CHARLEROI COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.42489 Longitude: 4.45503
Picture © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Charleroi is located between Mons and Namur. From the motorway E42 turn onto the A54 in the direction of Charleroi, located between junctions 16 and 17. Travel along the A54 until junction 26, the Lodelinsart/Gilly junction. Take this turning and stay in the right hand lane.
At the traffic lights bear right, then immediately left into rue de Lodinsart (road running parallel to the motorway access). After 500 metres do a U-turn, then turn right into rue P Paulus, next left into rue Cayauderie, then take the second right into rue de Bethleem and first right into rue de Presbytere. The cemetery is straight ahead. On entering the cemetery, the graves are on the left after the Guardian's office and are divided in two plots.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note that this site is open every day from 08:00 to 16:00hrs
Visitors should note that this site is restricted to normal cemetery opening hours.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Charleroi was the scene of fighting between 21 and 24 August 1914 and for the rest of the First World War it was a German military and administrative centre.
The 272 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried in the communal cemetery either died as prisoners of war, or after the Armistice. The cemetery also contains 38 Second World War burials, most of them airmen, and 23 war graves of other nationalities.
Total Burials: 333.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 172, Australia 79, Canada 18, Germany 15, India 1, New Zealand 1, South Africa 1. Total 287.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 23, Australia 8, Poland 8, Canada 5, New Zealand 2. Total 46.
Commonwealth plot designed by William Harrison Cowlishaw
Charleroi is located between Mons and Namur. From the motorway E42 turn onto the A54 in the direction of Charleroi, located between junctions 16 and 17. Travel along the A54 until junction 26, the Lodelinsart/Gilly junction. Take this turning and stay in the right hand lane.
At the traffic lights bear right, then immediately left into rue de Lodinsart (road running parallel to the motorway access). After 500 metres do a U-turn, then turn right into rue P Paulus, next left into rue Cayauderie, then take the second right into rue de Bethleem and first right into rue de Presbytere. The cemetery is straight ahead. On entering the cemetery, the graves are on the left after the Guardian's office and are divided in two plots.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note that this site is open every day from 08:00 to 16:00hrs
Visitors should note that this site is restricted to normal cemetery opening hours.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Charleroi was the scene of fighting between 21 and 24 August 1914 and for the rest of the First World War it was a German military and administrative centre.
The 272 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried in the communal cemetery either died as prisoners of war, or after the Armistice. The cemetery also contains 38 Second World War burials, most of them airmen, and 23 war graves of other nationalities.
Total Burials: 333.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 172, Australia 79, Canada 18, Germany 15, India 1, New Zealand 1, South Africa 1. Total 287.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 23, Australia 8, Poland 8, Canada 5, New Zealand 2. Total 46.
Commonwealth plot designed by William Harrison Cowlishaw
An informal group portrait of members of No 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps gathered in front of a German motor charabanc (Benz) that was salvaged by the squadron and used by them to convey men on leave. Left to right: unidentified; Geo Pearse; unidentified; Albury; unidentified; unidentified; unidentified; Bond (wearing a scarf with left hand on wheel); Nelson (sitting in truck); Corporal F. Gillfeder; unidentified; Corporal Symons. Note the Rising Sun emblem painted on the side of the bus and '3rd AFC' written inside the insignia.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
10th April 1919; Two German prisoners sitting in an ambulance wagon, surrounded by boxes of Australian Red Cross supplies which the prisoners had assisted in loading for transport to the depot at Charleroi.
52549 Sapper
Perez Othniel Abramovitch
2nd Div. Signal Coy. Australian Engineers
12th February 1919, aged 20.
Row S. 2.
Son of Lewis and Mary Bertha Lily Abramovitch, of Sturrock St., Brunswick, Victoria, Australia. Born at Coburg, Victoria, Australia.
Pierre (Perez Othniel) Abramovitch, 2nd Signal Company Australian Engineers. A postal officer of Kyabram Vic, he enlisted on 21 January 1918 and sailed with the 1st to 5th General Reinforcements aboard HMAT Euripides on 1 May 1918. He died of accidental injuries on 12 February 1919.
Perez Othniel Abramovitch
2nd Div. Signal Coy. Australian Engineers
12th February 1919, aged 20.
Row S. 2.
Son of Lewis and Mary Bertha Lily Abramovitch, of Sturrock St., Brunswick, Victoria, Australia. Born at Coburg, Victoria, Australia.
Pierre (Perez Othniel) Abramovitch, 2nd Signal Company Australian Engineers. A postal officer of Kyabram Vic, he enlisted on 21 January 1918 and sailed with the 1st to 5th General Reinforcements aboard HMAT Euripides on 1 May 1918. He died of accidental injuries on 12 February 1919.
