BOUZINCOURT RIDGE CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.02197, Longitude: 2.6372
Location Information
Bouzincourt is a village 3 kilometres north-west of Albert on the D938 road to Doullens. The Cemetery is east of the village.
In the centre of Bouzincourt take the direction for Aveluy (D20) and the Cemetery is signposted. Approximately 1.5 kilometres along the D20 road there is a track leading to the cemetery, which is approximately 500 metres along this track and is unsuitable for cars.
Historical Information
Bouzincourt remained partly in German hands after the battles of March 1918. The eastern end of the village was attacked by the 12th and 18th Divisions at the end of June 1918, and cleared in the latter half of August. In the first week of September, Plot I of Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery was made by the V Corps Burial Officer, who cleared the battlefields and the remaining Plots were formed after the Armistice when 500 graves were brought in from the immediate neighbourhood.
Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery now contains 711 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 313 of the burials are are unidentified and there is a special memorial to an officer of the 38th Division known to be buried in one of them.
Total Burials: 711.
Identified Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 370, Australia 24, Canada 2. Total 396.
Unidentified Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 298, Australia 11, Canada 4. Total 313.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Arthur James Scott Hutton
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Lieutenant Colonel
John Stanhope Collings-Wells, V. C., D. S. O., Mentioned in Despatches
4th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
killed in action 27th March 1918, aged 38.
Plot III. E. 12.
Son of Arthur and Caroline Mary Collings-Wells, of Brand's House, Hughenden, High Wycombe, Bucks.
His headstone bears the inscription In Proud And Loving Memory "I Am The Resurrection And The Life That Believeth In Me Though He Were Dead Yet Shall He Live"
Citation:
An extract from The London Gazette, dated 23rd April, 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery, skilful leading and handling of his battalion in very critical situations during a withdrawal. When the rearguard was almost surrounded and in great danger of being captured, Lieutenant Colonel Collings-Wells, realising the situation, called for volunteers to remain behind and hold up the enemy whilst the remainder of the rearguard withdrew, and with his small body of volunteers held them up for one and half hours until they had expended every round of ammunition. During this time he moved freely amongst his men guiding and encouraging them, and by his great courage undoubtedly saved the situation. On a subsequent occasion, when his battalion was ordered to carry out a counter-attack, he showed the greatest bravery. Knowing that his men were extremely tired after six days' fighting, he placed himself in front and led the attack, and even when twice wounded refused to leave them but continued to lead and encourage his men until he was killed at the moment of gaining their objective. The successful results of the operations were, without doubt, due to the undaunted courage exhibited by this officer."
Headstone
Picture © Geerhard Joos
785 Private
Victor Andrew Anderson
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th August 1916, aged 22.
Plot I. B. 2.
Inscription "For Ever with The Lord"
Son of Jorgen Anderson, of Boundary Rd., Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia. Born in Melbourne.
Pte Anderson enlisted on 27 March 1915 and was killed in action on 26 August 1916 at Albert in France.
Victor Andrew Anderson
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th August 1916, aged 22.
Plot I. B. 2.
Inscription "For Ever with The Lord"
Son of Jorgen Anderson, of Boundary Rd., Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia. Born in Melbourne.
Pte Anderson enlisted on 27 March 1915 and was killed in action on 26 August 1916 at Albert in France.
Private 4469
Thomas Richard Carroll
52nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th September 1916, aged 23.
Plot I. G. 3.
Inscription "Have Mercy Upon Him Lord And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him"
Son of Thomas John and the late Frances Carroll. Born at Irish Town, Australia.
Pte Carroll enlisted on 9 October 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Warilda on 8 February 1916. On 4 September 1916 he was killed in action at Mouquet Farm in the Pozieres area of France, while serving with the 52nd Battalion. His brother, 4469 Thomas Richard Carroll, 12th and later the 52nd Battalion, was also killed in action at Mouquet Farm on 4 September 1916 and he is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
Thomas Richard Carroll
52nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th September 1916, aged 23.
Plot I. G. 3.
Inscription "Have Mercy Upon Him Lord And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him"
Son of Thomas John and the late Frances Carroll. Born at Irish Town, Australia.
