BORRE BRITISH CEMETERY
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.73005 Longitude: 2.58317
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Borre is a village 3 kilometres east of Hazebrouck on the D642.
On reaching the village, turn right just before the church on the road signposted Sec Bois. The cemetery is 120 metres from the junction on the right hand side.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the lower parts of the site is possible by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
The cemetery was used from May to September 1918 by field ambulances and fighting Units, particularly those of the 1st Australian Division, during the interval between the German and Allied offensives of that year.
The cemetery now contains 367 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and three German war graves. There are also five burials of the Second World War.
Total Burials: 373.
World War One Identified Casualties: Australia 235, United Kingdom 126, Germany 3. Total 364.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 4. Total 4.
World War Two Unidentified Casualty: 1. Total 1.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and George Hartley Goldsmith
Borre is a village 3 kilometres east of Hazebrouck on the D642.
On reaching the village, turn right just before the church on the road signposted Sec Bois. The cemetery is 120 metres from the junction on the right hand side.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the lower parts of the site is possible by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
The cemetery was used from May to September 1918 by field ambulances and fighting Units, particularly those of the 1st Australian Division, during the interval between the German and Allied offensives of that year.
The cemetery now contains 367 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and three German war graves. There are also five burials of the Second World War.
Total Burials: 373.
World War One Identified Casualties: Australia 235, United Kingdom 126, Germany 3. Total 364.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 4. Total 4.
World War Two Unidentified Casualty: 1. Total 1.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and George Hartley Goldsmith
Cemetery images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
7454 Private
Archibald John Brien
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
Between 06/06/1918 and 07/06/1918, aged 20.
Plot II. A. 29.
Son of John R. and Annie E. Brien, of Yering, Victoria, Australia; native of Box Hill, Victoria.]
A farmer of Croydon, Victoria prior to enlistment, he embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles on 4 August 1917 for Glasgow, Scotland. Following training in England, he joined his unit on the Western Front, France, on 10 February 1918. Pte Brien was killed in action near Strazeele, France, on 6-7 June 1916 and was buried in the Borre British Cemetery, France. He was aged 20 years.
Archibald John Brien
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
Between 06/06/1918 and 07/06/1918, aged 20.
Plot II. A. 29.
Son of John R. and Annie E. Brien, of Yering, Victoria, Australia; native of Box Hill, Victoria.]
A farmer of Croydon, Victoria prior to enlistment, he embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles on 4 August 1917 for Glasgow, Scotland. Following training in England, he joined his unit on the Western Front, France, on 10 February 1918. Pte Brien was killed in action near Strazeele, France, on 6-7 June 1916 and was buried in the Borre British Cemetery, France. He was aged 20 years.
6969 Private
Clarence John Butterworth
12th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
30th May 1918, aged 32.
Plot I. D. 15.
Son of Thomas and Louisa L. Butterworth, of Houghton, Glenorchy, Tasmania.
An orchardist prior to enlistment, Pte Butterworth embarked from Melbourne with the 12th Battalion aboard HMAT Persic on 22 December 1916. After undertaking further training at Durrington, England, he proceeded to France in June 1917. Moving with his unit to Belgium later the same year, Pte Butterworth was wounded in action by gun shot wounds to the back in October 1917. After receiving treatment in France he rejoined his unit in March 1918. Pte Butterworth was killed in action on 30 May 1918, aged 32.
Clarence John Butterworth
12th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
30th May 1918, aged 32.
Plot I. D. 15.
Son of Thomas and Louisa L. Butterworth, of Houghton, Glenorchy, Tasmania.
An orchardist prior to enlistment, Pte Butterworth embarked from Melbourne with the 12th Battalion aboard HMAT Persic on 22 December 1916. After undertaking further training at Durrington, England, he proceeded to France in June 1917. Moving with his unit to Belgium later the same year, Pte Butterworth was wounded in action by gun shot wounds to the back in October 1917. After receiving treatment in France he rejoined his unit in March 1918. Pte Butterworth was killed in action on 30 May 1918, aged 32.