6379 Corporal
Michael Arthur Blenkinsop, M. M.
2nd Div. Train, Australian Army Service Corps
26th January 1919, aged 40.
Row R. 20.
Son of William Robert and Jessie Blenkinsop, of 36, Coquet Terrace North Horton, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.
From Busselton, WA. A butcher prior to enlistment, he embarked with the rank of Private (Pte) on HMAT Afric from Melbourne on 22nd May 1915. L Cpl Blenkinsop was awarded the Military Medal for devotion to duty at Gallipoli. Later promoted to Corporal (Cpl) he died of bronchitis on 26th January 1919 and is buried in Charleroi Communal Cemetery in Belgium.
Michael Arthur Blenkinsop, M. M.
2nd Div. Train, Australian Army Service Corps
26th January 1919, aged 40.
Row R. 20.
Son of William Robert and Jessie Blenkinsop, of 36, Coquet Terrace North Horton, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.
From Busselton, WA. A butcher prior to enlistment, he embarked with the rank of Private (Pte) on HMAT Afric from Melbourne on 22nd May 1915. L Cpl Blenkinsop was awarded the Military Medal for devotion to duty at Gallipoli. Later promoted to Corporal (Cpl) he died of bronchitis on 26th January 1919 and is buried in Charleroi Communal Cemetery in Belgium.
15182 Sapper
Joseph Lobb Gibson
1st Div Signal Coy. Australian Engineers
26th February 1919, aged 30.
Row J. 9.
Died of sickness. Son of Robert Moore Gibson and Annie Male Gibson; husband of Alice Fern Gibson, of "Woodlands," Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia.
Joseph Lobb Gibson
1st Div Signal Coy. Australian Engineers
26th February 1919, aged 30.
Row J. 9.
Died of sickness. Son of Robert Moore Gibson and Annie Male Gibson; husband of Alice Fern Gibson, of "Woodlands," Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia.
32007 Bombardier
Arthur James Harper
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
27th February 1919, aged 27.
Row J. 6.
Son of George Frederick and Maud Mary Harper, of Edward St., Coonabarabran, New South Wales.
A sadler before enlisting in October 1916, Dvr Harper left Australia for England with the 13th Reinforcements in February 1917. After arriving in France for service on the Western Front in July 1917, Dvr Harper was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade in February 1918, and was promoted to Bombardier (Bdr) in November 1918. Having survived the fighting on the Western Front, Bdr Harper contracted broncho-pneumonia whilst waiting for his repatriation to Australia, and died at the 20th Casualty Clearance Station at Charleroi, Belgium, on 27 February 1919 aged 27.
Arthur James Harper
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
27th February 1919, aged 27.
Row J. 6.
Son of George Frederick and Maud Mary Harper, of Edward St., Coonabarabran, New South Wales.
A sadler before enlisting in October 1916, Dvr Harper left Australia for England with the 13th Reinforcements in February 1917. After arriving in France for service on the Western Front in July 1917, Dvr Harper was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade in February 1918, and was promoted to Bombardier (Bdr) in November 1918. Having survived the fighting on the Western Front, Bdr Harper contracted broncho-pneumonia whilst waiting for his repatriation to Australia, and died at the 20th Casualty Clearance Station at Charleroi, Belgium, on 27 February 1919 aged 27.
4486 Private
Charles William Mercer
13th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th February 1919
Row S. 13.
From Sydney, N.S.W. A butcher prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 11th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Nestor (A71) on 9 April 1916. Pte Mercer died of wounds in Belgium on 8 February 1919.
Charles William Mercer
13th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th February 1919
Row S. 13.
From Sydney, N.S.W. A butcher prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 11th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Nestor (A71) on 9 April 1916. Pte Mercer died of wounds in Belgium on 8 February 1919.
13881 Driver
Harold Claude Albert Perkins
4th Div. Mechanical Transport Coy. Australian Army Service Corps
26th February 1919, aged 21.
Row J. 10.
Son of George and Eda J. Perkins, of 713, Drummond St., Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
A furniture salesman prior to his enlistment on 8 April 1916 he embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Berrima on 16 December 1916. The son of George and Eda J Perkins of Carlton, Vic he died of sickness on 26 February 1919 aged 21 years.
Harold Claude Albert Perkins
4th Div. Mechanical Transport Coy. Australian Army Service Corps
26th February 1919, aged 21.
Row J. 10.
Son of George and Eda J. Perkins, of 713, Drummond St., Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
A furniture salesman prior to his enlistment on 8 April 1916 he embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Berrima on 16 December 1916. The son of George and Eda J Perkins of Carlton, Vic he died of sickness on 26 February 1919 aged 21 years.