Pte Carroll enlisted on 9 October 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Warilda on 8 February 1916. On 4 September 1916 he was killed in action at Mouquet Farm in the Pozieres area of France, while serving with the 52nd Battalion. His brother, 4469 Thomas Richard Carroll, 12th and later the 52nd Battalion, was also killed in action at Mouquet Farm on 4 September 1916 and he is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
70159 Private
James Edmundson
21st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
21st August 1918, aged 34.
Plot II. Q. 17.
Son of Mr & Mrs Edmundson, Britannia Inn, Guy Street, Padiham, Lancashire.
Lived at Harle Syke, Burnley with his wife and two children.
Enlisted in June 1916, prior to this he had been working as a weaver at Thornton and Co's. Mill, Harle Syke, Burnley. He initially joined the East Lancashire Regiment but after being invalided home with septic poisoning he went back out with the Cheshire Regiment, whilst with the Cheshires he was injured by shrapnel and sent home, he then was transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
James Edmundson
21st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
21st August 1918, aged 34.
Plot II. Q. 17.
Son of Mr & Mrs Edmundson, Britannia Inn, Guy Street, Padiham, Lancashire.
Lived at Harle Syke, Burnley with his wife and two children.
Enlisted in June 1916, prior to this he had been working as a weaver at Thornton and Co's. Mill, Harle Syke, Burnley. He initially joined the East Lancashire Regiment but after being invalided home with septic poisoning he went back out with the Cheshire Regiment, whilst with the Cheshires he was injured by shrapnel and sent home, he then was transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Captain
Ralph Ratnevelo Raymond Ekin-Smyth
52nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 41.
Plot III. G. 8.
Inscription "He did His Duty With Singleness Of Heart"
Son of Thomas G. and Mary J. Ekin Smyth; husband of Hilda M. Ekin Smyth, of Ranelagh St., Woodville Park, South Australia. Born in London, England.
Served in the Garrison Artillery, Infantry and Instructional Corps in South Australia for a total of 24 years in Citizen Forces before his service in France with the 52nd Battalion.
Ralph Ratnevelo Raymond Ekin-Smyth
52nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 41.
Plot III. G. 8.
Inscription "He did His Duty With Singleness Of Heart"
Son of Thomas G. and Mary J. Ekin Smyth; husband of Hilda M. Ekin Smyth, of Ranelagh St., Woodville Park, South Australia. Born in London, England.
Served in the Garrison Artillery, Infantry and Instructional Corps in South Australia for a total of 24 years in Citizen Forces before his service in France with the 52nd Battalion.
Group portrait of officers of the 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, after their return from fighting at Thiepval, photographed at Bouzincourt, September 1916. © IWM (Q 1151)
42147 Private
Walter Dean Heathcote
9th Bn. Essex Regiment
5th April 1918
Plot II. P. 11
Pte. Heathcote was killed near Senlis Mill on 5th April 1918 and was buried at Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery. This information is provided by his niece who did not know her uncle but well remembers the on-going grief suffered by her mother (Mrs M. Stapleton) - sister of Pte. Heathcote. Walter and his sister were born and lived in Brighton, Sussex. His name is recorded on the Steine war memorial in Brighton.
Picture courtesy of niece, Rosemary Tracey
Walter Dean Heathcote
9th Bn. Essex Regiment
5th April 1918
Plot II. P. 11
Pte. Heathcote was killed near Senlis Mill on 5th April 1918 and was buried at Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery. This information is provided by his niece who did not know her uncle but well remembers the on-going grief suffered by her mother (Mrs M. Stapleton) - sister of Pte. Heathcote. Walter and his sister were born and lived in Brighton, Sussex. His name is recorded on the Steine war memorial in Brighton.
Picture courtesy of niece, Rosemary Tracey
Captain
Daniel McCallum
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 23.
Plot III. F. 4.
Inscription "Sleep On Dear In Thy Silent Grave Loved By Those You Died To Save"
Son of Daniel and Annie L. McCallum, of Trayning, Western Australia. Born at Bendigo, Victoria.
Killed in action on 3 September 1916 during an attack on the enemy at Mouquet Farm in the Pozieres Area.
Daniel McCallum
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 23.
Plot III. F. 4.