18927 Sapper
Frank Theodore Byrne
3rd Field Coy. Australian Engineers
17th May 1918
Plot I. D. 6.
Son of the late James and Mary Byrne, of Tamworth, New South Wales.
From Tamworth, NSW. Spr Byrne enlisted on 30 March 1917 and was killed in action on 17 May 1918.
Frank Theodore Byrne
3rd Field Coy. Australian Engineers
17th May 1918
Plot I. D. 6.
Son of the late James and Mary Byrne, of Tamworth, New South Wales.
From Tamworth, NSW. Spr Byrne enlisted on 30 March 1917 and was killed in action on 17 May 1918.
6250 Private
Harold Hinds De La Rue
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
17th May 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. D. 3.
Son of James and Annie De La Rue, of Birregurra, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Gave And The Lord Hath Taken Away"
A farm worker prior to enlistment, Private De La Rue enlisted on 28 April 1915, and embarked with the 20th reinforcements, 7th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT A14 Euripides on 11 September 1916. He was wounded in action, and died on 17 May 1918.
Picture of Harold courtesy of his Nephew Keith De La Rue
Harold Hinds De La Rue
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
17th May 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. D. 3.
Son of James and Annie De La Rue, of Birregurra, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Gave And The Lord Hath Taken Away"
A farm worker prior to enlistment, Private De La Rue enlisted on 28 April 1915, and embarked with the 20th reinforcements, 7th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT A14 Euripides on 11 September 1916. He was wounded in action, and died on 17 May 1918.
Picture of Harold courtesy of his Nephew Keith De La Rue
26395 Sergeant
Harry Lovell Fynmore
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th June 1918, aged 27.
Plot II. A. 28.
Son of Frank and Henrietta Fynmore, of 85, Darling Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
Harry Lovell Fynmore, 7th Battalion. A clerk from Moonee Ponds, Vic prior to enlistment, Sgt Fynmore embarked with the rank of Private with the 6th Reinforcements, 24th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 27 October 1915. Later promoted to Corporal, he was wounded in action before transferring firstly to the 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery and then to the 7th Battalion.
On 13 June 1918 he was killed in action, aged 27, and was buried in the Borre British Cemetery, France. His younger brother 628 Private Leslie Haliburton Fynmore, 21st Battalion, had previously been also killed in action.
Harry Lovell Fynmore
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th June 1918, aged 27.
Plot II. A. 28.
Son of Frank and Henrietta Fynmore, of 85, Darling Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
Harry Lovell Fynmore, 7th Battalion. A clerk from Moonee Ponds, Vic prior to enlistment, Sgt Fynmore embarked with the rank of Private with the 6th Reinforcements, 24th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 27 October 1915. Later promoted to Corporal, he was wounded in action before transferring firstly to the 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery and then to the 7th Battalion.
On 13 June 1918 he was killed in action, aged 27, and was buried in the Borre British Cemetery, France. His younger brother 628 Private Leslie Haliburton Fynmore, 21st Battalion, had previously been also killed in action.
32690 Private
Charles Harris
13th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment.
18th July 1918, aged 40.
Plot II. D. 12.
Son of John and Jane Harris, of 1, Bodkin Row, Spring Gardens, Shrewsbury; husband of Elizabeth Harris, of 21 Crewe Street, Shrewsbury.
Pictures courtesy of Philip Morris of Shrewsbury
Charles Harris
13th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment.
18th July 1918, aged 40.
Plot II. D. 12.
Son of John and Jane Harris, of 1, Bodkin Row, Spring Gardens, Shrewsbury; husband of Elizabeth Harris, of 21 Crewe Street, Shrewsbury.
Pictures courtesy of Philip Morris of Shrewsbury
1044A Private
Arthur Harold Hecker
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
2nd August 1918
Plot II. F. 15.
