BOVES WEST COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 49.84543, Longitude: 2.37994
Location Information
Boves is a village in the Department of the Somme, 8 kilometres south-east of Amiens.
Enter the village of Villers-Bretonneux heading west on the N29 - E44 going towards Amiens-Longueau. 6 kilometres after leaving Villers-Bretonneux turn left in the direction of Boves on the D167, heading south-west. Once on the D167 carry on for 2.4 kilometres. At the crossroads go straight across in the direction of Boves, staying on the D167. Arriving at Boves carry on until the second set of traffic lights and then turn right in the direction of Longueau-Amiens on the D935, then left straight after at the third set of traffic lights in the direction of Cottenchy (D167). At the end of this road, turn right in the direction of Cagny-Amiens on the D116. Carry on for 0.4 kilometres then turn left on the D167 in the direction of Sains. Carry on up a steep hill, where the first CWGC signpost will be seen, and at the top of the hill turn left at the second CWGC signpost, and Boves West Communal Cemetery is on the right hand side.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site make wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Boves has two communal cemeteries, on either side of the river. The 49th Casualty Clearing Station was at Boves from 23 April to the end of August 1918 and the 1st Canadian and 4th Canadian during August 1918. The burials in the two communal cemeteries and the extension to the West cemetery are mainly those of soldiers who died in the three hospitals.
BOVES EAST COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains 15 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 8, Canada 4, Australia 3. Total 15.
BOVES WEST COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains 51 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 12 French graves.
Total Burials: 63.
Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 45, Australia 5, Canada 1. Total 51.
Other Nationalities: France 12.
BOVES WEST COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION was made in August 1918 and after the Armistice, 32 graves were brought into it from Boves Military Cemetery. It now contains 91 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and the grave of one unidentified airman of the Second World War.
The extension was designed by George Hartley Goldsmith
Total Burials: 92.
World War One Identified Casualties: Canada 48, United Kingdom 39, Australia 4. Total 91.
World War Two Unidentified Casualty: 1.
Boves is a village in the Department of the Somme, 8 kilometres south-east of Amiens.
Enter the village of Villers-Bretonneux heading west on the N29 - E44 going towards Amiens-Longueau. 6 kilometres after leaving Villers-Bretonneux turn left in the direction of Boves on the D167, heading south-west. Once on the D167 carry on for 2.4 kilometres. At the crossroads go straight across in the direction of Boves, staying on the D167. Arriving at Boves carry on until the second set of traffic lights and then turn right in the direction of Longueau-Amiens on the D935, then left straight after at the third set of traffic lights in the direction of Cottenchy (D167). At the end of this road, turn right in the direction of Cagny-Amiens on the D116. Carry on for 0.4 kilometres then turn left on the D167 in the direction of Sains. Carry on up a steep hill, where the first CWGC signpost will be seen, and at the top of the hill turn left at the second CWGC signpost, and Boves West Communal Cemetery is on the right hand side.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site make wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Boves has two communal cemeteries, on either side of the river. The 49th Casualty Clearing Station was at Boves from 23 April to the end of August 1918 and the 1st Canadian and 4th Canadian during August 1918. The burials in the two communal cemeteries and the extension to the West cemetery are mainly those of soldiers who died in the three hospitals.
BOVES EAST COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains 15 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 8, Canada 4, Australia 3. Total 15.
BOVES WEST COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains 51 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 12 French graves.
Total Burials: 63.
Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 45, Australia 5, Canada 1. Total 51.
Other Nationalities: France 12.
BOVES WEST COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION was made in August 1918 and after the Armistice, 32 graves were brought into it from Boves Military Cemetery. It now contains 91 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and the grave of one unidentified airman of the Second World War.
The extension was designed by George Hartley Goldsmith
Total Burials: 92.
World War One Identified Casualties: Canada 48, United Kingdom 39, Australia 4. Total 91.
World War Two Unidentified Casualty: 1.
76751 Gunner
Miles Calvert
137th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
24th April 1918, aged 36.
Row C. 10.
Son of Thomas and Mary Calvert, of Burtersett, Hawes, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
Miles Calvert
137th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
24th April 1918, aged 36.
Row C. 10.
Son of Thomas and Mary Calvert, of Burtersett, Hawes, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
Lieutenant
Cecil David Metcalf
7th Bn. London Regiment
20th April 1918, aged 22.
Row B. 16.
Son of Alfred and Eleanor Metcalf, of Cradock, Cape Province, South Africa.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memoriam Much Beloved Son Of A. & E. Metcalf, Of Cradock S. Africa. Killed In Action In France."
Cecil David Metcalf
7th Bn. London Regiment
20th April 1918, aged 22.
Row B. 16.
Son of Alfred and Eleanor Metcalf, of Cradock, Cape Province, South Africa.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memoriam Much Beloved Son Of A. & E. Metcalf, Of Cradock S. Africa. Killed In Action In France."
651105 Private
Melville Douglas Proud
1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade
7th August 1918, aged 23.
Row A. 7.
Son of William J. and Minnie Proud, of Tara, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
Melville Douglas Proud
1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade
7th August 1918, aged 23.
Row A. 7.
Son of William J. and Minnie Proud, of Tara, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
44810 Driver
Charles Sampson Stubbs
"D" Bty. 104th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
4th August 1918.
Row A. 5.
Son of Mr. A. Stubbs, of Meish Farm, Hucknall, Nottingham.
Charles Sampson Stubbs
"D" Bty. 104th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
4th August 1918.
Row A. 5.
Son of Mr. A. Stubbs, of Meish Farm, Hucknall, Nottingham.
285 Driver
Sidney Joseph Woodbury
2nd Bn. Australian Machine Gun Corps
16th April 1918, aged 32.
Row A. 2.
Son of Edwin Joseph and Anna Woodbury; husband of H. H. Woodbury, of "Colebrook," Keir Avenue, Hurlstone Park, New South Wales. Native of Hawkesbury River, New South Wales.
A 29 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 2 April 1915, he embarked for overseas with A Company, 18th Infantry Battalion from Sydney on 25 June 1915 aboard HMAT Ceramic. After serving at Gallipoli, he returned to Egypt where he transferred to the 5th Machine Gun Company and deployed with them in France. He continued to serve with them until he was killed in action near Amiens, France on 16 April 1918.
Sidney Joseph Woodbury
2nd Bn. Australian Machine Gun Corps
16th April 1918, aged 32.
Row A. 2.
Son of Edwin Joseph and Anna Woodbury; husband of H. H. Woodbury, of "Colebrook," Keir Avenue, Hurlstone Park, New South Wales. Native of Hawkesbury River, New South Wales.
A 29 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 2 April 1915, he embarked for overseas with A Company, 18th Infantry Battalion from Sydney on 25 June 1915 aboard HMAT Ceramic. After serving at Gallipoli, he returned to Egypt where he transferred to the 5th Machine Gun Company and deployed with them in France. He continued to serve with them until he was killed in action near Amiens, France on 16 April 1918.
A French naval gun mounted on an armoured train in action near Boves, 5 April 1918. © IWM (Q 11580)
British troops examining a French limber and its horse team after being caught by a German shell on a road near Boves, 6 April 1918. © IWM Q 11581
Amiens, France. 21 June 1918. The Amiens Cathedral viewed from the north. Towering above the city it was a landmark which could be seen for many miles and was used by the enemy as an aiming point for his shelling of Amiens.
Battle of Amiens. German prisoners arriving at a temporary POW camp near Amiens, 9 August 1918. © IWM Q 9193