Inscription "Sleep On Dear In Thy Silent Grave Loved By Those You Died To Save"
Son of Daniel and Annie L. McCallum, of Trayning, Western Australia. Born at Bendigo, Victoria.
Killed in action on 3 September 1916 during an attack on the enemy at Mouquet Farm in the Pozieres Area.
240788 Corporal
Thomas Povah
17th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in Action 19th May 1918, aged 21.
Plot II. N. 18.
Son of T. J. and Annie Povah, of 30, Victoria Rd., Rhyl, Flints.
Remembered
Picture courtesy of Derek Povah (Great Nephew)
Thomas Povah
17th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in Action 19th May 1918, aged 21.
Plot II. N. 18.
Son of T. J. and Annie Povah, of 30, Victoria Rd., Rhyl, Flints.
Remembered
Picture courtesy of Derek Povah (Great Nephew)
Second Lieutenant
Ernest George Smythe
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 24.
Plot IV. E. 2.
Inscription "A Beautiful Life Closed He Lived And Died For Others"
Son of John William and Edith Smythe, of Lock St., Claremont, Western Australia.
Studio portrait of 836 Sergeant (Sgt) Ernest George Smythe, 51st Battalion, of Northam, WA. A clerk prior to enlisting in September 1914 he embarked, as a member of the 11th Battalion, on board HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 2 November 1914. Pte Smythe was wounded in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Shortly after rejoining his unit in July 1915, he was promoted to Temporary Corporal, and in December to Corporal (Cpl). Cpl Smythe was transferred to the 51st Battalion and promoted to Sergeant in March 1916. He arrived in France with the 51st Battalion and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) in August. 2nd Lt Smythe was killed in action at Mouquet Farm, Pozieres on 3 September 1916. He was 24 years of age.
Ernest George Smythe
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 24.
Plot IV. E. 2.
Inscription "A Beautiful Life Closed He Lived And Died For Others"
Son of John William and Edith Smythe, of Lock St., Claremont, Western Australia.
Studio portrait of 836 Sergeant (Sgt) Ernest George Smythe, 51st Battalion, of Northam, WA. A clerk prior to enlisting in September 1914 he embarked, as a member of the 11th Battalion, on board HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 2 November 1914. Pte Smythe was wounded in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Shortly after rejoining his unit in July 1915, he was promoted to Temporary Corporal, and in December to Corporal (Cpl). Cpl Smythe was transferred to the 51st Battalion and promoted to Sergeant in March 1916. He arrived in France with the 51st Battalion and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) in August. 2nd Lt Smythe was killed in action at Mouquet Farm, Pozieres on 3 September 1916. He was 24 years of age.
201800 Private
William Henry Threlfall
2nd Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
24th August 1918, aged 29.
Plot II. Q. 15.
Husband of Minnie Threlfall, of 19, King's Terrace, Burnley.
William enlisted on May 17th, 1916 having previously worked as a weaver for Messrs. Whitehead and Leaver. He had been overseas since June 13th, 1917. His wife, Minnie received news of his death from one of his friends in the battalion;
"He was on a night stunt, and when they called the roll next morning he was not there. I and a lad from Waterfoot could not rest, so we went over the ground to look for him, and found him, to our sorrow, dead."
William Henry Threlfall
2nd Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
24th August 1918, aged 29.
Plot II. Q. 15.
Husband of Minnie Threlfall, of 19, King's Terrace, Burnley.
William enlisted on May 17th, 1916 having previously worked as a weaver for Messrs. Whitehead and Leaver. He had been overseas since June 13th, 1917. His wife, Minnie received news of his death from one of his friends in the battalion;
"He was on a night stunt, and when they called the roll next morning he was not there. I and a lad from Waterfoot could not rest, so we went over the ground to look for him, and found him, to our sorrow, dead."
Party of the 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, wearing German helmets, after their return from the fighting at Thiepval. Bouzincourt, September 1916. © IWM (Q 1103)
The ruined gateway at the entrance of the churchyard in Bouzincourt, Somme, seen in October 1916. The British soldier carries a German rifle. © IWM (Q 1542)
German prisoners, some of them wounded, and British infantrymen resting on the roadside in Bouzincourt, 26 March 1918. © IWM Q 8634
1960 - ©CWGC
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