A labourer from Bendigo, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Hecker embarked with C Company from Melbourne on HMAT Runic on 20 June 1916. Later transferring to the 7th Battalion with the service number 1044A, he was wounded in action. On 2 August 1918 he succumbed to his wounds and was buried in the Borre British Cemetery, France.
Arthur Harold Hecker
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
2nd August 1918
Plot II. F. 15.
A labourer from Bendigo, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Hecker embarked with C Company from Melbourne on HMAT Runic on 20 June 1916. Later transferring to the 7th Battalion with the service number 1044A, he was wounded in action. On 2 August 1918 he succumbed to his wounds and was buried in the Borre British Cemetery, France.
7537 Private
James Archibald Peoples
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
25th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. A. 25.
Son of Barnard and Flora Peoples, of Dimboola, Victoria, Australia. Native of Wallacetown, Allandale, Victoria.
A labourer from Dimboola, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Peoples embarked with the 25th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles on 4 August 1917. On 25 April 1918 he was killed in action in France, aged 23.
James Archibald Peoples
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
25th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. A. 25.
Son of Barnard and Flora Peoples, of Dimboola, Victoria, Australia. Native of Wallacetown, Allandale, Victoria.
A labourer from Dimboola, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Peoples embarked with the 25th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles on 4 August 1917. On 25 April 1918 he was killed in action in France, aged 23.
7309 Private
Walter William Prideaux
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th June 1918, aged 21.
Plot II. B. 21.
Son of Frederick and Martha Prideaux, of High Street, Charters Towers, Queensland. Native of Duaringa, via Rockhampton, Queensland.
of Rockhampton, Qld. A draper prior to enlistment he embarked from Sydney, NSW with the 24th Reinforcements on board HMAT Ayshire (A33) on 24 January 1917. Pte. Prideaux was killed in action 20th June 1918, aged 21.
Walter William Prideaux
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th June 1918, aged 21.
Plot II. B. 21.
Son of Frederick and Martha Prideaux, of High Street, Charters Towers, Queensland. Native of Duaringa, via Rockhampton, Queensland.
of Rockhampton, Qld. A draper prior to enlistment he embarked from Sydney, NSW with the 24th Reinforcements on board HMAT Ayshire (A33) on 24 January 1917. Pte. Prideaux was killed in action 20th June 1918, aged 21.
7578 Private
Henry Sumpter
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
11th July 1918, aged 35.
Plot II. D. 6.
Native of Northampton, England. Son of William and Sarah Sumpter; husband of Rose Annie Sumpter, of "Roseville," Pointnepean Road, Gardenvale, Victoria, Australia.
Henry Sumpter
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
11th July 1918, aged 35.
Plot II. D. 6.
Native of Northampton, England. Son of William and Sarah Sumpter; husband of Rose Annie Sumpter, of "Roseville," Pointnepean Road, Gardenvale, Victoria, Australia.
6995 Sapper
David John Thomas
3rd Field Coy. Australian Engineers
30th May 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. D. 11.
Son of David and Catherine Thomas, of Sandy Creek, Barellan, New South Wales. Native of Narrandera, New South Wales.
From Narrandera, NSW. A customs collector prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 16th Reinforcements from Sydney aboard SS Makarini on 1 April 1916. Later transferring to the 3rd Field Company Engineers, Spr Thomas was killed in action on 30 May 1918, aged 23.
David Thomas was killed by shell fire at Strazeele. While wiring in No Man's Land a salvo of shells were fired by the enemy instantly killing Private Thomas and two other men, a number of other men were badly wounded by the blast.
David John Thomas
3rd Field Coy. Australian Engineers
30th May 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. D. 11.
Son of David and Catherine Thomas, of Sandy Creek, Barellan, New South Wales. Native of Narrandera, New South Wales.
From Narrandera, NSW. A customs collector prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 16th Reinforcements from Sydney aboard SS Makarini on 1 April 1916. Later transferring to the 3rd Field Company Engineers, Spr Thomas was killed in action on 30 May 1918, aged 23.
