CAËSTRE MILITARY CEMETERY
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.75903, Longitude: 2.59701
Location Information
Caëstre is a small village in the Department of the Nord, on the main road midway between the towns of Cassel and Bailleul, and about 10 kilometres from either place. The Military Cemetery is about 500 metres west of the village on the north side of the road to Hondeghem.
Visiting Information
The cemetery is in the middle of pasture land.
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Caëstre Military Cemetery was opened in mid April 1918 by the Australian Corps and troops of the 9th (Scottish) Division. It was used until September 1918 for the burials of casualties sustained during the German offensive.
The cemetery now contains 190 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and five German war graves.
Total Burials: 195.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 150, Australia 32, South Africa 8, Germany 3. Total 193.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw
Dedications
6402241 Private Albert Jesse Baldock, 4th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment, 27th May 1940, aged 21. Son of Albert and Elizabeth Baldock, of How Green, Edenbridge, Kent.
I never knew you, I think that's sad, But I learned about you from my Dad. From your niece Diane.
123993 Private W. T. Edwards, (Picture below), 31st Bn. Machine Gun Corps, (Formerly South Notts. Hussars) killed in Action 14th May 1918, aged 24. Son of Thomas Edwards, of 7, Squares, Glanydon, Mostyn, Flint.
Remembered by Derek Povah, (Great Nephew)
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Major
Herbert Welwyn Aston, M. C.
4th Bn. Highland Light Infantry, attd. 9th Bn. Machine Gun Corps
13th July 1918, aged 26.
Plot I. D. 8.
Son of Ellen and the late Arthur Robert Aston, of Ettrickdale, Davenport Park, Stockport, Cheshire.
Herbert Welwyn Aston, M. C.
4th Bn. Highland Light Infantry, attd. 9th Bn. Machine Gun Corps
13th July 1918, aged 26.
Plot I. D. 8.
Son of Ellen and the late Arthur Robert Aston, of Ettrickdale, Davenport Park, Stockport, Cheshire.
22865 Private
Tom Bradshaw
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
16th May 1918, aged 18.
Plot I. C. 14.
Son of George Smith Bradshaw and Henrietta Bradshaw, of 60, Todmorden Road, Burnley.
Tom Bradshaw
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
16th May 1918, aged 18.
Plot I. C. 14.
Son of George Smith Bradshaw and Henrietta Bradshaw, of 60, Todmorden Road, Burnley.
2343A Private
Frederick Busch, D. C. M. (Also known as Bush)
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. A. 6.
From Maclean, NSW. A seaman prior to enlisting in August 1915, Pte Busch embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT Warilda (A69) on 5 October 1915. He served in France and Belgium and on 16 November 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty", during operations near Ypres, Belgium. " When the enemy captured one of our wounded men, two men arranged to rescue him, but were immediately covered by enemy snipers. He jumped out in front, and succeeded in drawing the fire of the snipers, thus enabling the wounded man to be rescued."
On 22 April 1918, Pte Busch DCM, aged 23, was wounded in action at Flanders, Belgium, and died later that day.
Frederick Busch, D. C. M. (Also known as Bush)
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. A. 6.
From Maclean, NSW. A seaman prior to enlisting in August 1915, Pte Busch embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT Warilda (A69) on 5 October 1915. He served in France and Belgium and on 16 November 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty", during operations near Ypres, Belgium. " When the enemy captured one of our wounded men, two men arranged to rescue him, but were immediately covered by enemy snipers. He jumped out in front, and succeeded in drawing the fire of the snipers, thus enabling the wounded man to be rescued."
On 22 April 1918, Pte Busch DCM, aged 23, was wounded in action at Flanders, Belgium, and died later that day.
123993 Private
W. T. Edwards, 31st Bn. Machine Gun Corps, (Formerly South Notts. Hussars) 14th May 1918, aged 24. Plot I. C. 4. Son of Thomas Edwards, of 7, Squares, Glanydon, Mostyn, Flint. Remembered by Derek Povah, (Great Nephew) |
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14763 Private
William Fuller
"X" Coy. 11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
21st May 1918, aged 27.
Plot I. A. 25.
Son of Thomas and Margaret Rowley, of 14 Livingstone Street, Consett, Co. Durham.
An original member of the "Burnley Pals", he formerly lived on Hurtley Street, Burnley and worked at Clifton Pit as a Drawer. His mother, a widow, later moved to Consett, Co. Durham and re-married.
William Fuller
"X" Coy. 11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
21st May 1918, aged 27.
Plot I. A. 25.
Son of Thomas and Margaret Rowley, of 14 Livingstone Street, Consett, Co. Durham.
An original member of the "Burnley Pals", he formerly lived on Hurtley Street, Burnley and worked at Clifton Pit as a Drawer. His mother, a widow, later moved to Consett, Co. Durham and re-married.
Lieutenant
Reginald Hugh McNicol
1st Div. Signal Coy. attd. 2nd Australian Bde. H.Q. Australian Engineers
29th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. B. 6.
Son of John and Lucy Jane McNicol, of Angus Road, Cottonville, Clarence Park, South Australia; native of Adelaide, South Australia.
Reginald Hugh McNicol
1st Div. Signal Coy. attd. 2nd Australian Bde. H.Q. Australian Engineers
29th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. B. 6.
Son of John and Lucy Jane McNicol, of Angus Road, Cottonville, Clarence Park, South Australia; native of Adelaide, South Australia.
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The damaged house at Caestre, where Lieutenant Reginald Hugh McNicol, 1st Divisional Company Australian Engineers of Adelaide SA, was fatally wounded on 29 April 1918.
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S/16332 Private
James Niven
"B" Company, 7th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
6th JUne 1918, aged 20.
Plot I. D. 16.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Niven, of Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That Others Might Live"
Picture courtesy of Fred Chantry
James Niven
"B" Company, 7th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
6th JUne 1918, aged 20.
Plot I. D. 16.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Niven, of Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That Others Might Live"
Picture courtesy of Fred Chantry
3572 Sergeant
Leonard Sizer
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th April 1918.
Plot I. A. 4.
Husband of Ethel Sizer of Numurkah, Victoria, Australia.
A statement given by one of the men in his unit for Sizer's Red Cross Wounded and Missing file records that Sgt Sizer was "one of the best, and liked by everyone."
Leonard Sizer
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th April 1918.
Plot I. A. 4.
Husband of Ethel Sizer of Numurkah, Victoria, Australia.
A statement given by one of the men in his unit for Sizer's Red Cross Wounded and Missing file records that Sgt Sizer was "one of the best, and liked by everyone."
First Battle of Kemmel. Composite battalion (troops of the Wiltshire, Warwickshire Regiments, Northumberland Fusiliers and others) resting by the roadside. Caestre, 17 April 1918. © IWM (Q 8724)
Grave marker of 1437 Air Mechanic (AM) Cuthbert Henry Carlile, Australian Flying Corps, at Caestre Military Cemetery. AM Carlile died of wounds on 29 April 1918. From a collection belonging to 1656 J M L Twiss, Australian Flying Corps.
Cuthbert Carlile is now buried at Caestre Military Cemetery, Plot I. B. 4.
Pictures of the Cemetery before it was incorporated into a Housing Estate on the outskirts of Caëstre
(Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem)
(Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem)
