DOINGT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.9233, Longitude: 2.96962
Location Information
Doingt is a small village on the eastern outskirts of Peronne, on the left hand side of the D44 road to Ham and St. Quentin.
The Cemetery is signposted from the centre of the village on the D199 road (towards Tincourt) and is situated behind the Communal Cemetery, which is to the left of the church.
Historical Information
Doingt was captured by the 5th Australian Division on 5 September 1918, and the village was completely destroyed in the fighting. In the same month, the 20th, 41st and 55th Casualty Clearing Stations arrived, remaining until October, when the cemetery was closed. It was made in three plots; Plot I contained only Commonwealth graves, Plot II only American, and Plot III the graves of both armies. The American graves were later removed by the American Graves Registration Services.
Doingt Communal Cemetery Extension contains 417 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 1 being unidentified, and two burials from the Second World War.
Total Burials: 419.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 342, Australia 67, South Africa 5, Canada 2. Total 416.
World War One Unidentified Casualty: United Kingdom 1.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 2.
The extension was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Noel Ackroyd Rew
Dedications
67214 Serjeant Albert Edward Forrester, "B" Battery, 112th Bde, Royal Field Artillery 1st October 1918. Plot III. E. 10.
Remembered by nephew, Ted Forrester
34154 Private Edward John Skidmore, 8th Bn. (King's) Royal Irish Hussars, died 19th October 1918. Plot I. F. 41. This is an additional dedication to the pictures already on this page, of my great grandfather, Edward John Skidmore, who passed away 100 years ago on 18th October 1918.
Remembered by Eileen Ireland and all the family xx
Cemetery images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
The ruins of Doingt, 29 July 1917. © IWM (Q 61211)
6551 Private
Walter Herbert Betts
9th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
23rd September 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. A. 32.
Son of Edward Emmanuel and Eliza Betts, of 43, Raynham Avenue, Edmonton, London.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Greater Love Hath No Man Than To Lay Down His Life For His Friends."
Walter Betts and his father, Edward Betts
Picture courtesy of great niece, Marie Betts
Walter Herbert Betts
9th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
23rd September 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. A. 32.
Son of Edward Emmanuel and Eliza Betts, of 43, Raynham Avenue, Edmonton, London.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Greater Love Hath No Man Than To Lay Down His Life For His Friends."
Walter Betts and his father, Edward Betts
Picture courtesy of great niece, Marie Betts
6673 Private
Nelson McLean
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
25th September 1918.
Plot I. D. 37.
A labourer in Horsham, Victoria, before enlistment at the age of 19, he embarked from Melbourne with the 21st Reinforcements aboard HMAT Nestor (A71) on 2 October 1916. Whilst serving on the Western Front, Pte McLean was wounded in action in September 1917, but rejoined his unit the following month. Pte McLean died at the Casualty Clearing Station in Doingt, France, on 25 September 1918 after receiving multiple gun shot wounds in action the previous day.
Nelson McLean
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
25th September 1918.
Plot I. D. 37.
A labourer in Horsham, Victoria, before enlistment at the age of 19, he embarked from Melbourne with the 21st Reinforcements aboard HMAT Nestor (A71) on 2 October 1916. Whilst serving on the Western Front, Pte McLean was wounded in action in September 1917, but rejoined his unit the following month. Pte McLean died at the Casualty Clearing Station in Doingt, France, on 25 September 1918 after receiving multiple gun shot wounds in action the previous day.
309841 Private
Frederick Lester Rickaby
1st Bn. Tank Corps
11th October 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. F. 22.
Son of Fred Rickaby, of Newmarket; husband of Grace R. Rickaby, of La Hogue Hall, Chippenham, Ely. A. Jockey.
His headstone bears the inscription: "O God bring back those lovely hours we pray."
Frederick Lester Rickaby
1st Bn. Tank Corps
11th October 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. F. 22.
Son of Fred Rickaby, of Newmarket; husband of Grace R. Rickaby, of La Hogue Hall, Chippenham, Ely. A. Jockey.
His headstone bears the inscription: "O God bring back those lovely hours we pray."
Lieutenant
John Grant Simmons
12th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th September 1918, aged 28.
Plot I. C. 13.
Son of George and Mary Y. Simmons, of 31, Albion St., Invermay, Tasmania. Native of Melbourne.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Our Hero Enshrined For Ever In The Hearts Of Those Who Loved Him."
A 26 year old accountant prior to enlisting on 18 May 1916, he was promoted to Sergeant a week later and to Company Sergeant Major on 28 November 1916. After being promoted to Second Lieutenant on 8 January 1917, he embarked for overseas with the 26th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 4 August 1917 aboard HMAT Themistocles. He was wounded in action on 20 April 1918 at Meteren, France and evacuated to England for medical treatment. Two months later he returned to his unit in France, having been promoted to Lieutenant on 1 May 1918. He was wounded in action again on 19 September 1918 at Jeancourt, France and died of his wounds that same day.
John Grant Simmons
12th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th September 1918, aged 28.
Plot I. C. 13.
Son of George and Mary Y. Simmons, of 31, Albion St., Invermay, Tasmania. Native of Melbourne.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Our Hero Enshrined For Ever In The Hearts Of Those Who Loved Him."
