CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 49.98221, Longitude: 2.75494
Location Information
Carnoy is a village just north of the road, D938, from Albert to Peronne, about 10 kilometres east-south-east of Albert. The Military Cemetery is on the south side of the village, on the north side of the road to Maricourt.
Visiting Information
The cemetery can be reached by wheelchair using the side gate, but it should be noted that access is on turf.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun in August, 1915, by the 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers and the 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, when the village was immediately South of the British front line. It continued in use by troops holding this sector until July, 1916, when Field Ambulances came up and a camp was established on the higher ground North of the village. It was closed in March, 1917. From March to August, 1918, it was in German hands, and German (and a few British) graves were made between the British graves and the entrance, and also in a German Cemetery alongside; but the German graves and the German Cemetery were removed in 1924.
There are 854, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 28 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 17 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried among them.
The cemetery covers an area of 4,441 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall.
‘The architect was Lieutenant Colonel Henry Cart de Lafontaine, after his resignation in February 1920 from the position of Inspector of Works at the IWGC. His brother Alfred (a Captain in the East Yorkshire Regiment) having been killed on 9 July 1916 in the Battle of the Somme, he was granted special permission to design the cemetery where his brother was buried — & asked not to be paid.’
Total Burials: 854.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 817, New Zealand 5, Canada 2, Australia 1, South Africa 1. Total 826.
Unidentified Casualties: 28.
c.1920 - ©CWGC
"Silent Cities" Revisited
Click on new picture to enlarge
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A difficult angle to recreate and not quite right in the modern image, however, no real change to the cemetery in the almost 90 years in-between images. Trees in the entrance area now block out the view of the shelter but apart from that and the removal of a few trees in the main body of the cemetery, little has changed. The background to both images remains the same although the road to Suzanne, visible on the original image is now hidden by trees.
Captain
Bernard Pitts Ayre
8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 24.
Row. D. 10.
Son of Robert Chesley Ayre and Lydia Gertrude Ayre, of Brookdale, St. John's, Newfoundland. His brother Eric also fell on the same day and is buried in the Ancre British Cemetery.
Bernard Pitts Ayre
8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 24.
Row. D. 10.
Son of Robert Chesley Ayre and Lydia Gertrude Ayre, of Brookdale, St. John's, Newfoundland. His brother Eric also fell on the same day and is buried in the Ancre British Cemetery.
Second Lieutenant
Reginald Baden
7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
26th June 1916, aged 23.
Row. J. 21.
Son of Herbert Edwin and Blanche Ada Baden, of 5, Grange Rd., Ealing, London.
Reginald Baden
7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
26th June 1916, aged 23.
Row. J. 21.
Son of Herbert Edwin and Blanche Ada Baden, of 5, Grange Rd., Ealing, London.
Second Lieutenant
John Meikle Bain
12th Bn. attd. 9th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
14th July 1916, aged 35.
Row. E. 8.
Son of James and Jane Bain, of Newmillon-Teviot, Hawick.
John Meikle Bain
12th Bn. attd. 9th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
14th July 1916, aged 35.
Row. E. 8.
Son of James and Jane Bain, of Newmillon-Teviot, Hawick.
12441 Lance Corporal
Percy Charles Bennett
2nd Bn. Suffolk Regiment
12th July 1916.
Row. N. 24.
His brother Walter Joe Bennett also fell and he is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery in Belgium. (Image and details of Walter click on link)
Click on image to enlarge
The images are courtesy of David Burt who is the Village Recorder for The Suffolk Local History Council (Village of Norton) where Percy Charles Bennett was born and grew up. Percy first joined the Grenadier Guards, but soon transferred to the Suffolk Regiment.
Percy Charles Bennett
2nd Bn. Suffolk Regiment
12th July 1916.
Row. N. 24.
His brother Walter Joe Bennett also fell and he is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery in Belgium. (Image and details of Walter click on link)
Click on image to enlarge
The images are courtesy of David Burt who is the Village Recorder for The Suffolk Local History Council (Village of Norton) where Percy Charles Bennett was born and grew up. Percy first joined the Grenadier Guards, but soon transferred to the Suffolk Regiment.
Major
Rainsford Balcombe-Brown, M. C.
56th Sqdn. Royal Air Force
2nd May 1918, aged 23.
Row. G. 50.
Son of Edward Balcombe-Brown and Eliza M. Balcombe-Brown, of Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.
Rainsford Balcombe-Brown, M. C.
56th Sqdn. Royal Air Force
2nd May 1918, aged 23.
Row. G. 50.
Son of Edward Balcombe-Brown and Eliza M. Balcombe-Brown, of Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.
Captain
Guy Wollaston Bathholomew
7th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
25th August 1916, aged 35.
Row. A. 26.
Son of A. C. and Clare S. G. Bartholomew, of 75, Tilehurst Rd., Reading.
Guy Wollaston Bathholomew
7th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
25th August 1916, aged 35.
Row. A. 26.
Son of A. C. and Clare S. G. Bartholomew, of 75, Tilehurst Rd., Reading.
58310 Private
Joseph Richard Bray, Mentioned in Despatches
142nd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
14th July 1916, aged 32.