David Thomas was killed by shell fire at Strazeele. While wiring in No Man's Land a salvo of shells were fired by the enemy instantly killing Private Thomas and two other men, a number of other men were badly wounded by the blast.
2042 Private
Edgar Reynold Townsend
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
11th July 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 4.
Son of George and Mary Jane, Townsend, of Creswick, Victoria, Australia.
Edgar Reynold Townsend, 6th Battalion from Creswick, Victoria. An 18 year old blacksmith prior to enlisting on 6 January 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 5th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 17 April 1915 aboard HMAT Hororata.
While serving with the 6th Battalion at Gallipoli, he was wounded in action and repatriated to England for medical treatment. After recovering from his wounds, he re-joined the battalion in France where he was killed in action on 11 July 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.
Edgar Reynold Townsend
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
11th July 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 4.
Son of George and Mary Jane, Townsend, of Creswick, Victoria, Australia.
Edgar Reynold Townsend, 6th Battalion from Creswick, Victoria. An 18 year old blacksmith prior to enlisting on 6 January 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 5th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 17 April 1915 aboard HMAT Hororata.
While serving with the 6th Battalion at Gallipoli, he was wounded in action and repatriated to England for medical treatment. After recovering from his wounds, he re-joined the battalion in France where he was killed in action on 11 July 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.
Shot at Dawn
44174 Private William Scholes, 2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers, executed for desertion 10th August 1918, aged 25. Plot II. G. 11. Son of Mary Ann and the late Job Scholes. He was already serving under a suspended sentence of death for desertion when he repeated the offence, allegedly as a protest at the small allowance paid to his widowed mother for whom he was the sole support. The chosen inscription on his headstone suggests that she was deceived as to the true cause of death. (Putkowski, p. 253)
44174 Private William Scholes, 2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers, executed for desertion 10th August 1918, aged 25. Plot II. G. 11. Son of Mary Ann and the late Job Scholes. He was already serving under a suspended sentence of death for desertion when he repeated the offence, allegedly as a protest at the small allowance paid to his widowed mother for whom he was the sole support. The chosen inscription on his headstone suggests that she was deceived as to the true cause of death. (Putkowski, p. 253)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
July 1918: Front view of a derelict railway engine near Borre in France. It was in this area that the first Australian Division checked the German thrust towards Hazebrouck in April 1918. Note the writing on the engine, some of it reads: 'Leave Train, 1st Australian Division, No. Staff, Men Only, Fast Route', Red Tape. Also the writing on the two funnels which reads: Driver Lloyd George, Fireman Billy Hughes.
The Five World War Two Burials
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
5383780 Private Claude Victor Byford, 1st Bucks Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, died 27th May 1940, aged 19. Son of Claude George and Emily Byford, of Finsbury Park, Middlesex. Inscription "Sleep on beloved"
892313 Gunner George William Dunphy, 98 (The Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry), Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died between 25th May 1940 and 27 May 1940.
2193676 Sapper Henry Richards, 58 Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers, died 30th May 1940, aged 21. Son of Henry and Mary Richards; stepson of James Hacking, of Blackburn, Lancashire. Inscription " O Lamb of God: That takest away the sins of the world; Have mercy upon him"
129053 Flying Officer Claude Alain Marie Andre Schmitz, Pilot in 64 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1944, aged 24. Son of Marcel and Emmy Schmitz, of Brussels, Belgium. Inscription "Mort pour la Belgique "Patria Memor"
892313 Gunner George William Dunphy, 98 (The Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry), Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died between 25th May 1940 and 27 May 1940.
2193676 Sapper Henry Richards, 58 Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers, died 30th May 1940, aged 21. Son of Henry and Mary Richards; stepson of James Hacking, of Blackburn, Lancashire. Inscription " O Lamb of God: That takest away the sins of the world; Have mercy upon him"
129053 Flying Officer Claude Alain Marie Andre Schmitz, Pilot in 64 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1944, aged 24. Son of Marcel and Emmy Schmitz, of Brussels, Belgium. Inscription "Mort pour la Belgique "Patria Memor"