103586 Sapper
John Wilson
142nd Army Troops Coy. Royal Engineers
28th December 1918, aged 40.
Row Q. 15
Son of Thomas Johnston Wilson and Lavinia Wilson; husband of Elizabeth Ann Wilson, of 19, Baker St., Burnley. Born at Wigan.
Died in 20th Casualty Clearing Station of Bronchial Pneumonia. He was a father of two boys and was due to go back to England on leave the following week. He enlisted in 1915 and prior to that was employed at Messrs. Halstead's Wheelwrights.
John Wilson
142nd Army Troops Coy. Royal Engineers
28th December 1918, aged 40.
Row Q. 15
Son of Thomas Johnston Wilson and Lavinia Wilson; husband of Elizabeth Ann Wilson, of 19, Baker St., Burnley. Born at Wigan.
Died in 20th Casualty Clearing Station of Bronchial Pneumonia. He was a father of two boys and was due to go back to England on leave the following week. He enlisted in 1915 and prior to that was employed at Messrs. Halstead's Wheelwrights.
German prisoners unloading goods from trucks at a Red Cross depot, Marcinelle, near Charleroi.
Images in this gallery © Johan Pauwels
Original grave in Charleroi Communal Cemetery of 52579, Sapper William Andrew Morton, 5th Div. Signal Coy.
Australian Engineers, died of wounds, 15th February 1919, aged 26. Son of Andrew and Catherine Morton, of Ryde, New South Wales. Born at Copmanhurst, New South Wales. Row D. 5.
18th December 1918; Captain Clarence Cecil Hains, Regimental Medical Officer (left), dressing a severe wound sustained by a Belgian boy, who had incurred the injury while playing with a German hand grenade. Holding the boy's arm is 4222 Private A. Bowman, Medical Orderly. The house is at Rue de la Montagne, Charleroi. Captain Hains would be accidentally killed in April 1919 by an ammunition explosion.
Memorial to the fallen German soldiers during the Battle of Charleroi, August 1914 on the heights of Charleroi. © IWM Q 87546
The memorial today - It was demolished on 11th November 1919; ©Jmh20 on Wikimedia Commons.
World War Two and Other Nationalities
(Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem)
402612 Dergeant
Wallace Hugh Sams
Royal Australian Air Force
1st June 1942, aged 24.
Coll. grave, Row V. 14-19.
Son of Percy Henry Winter Sams and Alice Henrietta Harcourt Sams, of Cremorne, New South Wales, Australia.
From Bombala, New South Wales. Sgt Sams enlisted on 16 September 1940 and served as a wireless airgunner (WAG) in Wellington aircraft with 460 Squadron, RAAF. He was killed on operations when his aircraft Z1311 was shot down over Belgium on 1st June 1942.
Wallace Hugh Sams
Royal Australian Air Force
1st June 1942, aged 24.
Coll. grave, Row V. 14-19.
Son of Percy Henry Winter Sams and Alice Henrietta Harcourt Sams, of Cremorne, New South Wales, Australia.
From Bombala, New South Wales. Sgt Sams enlisted on 16 September 1940 and served as a wireless airgunner (WAG) in Wellington aircraft with 460 Squadron, RAAF. He was killed on operations when his aircraft Z1311 was shot down over Belgium on 1st June 1942.
406413 Sergeant
Ernest Victor Stephens
Royal Australian Air Force
2nd June 1942, aged 26,
Row V. Grave 21.
Son of Thomas Henry and Bessie Martha Stephens, of West Leederville, Western Australia.
From Leederville, WA. Sgt Stephens was a crew member of Wellington bomber W5618 which crashed in Moustier sur Sambre, Belgium, on 2 June 1942. Sgt Stephens, and four of the six others on board, were killed. He was 26 years of age.
Ernest Victor Stephens
Royal Australian Air Force
2nd June 1942, aged 26,
Row V. Grave 21.
Son of Thomas Henry and Bessie Martha Stephens, of West Leederville, Western Australia.
From Leederville, WA. Sgt Stephens was a crew member of Wellington bomber W5618 which crashed in Moustier sur Sambre, Belgium, on 2 June 1942. Sgt Stephens, and four of the six others on board, were killed. He was 26 years of age.
Douglas Boston Mark III, 'C for Charlie', of No. 88 Squadron RAF drops its bombs over the target during a daylight raid by aircraft of No. 2 Group on the engine sheds at Charleroi, Belgium. © IWM C 5454
A North American Mitchell Mark II of No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron RAF flies over the target area during a daylight attack on the railway yards at Charleroi, Belgium, by aircraft of No. 2 Group. © IWM C 4285
