BRAINE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Aisne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.3431, Longitude: 3.53586
Location Information
Braine is a small town 18 kilometres east of Soisson and 9 kilometres south of Vailly-sur-Aisne, and the Communal Cemetery is located on the north side of the town.
The town of Braine can be reached from the direction of Vailly-sur-Aisne via the D14. Following the D14 will take you through the village of Chassemy. After several kilometres of scenic road the town of Braine can be seen. On arriving at Braine, via the street called Avenue Du President JF Kennedy, turn left onto the D1320, Boulevard Des Danois. After 300 metres the cemetery will be found on the left side of the road.
Within the cemetery the Commonwealth War Graves Plot will be found at the front right side of the cemetery.
Historical Information
Braine was captured by dismounted units of the 1st Cavalry Brigade on 12 September 1914 and No. 5. Casualty Clearing Station was then posted in the town. It was retaken by the Germans on 28 May 1918 and recovered in the following July.
Braine Communal Cemetery contains 78 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War, all dating from September and October 1914. 68 of the casualties are named on special memorials because the exact positions of their graves in the Commonwealth plot are not known.
Total Burials: United Kingdom 78.
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Captain
Harry Sherwood Ranken, V. C. (Mentioned in Despatches)
Royal Army Medical Corps
died of wounds 25th September 1914, aged 31.
Row A. 43.
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France), for gallant conduct during the operations from 21st to 30th August 1914.
Son of the Rev. Henry Ranken and Helen Morton Ranken, of The Manse, Irvine, Ayrshire. Native of Glasgow.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 28976, dated 13th Nov., 1914, records the following: "For tending wounded in the trenches under rifle and shrapnel fire at Hautevesnes on 19th September and on 20th September continuing to attend to wounded after his thigh and leg had been shattered. (He has since died of wounds.)"
Harry Sherwood Ranken, V. C. (Mentioned in Despatches)
Royal Army Medical Corps
died of wounds 25th September 1914, aged 31.
Row A. 43.
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France), for gallant conduct during the operations from 21st to 30th August 1914.
Son of the Rev. Henry Ranken and Helen Morton Ranken, of The Manse, Irvine, Ayrshire. Native of Glasgow.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 28976, dated 13th Nov., 1914, records the following: "For tending wounded in the trenches under rifle and shrapnel fire at Hautevesnes on 19th September and on 20th September continuing to attend to wounded after his thigh and leg had been shattered. (He has since died of wounds.)"
Captain Harry Sherwood Ranken, V. C. (Mentioned in Despatches)
Royal Army Medical Corps
Died of wounds 25th September 1914, aged 31.
Row A. 43.
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France), for gallant conduct during the operations from 21st to 30th August 1914.
Son of the Rev. Henry Ranken and Helen Morton Ranken, of The Manse, Irvine, Ayrshire. Native of Glasgow.
His headstone bears the inscription La Legion D'Honneur "Fallen To Rise Baffled To Fight Better Sleeps To Wake"
Citation:
An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 28976, dated 13th Nov., 1914, records the following: "For tending wounded in the trenches under rifle and shrapnel fire at Hautevesnes on 19th September and on 20th September continuing to attend to wounded after his thigh and leg had been shattered. (He has since died of wounds.)"
Headstone
Lieutenant
John Cusack Forsyth, Mentioned in Despatches
Adjt. 23rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
22nd September 1914, aged 31.
Plot B. 8/9. (Sp. Mem.)
Son of the late Colonel F. A. Forsyth, late 5th Fusiliers.
John Cusack Forsyth, Mentioned in Despatches
Adjt. 23rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
22nd September 1914, aged 31.
Plot B. 8/9. (Sp. Mem.)
Son of the late Colonel F. A. Forsyth, late 5th Fusiliers.
Captain
Arthur Kyrke Kyrke-Smith
1st Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
23rd September 1914, aged 36.
Plot A. 24.
Son of the late Henry Kyrke-Smith, of Liverpool; husband of Catherine Mabel Kyrke-Smith, of Fishers' Way, Walberswick, Suffolk
Arthur Kyrke Kyrke-Smith
1st Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
23rd September 1914, aged 36.
Plot A. 24.
Son of the late Henry Kyrke-Smith, of Liverpool; husband of Catherine Mabel Kyrke-Smith, of Fishers' Way, Walberswick, Suffolk
Captain
Julian Alan Spencer Mitchell
3rd Bn. attd.1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
28th September 1914, aged 28.
Plot A. 54.
Son of Capt. Spencer Mitchell.
Julian Alan Spencer Mitchell
3rd Bn. attd.1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
28th September 1914, aged 28.
Plot A. 54.
Son of Capt. Spencer Mitchell.
Captain
George Patrick Osborn Springfield
2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
12th September 1914, aged 42.
Plot A. 2.
Son of Thomas and Rose Marian Springfield.
George Patrick Osborn Springfield
2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
12th September 1914, aged 42.
Plot A. 2.
Son of Thomas and Rose Marian Springfield.