A 26 year old accountant prior to enlisting on 18 May 1916, he was promoted to Sergeant a week later and to Company Sergeant Major on 28 November 1916. After being promoted to Second Lieutenant on 8 January 1917, he embarked for overseas with the 26th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 4 August 1917 aboard HMAT Themistocles. He was wounded in action on 20 April 1918 at Meteren, France and evacuated to England for medical treatment. Two months later he returned to his unit in France, having been promoted to Lieutenant on 1 May 1918. He was wounded in action again on 19 September 1918 at Jeancourt, France and died of his wounds that same day.
34154 Private
Edward John Skidmore
8th Bn. (King's) Royal Irish Hussars
19th October 1918.
Plot I. F. 41
Believed to have been shot and wounded in the shoulder, and returned to duty, but he was admitted to 20th Casualty Clearing Station near Peronne on 16th October 1918 suffering from pneumonia, where he passed away at about half past midnight on 18th October 1918.
Known as Ted, he was married to Emily Bessie (Bateman) and had a daughter, Elsie Kathleen, (my Grandmother) who was born in 1914. This is to remember them.
Picture courtesy of Eileen Ireland, his great granddaughter
Edward John Skidmore
8th Bn. (King's) Royal Irish Hussars
19th October 1918.
Plot I. F. 41
Believed to have been shot and wounded in the shoulder, and returned to duty, but he was admitted to 20th Casualty Clearing Station near Peronne on 16th October 1918 suffering from pneumonia, where he passed away at about half past midnight on 18th October 1918.
Known as Ted, he was married to Emily Bessie (Bateman) and had a daughter, Elsie Kathleen, (my Grandmother) who was born in 1914. This is to remember them.
Picture courtesy of Eileen Ireland, his great granddaughter
7543 Private
Patrick Joseph Thompson
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th September 1918, aged 30.
Plot I. C. 3.
Son of Charles S. and Ellen Mary Thompson, of Gillingarra, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Have Mercy On Him O Lord & Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him."
A farm hand from Choral, WA prior to enlistment, Pte Thompson embarked with the 25th Reinforcements from Fremantle on HMAT Borda on 29 June 1917. Whilst serving in France he was wounded in action and, on 18 September 1918, he died as a result of his wounds.
Patrick Joseph Thompson
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th September 1918, aged 30.
Plot I. C. 3.
Son of Charles S. and Ellen Mary Thompson, of Gillingarra, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Have Mercy On Him O Lord & Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him."
A farm hand from Choral, WA prior to enlistment, Pte Thompson embarked with the 25th Reinforcements from Fremantle on HMAT Borda on 29 June 1917. Whilst serving in France he was wounded in action and, on 18 September 1918, he died as a result of his wounds.
9324 Driver
George Ernest Wallis
2nd Div. Ammunition Column, Australian Field Artillery
4th October 1918, aged 26.
Plot III. B. 24.
Son of Robert and Sarah Wallis, of Church St., Malvern, Victoria, Australia. Native of Creswick.
From Windsor, Victoria. A 22 year old storeman prior to enlisting on 13 July 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 1st Reinforcements from Melbourne on 18 November 1915 aboard HMAT Wiltshire (A18). After arriving in Egypt, he joined the 5th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) and proceeded to France with them in March 1916. He joined the 22nd FAB in August 1916 and transferred back to the 4th FAB in January 1917. After being hospitalised for illness in May 1917, he joined the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column in August 1917 on recovering. Pte Wallis was wounded in action on 27 September 1918 and died from his wounds on 4 October 1918.
George Ernest Wallis
2nd Div. Ammunition Column, Australian Field Artillery
4th October 1918, aged 26.
Plot III. B. 24.
Son of Robert and Sarah Wallis, of Church St., Malvern, Victoria, Australia. Native of Creswick.
From Windsor, Victoria. A 22 year old storeman prior to enlisting on 13 July 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 1st Reinforcements from Melbourne on 18 November 1915 aboard HMAT Wiltshire (A18). After arriving in Egypt, he joined the 5th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) and proceeded to France with them in March 1916. He joined the 22nd FAB in August 1916 and transferred back to the 4th FAB in January 1917. After being hospitalised for illness in May 1917, he joined the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column in August 1917 on recovering. Pte Wallis was wounded in action on 27 September 1918 and died from his wounds on 4 October 1918.
The Two World War Two Burials
(Pictures © Johan Pauwels)
Burial Details
799685 Leading Aircraftman Leonard Laurie, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 25th June 1940, aged 34. Son of William and Edith Laurie, of Oxford. husband of Annie Jennette Laurie, of Grandpont, Oxford. His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away"
535507 Leading Aircraftman John Patrick O'Reilly, 16 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 17th May 1940, aged 20.
799685 Leading Aircraftman Leonard Laurie, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 25th June 1940, aged 34. Son of William and Edith Laurie, of Oxford. husband of Annie Jennette Laurie, of Grandpont, Oxford. His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away"
535507 Leading Aircraftman John Patrick O'Reilly, 16 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 17th May 1940, aged 20.
27th May 1919 - Doingt, France. View of a water point near Peronne showing an extensively shell damaged building (left) and incomplete Nissen huts (background, right). Note a sign near the water troughs reads 'All bits to be removed before watering'.
A wounded soldier of the British 66th Division helped through the streets of Peronne, after returning from the Battle of St Quentin, part of the Battle of the Somme during the German Spring Offensive, 23 March 1918. IWM (Q 10779)
