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BRAINE COMMUNAL CEMETERY 
​​​
Aisne

​France

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.3431, Longitude: 3.53586

Braine Communal Cemetery

​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.


Cemetery images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels

Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Braine Communal Cemetery
Picture
Picture

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

Braine Communal Cemetery, Victoria Cross, Ranken
Image © Johan Pauwels
Picture
2575 Private
John Bolton
1st Bn. 
Coldstream Guards
8th October 1914, aged 35.
Row A. 11. Special Memorial


Son of Thomas Bolton, of 20, Berkeley St., Nelson, Lancs; husband of Susannah Hutchinson (formerly Bolton), of 1, Baldwin's Hill, Lane Head, Burnley.

His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of One Of The Best Of Fathers And Husbands Sadly Missed"



​

Picture
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.

His headstone bears the inscription "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out"


Picture
Lieutenant
George Adolph Hutton
3rd Signal Company, 
Royal Engineers
19th September 1914, aged 23.
Row A. 23.

Son of William Henry and Lucy Frances Hutton, of Dial Hill, Clevedon, Somerset. Born at Nottingham.

​His headstone bears the inscription "Deo Dante Dedi"


Picture
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.

His headstone bears the inscription "He Gave His Heart To His Home And His Life For His Country"



Picture
Captain
Peter Benson Maxwell
1st Bn. 
East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 35th Sikhs
24th September 1914, aged 33.
Row A. 40.

​
Son of Sir William Edward Maxwell K.C.M.G., and Lady Maxwell; husband of Eileen Muriel Maxwell (nee Gordon).

His headstone bears the inscription "Winner Of Anson Sword Of Honour And Queen Victoria's Gold Medal"



Picture
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 Captain Spencer Mitchell.

Picture
Lieutenant
Arthur Clegg Fanshawe Royle
1st Bn. 
North Staffordshire Regiment
27th September 1914, aged 31.
Row A. 50.


Son of Arthur Fanshawe Waterloo Royle and Harriette Royle, of Lympsham Manor, Weston-super-Mare.

​His headstone bears the inscription "R. I. P."




Picture
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.


Picture
Captain
Bertrand Stewart

West Kent Yeomanry (Queen's Own), attached to Intelligence Corps
12th September 1914, aged 42.
Row A. 3.

​
Son of Charles and Eva Stewart, of Achara, Argyllshire; husband of Daphne Priaulx Stewart, of Queen's Gate Gardens, London.

His headstone bears the inscription "Viri Fortitudine Patriae Studio Animi Benignitate Insignis"



NEARBY CWGC CEMETERIES & MEMORIALS
​

LESGES CHURCHYARD
CIRY-SALSOGNE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
SERCHES COMMUNAL CEMETERY


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Disclaimer 

The casualty numbers for each cemetery and G. P. S. Coordinates are taken from the C. W. G. C. site. We are aware that there can be discrepancies in the burial numbers quoted due to rededication burials.

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  • Belgium
    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in Belgium in Alphabetical Order
    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in Belgium >
      • HAINAUT
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    • BELGIAN MILITARY CEMETERIES
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  • France
    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in France in Alphabetical Order
    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in France >
      • AISNE
      • MARNE
      • NORD
      • OISE
      • PAS DE CALAIS
      • SEINE-ET-MARNE
      • SEINE-MARITIME
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      • OTHER FRENCH DEPARTMENTS
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