CROISILLES BRITISH CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
Location Information
Croisilles is a village about 13 kilometres south-east of Arras. Croisilles British Cemetery is 300 metres along Rue Eugene Hornez, to the south west of the village centre, off the road to St. Leger (D9).
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to site possible, but may be by and alternative entrance.
Historical Information
The 7th Division attacked Croisilles in March 1917 and took it on 2 April. It was lost on 21 March 1918 and recaptured by the 56th (London) Division on the following 28 August, after heavy fighting.
Plots I and II of the cemetery, were made between April 1917 and March 1918 and the rest was formed after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the neighbouring battlefields and from some smaller burial grounds. The majority of the soldiers buried in the cemetery belonged to the Guards, 7th and 21st Divisions.
Croisilles British Cemetery now contains 1,171 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 647 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 14 casualties buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate casualties buried in HENDECOURT-LES-CAGNICOURT Communal Cemetery in 1917, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery also contains the graves of six Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War and 18 German war graves.
Casualty Details: UK 1165, Canada 3, Australia 1, South Africa 2, Germany 18, Total Burials: 1189
Dedications
T/206044 Private Albert (Bertie) Prior, 2nd/4th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 4th November 1917, aged 37.
"So Brave"
Remembered by great niece, Jo Pike
2562 Guardsman George Edward Smith, 1st Coy, 4th Battalion, Guards Machine Gun Regiment, Formerly 22236
Grenadier Guards, 27th August 1918.
Remembered by Julie (great niece) and Trevor Canton
Croisilles is a village about 13 kilometres south-east of Arras. Croisilles British Cemetery is 300 metres along Rue Eugene Hornez, to the south west of the village centre, off the road to St. Leger (D9).
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to site possible, but may be by and alternative entrance.
Historical Information
The 7th Division attacked Croisilles in March 1917 and took it on 2 April. It was lost on 21 March 1918 and recaptured by the 56th (London) Division on the following 28 August, after heavy fighting.
Plots I and II of the cemetery, were made between April 1917 and March 1918 and the rest was formed after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the neighbouring battlefields and from some smaller burial grounds. The majority of the soldiers buried in the cemetery belonged to the Guards, 7th and 21st Divisions.
Croisilles British Cemetery now contains 1,171 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 647 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 14 casualties buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate casualties buried in HENDECOURT-LES-CAGNICOURT Communal Cemetery in 1917, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery also contains the graves of six Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War and 18 German war graves.
Casualty Details: UK 1165, Canada 3, Australia 1, South Africa 2, Germany 18, Total Burials: 1189
Dedications
T/206044 Private Albert (Bertie) Prior, 2nd/4th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 4th November 1917, aged 37.
"So Brave"
Remembered by great niece, Jo Pike
2562 Guardsman George Edward Smith, 1st Coy, 4th Battalion, Guards Machine Gun Regiment, Formerly 22236
Grenadier Guards, 27th August 1918.
Remembered by Julie (great niece) and Trevor Canton
A scene of destruction in Croisilles, 25 May 1917. © IWM (Q 2254)
40218 Corporal
John Francis Bales
2nd Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
2nd April 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 6.
Son of Joseph and Frances Bales, of 86, St. George's Rd., Forest Gate, Essex. Born at Tottenham, London.
John Francis Bales
2nd Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
2nd April 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 6.
Son of Joseph and Frances Bales, of 86, St. George's Rd., Forest Gate, Essex. Born at Tottenham, London.
Second Lieutenant
William Arthur Barr
328 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, formerly 4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
27th August 1918, aged 36.
Plot V. G. 29.
Son of the late Robert and Eva Barr, of "Hillhead," Woldingham, Surrey.
William Arthur Barr
328 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, formerly 4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
27th August 1918, aged 36.
Plot V. G. 29.
Son of the late Robert and Eva Barr, of "Hillhead," Woldingham, Surrey.
36578 Private
George Clough
9th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
16th June 1917, aged 25.
Plot I. E. 25.
Son of George and Alice Clough, of 17, Hartley St., Nelson, Lancs.
George Clough
9th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
16th June 1917, aged 25.
Plot I. E. 25.
Son of George and Alice Clough, of 17, Hartley St., Nelson, Lancs.
Captain
George Chaigneau Colvill
7th (South Irish Horse) Bn. Royal Irish Regiment
30th November 1917, aged 23.
Plot II. A. 11.
Son of Robert F. S. and Sophia Colvill, of Coolock House, Coolock, Co. Dublin. Educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford.
George Chaigneau Colvill
7th (South Irish Horse) Bn. Royal Irish Regiment
30th November 1917, aged 23.
Plot II. A. 11.
Son of Robert F. S. and Sophia Colvill, of Coolock House, Coolock, Co. Dublin. Educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford.
7958 Private
R. M. Freeman
1st Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
3rd August 1917.
Plot I. C. 23.
R. M. Freeman
1st Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
3rd August 1917.
Plot I. C. 23.
Second Lieutenant
John Alan Harvey
11th Bn. attached to 2nd Bn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers
20th November 1917, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 5.
Only son of the Rev. Ralph Harvey and Hannah Constance Harvey, of The Rectory, Charleville, Co. Cork.
John Alan Harvey
11th Bn. attached to 2nd Bn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers
20th November 1917, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 5.
Only son of the Rev. Ralph Harvey and Hannah Constance Harvey, of The Rectory, Charleville, Co. Cork.
14642 Private
John Harry Holyoak
9th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
15th June 1917, aged 24.
Plot I. E. 6.
Son of William Holyoak, of Kibworth; husband of Violet Mary Needham (formerly Holyoak), of High St., Kibworth, Leicester.
John Harry Holyoak
9th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
15th June 1917, aged 24.
Plot I. E. 6.
Son of William Holyoak, of Kibworth; husband of Violet Mary Needham (formerly Holyoak), of High St., Kibworth, Leicester.
1057 Gunner
Leonard Arthur Horsfall
71st Bty. South African Heavy Artillery
23rd July 1917, aged 43.
Plot I. E. 1.
Leonard Arthur Horsfall
71st Bty. South African Heavy Artillery
23rd July 1917, aged 43.
Plot I. E. 1.
6159 Private
T. W. Lewin
9th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
18th June 1917.
Plot I. E. 10.
T. W. Lewin
9th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
18th June 1917.
Plot I. E. 10.
32806 Private
F. Stacey
6th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
17th August 1917.
Plot II. B. 1.
F. Stacey
6th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
17th August 1917.
Plot II. B. 1.
Battle of Albert. British troops, blinded by gas, assisting each other to the dressing station at Croisilles, 21 August 1918. © IWM (Q 7293)