Row T. 38.
Son of Joseph Richard and Mary A. Bray, of 41, Lincoln Rd., South Norwood, London. He left behind his wife Florence and two children Horace and Philip of 11, Kimberley Gardens, Harringay, London. Native of Tottenham, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died In The Service Of His Fellow Man"
Picture courtesy of Judy King and Ann Larkham (Great and Great, great nieces)
Joseph Richard Bray, Mentioned in Despatches
142nd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
14th July 1916, aged 32.
Row T. 38.
Son of Joseph Richard and Mary A. Bray, of 41, Lincoln Rd., South Norwood, London. He left behind his wife Florence and two children Horace and Philip of 11, Kimberley Gardens, Harringay, London. Native of Tottenham, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died In The Service Of His Fellow Man"
Picture courtesy of Judy King and Ann Larkham (Great and Great, great nieces)
Second Lieutenant
A. F. Chapman
2nd Bn. Scots Guards
25th September 1916.
Row. Q. 40.
A. F. Chapman
2nd Bn. Scots Guards
25th September 1916.
Row. Q. 40.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Captain
John Cyril Holms
9th Bn. London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles)
10th September 1915, aged 23.
Row. M. 2.
Son of the late Douglas Holms and the Hon. Mrs. Douglas Holms, of 6, Hazlewell Rd., Putney Hill, formerly of 19, Prince of Wales' Terrace, Kensington, London.
John Cyril Holms
9th Bn. London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles)
10th September 1915, aged 23.
Row. M. 2.
Son of the late Douglas Holms and the Hon. Mrs. Douglas Holms, of 6, Hazlewell Rd., Putney Hill, formerly of 19, Prince of Wales' Terrace, Kensington, London.
S/4988 Private
Daniel McKay
"A" Company, 10th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders
16th October 1915, aged 20.
Row. N. 4.
Husband of Bridget McIvor McKay. Native of Hamilton, Lanarkshire.
Daniel McKay
"A" Company, 10th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders
16th October 1915, aged 20.
Row. N. 4.
Husband of Bridget McIvor McKay. Native of Hamilton, Lanarkshire.
43178 Lance Corporal
J. H. Shardlow
8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
5th November 1916, aged 26.
Row. W. 22.
Husband of Rose E. Cooper (formerly Shardlow), of 6, High St., Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham.
J. H. Shardlow
8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
5th November 1916, aged 26.
Row. W. 22.
Husband of Rose E. Cooper (formerly Shardlow), of 6, High St., Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham.
12711 Private
George Wheeler
6th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
2nd July 1916, aged 36.
Row Q. 16.
Son of Mrs. Mary Ann Brain, of 27, Gedling St., Bermondsey, London. Brother to Lillian Gilbert (nee Brain)
His headstone bears the inscription "Remembered By All Peace Perfect Peace"
Pictures courtesy of Pamela Hagen
George Wheeler
6th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
2nd July 1916, aged 36.
Row Q. 16.
Son of Mrs. Mary Ann Brain, of 27, Gedling St., Bermondsey, London. Brother to Lillian Gilbert (nee Brain)
His headstone bears the inscription "Remembered By All Peace Perfect Peace"
Pictures courtesy of Pamela Hagen
German electrical apparatus, probably mining machinery, found in the trenches at Carnoy and Mametz; 1st to 7th July 1916. © IWM Q 145
Shot at Dawn
23992 Private Ernest Walter Jack Harris, "C" Company, 10th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, executed for desertion 3rd February 1917, aged 20. Row Z. 11. Son of Edward and Lavinia Harris, of 90, Nether Edge Rd., Sheffield. At the time of his offence, he was subject to 2 suspended sentences, one of which was of death.
(Putkowski, p 160)
96498 Driver Robert Murray, "A" Battery, 147th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, executed for desertion 3rd February 1917. Row Z. 10. Husband of Edith Murray, of Helmingham Road, Otley, near Ipswich, Suffolk. After making off, he travelled to the south of France & took up residence with a prostitute — who in due course reported him to the French police following a quarrel. (Putkowski, p. 160)
23992 Private Ernest Walter Jack Harris, "C" Company, 10th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, executed for desertion 3rd February 1917, aged 20. Row Z. 11. Son of Edward and Lavinia Harris, of 90, Nether Edge Rd., Sheffield. At the time of his offence, he was subject to 2 suspended sentences, one of which was of death.
(Putkowski, p 160)
96498 Driver Robert Murray, "A" Battery, 147th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, executed for desertion 3rd February 1917. Row Z. 10. Husband of Edith Murray, of Helmingham Road, Otley, near Ipswich, Suffolk. After making off, he travelled to the south of France & took up residence with a prostitute — who in due course reported him to the French police following a quarrel. (Putkowski, p. 160)
Battle of Bazentin Ridge. Rum issue to men of the 8th Battalion, Black Watch in the Carnoy Valley soon after the return of the 26th Infantry Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division, from heavy fighting in the village of Longeuval, 14 - 19 July. © IWM (Q 4008)
Pre 1932 - ©CWGC
1951 - ©CWGC
