BULLY-GRENAY COMMUNAL CEMETERY - FRENCH EXTENSION
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.44745, Longitude: 2.71699
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Bully is approximately 20 kilometres north of Arras. From Arras, take the D937 towards Bethune. At Sains-en-Gohelle, turn right onto the D166E towards Bully. At the first (Casimir Beugret) roundabout, turn right into the Rue Ferdinand Marche. The Cemetery (known locally as the 'Cimetiere de Bully-les-Mines') is 200 metres down this road on the right. The Commonwealth war graves plot is obvious as soon as you enter the communal cemetery.
Historical Information
Bully-Grenay is the name of the railway station (on the main Hazebrouck-Arras line) serving this village and Grenay, but the double name was generally applied to the village and the communal cemetery of Bully by the troops.
The FRENCH EXTENSION was made by French troops on the west side of the communal cemetery, and Commonwealth forces, who took their place in this part of the line in June 1915, buried in it until June 1916.
The French extension contains 91 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Click here for the British Extension
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 91.
Shot at Dawn
86872 Driver James W. Swaine, 54th Battery, 39th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, executed for desertion 9th June 1916. Plot B. 6. Husband of R. Swaine, of 82, Herga Rd., Wealdstone, Middx. A married man, he had overstayed his Christmas leave in 1915, & was only arrested in the following April. (Putkowski, pp. 85-86)
13758 Private
John Crimmins
1st Bn. South Wales Borderers
1st April 1916, aged 25.
Row A. 57.
Son of James and Jane Crimmins, of Cwmbran; husband of Elizabeth A. Crimmins, of 56, New St., Pontnewydd, Newport, Mon.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Thy Will Be Done"
John Crimmins
1st Bn. South Wales Borderers
1st April 1916, aged 25.
Row A. 57.
Son of James and Jane Crimmins, of Cwmbran; husband of Elizabeth A. Crimmins, of 56, New St., Pontnewydd, Newport, Mon.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Thy Will Be Done"
Lieutenant
David Radcliffe
24th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
18th March 1916, aged 21.
Row A. 44.
Son of Sir Frederick Morton Radcliffe and Margaret his wife, of 55, Victoria St., Liverpool.
His headstone bears the inscription "Be Thou Faithful Unto Death And I Will Give Thee A Crown Of Life"
David Radcliffe
24th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
18th March 1916, aged 21.
Row A. 44.
Son of Sir Frederick Morton Radcliffe and Margaret his wife, of 55, Victoria St., Liverpool.
His headstone bears the inscription "Be Thou Faithful Unto Death And I Will Give Thee A Crown Of Life"
2241 Rifleman
Stanley Rangecroft
6th Bn. London Regiment (City of London Rifles)
25th September 1915, aged 18.
Row A. 20.
Son of William Q. and Helena A. Rangecroft, of 41, Albacore Crescent, Lewisham, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Hero That Died That We Might Live"
Stanley Rangecroft
6th Bn. London Regiment (City of London Rifles)
25th September 1915, aged 18.
Row A. 20.
Son of William Q. and Helena A. Rangecroft, of 41, Albacore Crescent, Lewisham, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Hero That Died That We Might Live"
17208 Private
Albert Souls
5th Company, Machine Gun Corps
14th March 1916, aged 20.
Row A. 41.
Of Great Rissington, Bourton-on-the-Water, Glos. Son of William and Julia Amy Souls, of Great Barrington, Burford, Oxon. Four of his brothers, Alfred, Arthur William, Frederick George and Walter Davis Souls also fell.
Alfred died on 20th April 1918, aged 31 and is buried in the Strand Military Cemetery in Belgium.
Arthur William died on 25th April 1918, aged 31 and is buried in Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension in France.
Frederick George died on 19th July 1916, aged 30 and commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
Walter Davis died on 2nd August 1916, aged 24 and is buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen in France.
Albert Souls
5th Company, Machine Gun Corps
14th March 1916, aged 20.
Row A. 41.
Of Great Rissington, Bourton-on-the-Water, Glos. Son of William and Julia Amy Souls, of Great Barrington, Burford, Oxon. Four of his brothers, Alfred, Arthur William, Frederick George and Walter Davis Souls also fell.
Alfred died on 20th April 1918, aged 31 and is buried in the Strand Military Cemetery in Belgium.
Arthur William died on 25th April 1918, aged 31 and is buried in Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension in France.
Frederick George died on 19th July 1916, aged 30 and commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
Walter Davis died on 2nd August 1916, aged 24 and is buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen in France.
Captain Macauley, R. A. M. C., in Bovril Alley, an old communication trench, very deep, camouflaged by flowers, etc., Built by the French, it ran from Bully-Grenay to the Angres Sector. 2nd R.N. Field Ambulance, R.N. Division, August 1916. © IWM (Q 14734)
