rifle and bayonet, killing at least six of the enemy, regardless of the hand grenades they flung at him. Later he led his men to the assistance of another platoon he saw in difficulties, took command, and captured the objective. During the counter attack next day he led forward a section and restored a portion of the line. His personal bravery, skill and initiative were outstanding, and his conduct throughout an inspiring example to all.
2nd Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, died 12th January 1940, aged 41. Plot I. B. 7.
Native of Maryport, Cumberland.
Citation; The following details were given in the London Gazette supplement of October 18th, 1918. Sjt. Edward Smith, D.C.M., Lancashire Fusiliers, while in command of a platoon, personally took a machine gun post with rifle and bayonet, killing at least six of the enemy, regardless of the hand grenades they flung at him. Later he led his men to the assistance of another platoon he saw in difficulties, took command, and captured the objective. During the counter attack next day he led forward a section and restored a portion of the line. His personal bravery, skill and initiative were outstanding, and his conduct throughout an inspiring example to all.
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
15827 Private
Howard Corfield
1st/5th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
12th May 1918
Plot III. C. 23.
Brother of Mr. H. N. Corfield, of 85, Church Lane, Tipton, Staffs.
Howard Corfield
1st/5th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
12th May 1918
Plot III. C. 23.
Brother of Mr. H. N. Corfield, of 85, Church Lane, Tipton, Staffs.
Lieutenant
Urpeth Rastrick
2nd Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment
14th December 1914, aged 25.
Plot III. D. 2.
Son of the late George Rastrick, of Woking Lodge, Woking, Surrey.
Urpeth Rastrick
2nd Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment
14th December 1914, aged 25.
Plot III. D. 2.
Son of the late George Rastrick, of Woking Lodge, Woking, Surrey.
1233 Lance Corporal
Edward Thomas White (Known as Jack)
17th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
27th June 1917.
Plot I. A. 11.
Son of Mr. E. White, of 10, Windermere Rd., Addiscombe, Croydon.
Edward Thomas White (Known as Jack)
17th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
27th June 1917.
Plot I. A. 11.
Son of Mr. E. White, of 10, Windermere Rd., Addiscombe, Croydon.
Troops of various regiments (Royal Field Artillery, Royal Fusiliers) fishing in the La Bassee Canal, near Beuvry, 27 June 1917. © IWM (Q 5535C)
British soldier laying flat on a 'camouflage-screened' road at Beuvry, 16 July 1918. © IWM (Q 11079)
