DOUAI BRITISH CEMETERY
Nord
France
Location Information
Douai is a large town about 24 kilometres north-east of Arras and the cemetery lies on the outskirts near the main road to Lens.
From Lens and the A1 autoroute, follow the N421 toward Douai. As you approach the town, turn left at first set of traffic lights next to Campanile hotel and follow the D125 for 45 metres. The cemetery is situated on left hand side of this road.
Historical Information
Douai was occupied by French troops and the Royal Naval Air Service on the 22nd September, 1914, and captured by the Germans on the 1st October; it remained in enemy hands until the 17th October, 1918. The 42nd Casualty Clearing Station was posted in the town from the 28th October, 1918, to the 25th November, 1919.
Douai British Cemetery was begun at the end of October, 1918, and closed in November, 1919; but graves were brought into it later from the neighbouring battlefields and from other burial grounds, including:-
EMERCHICOURT CHURCHYARD, which contained 20 Commowealth burials (mainly Canadians) of October and November, 1918.
PETIT-CUINCY GERMAN CEMETERY, CUINCY, which contained 12 Commonwealth burials.
There are over 200, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to a soldier from the United Kingdom, buried in RAIMBEAUCOURT GERMAN CEMETERY, whose grave could not be found.
The British Cemetery covers an area of 718 square metres and is enclosed by a low stone rubble wall.
Casualty Details: UK 202, Canada 33, South Africa 4, Total Burials: 239
Douai is a large town about 24 kilometres north-east of Arras and the cemetery lies on the outskirts near the main road to Lens.
From Lens and the A1 autoroute, follow the N421 toward Douai. As you approach the town, turn left at first set of traffic lights next to Campanile hotel and follow the D125 for 45 metres. The cemetery is situated on left hand side of this road.
Historical Information
Douai was occupied by French troops and the Royal Naval Air Service on the 22nd September, 1914, and captured by the Germans on the 1st October; it remained in enemy hands until the 17th October, 1918. The 42nd Casualty Clearing Station was posted in the town from the 28th October, 1918, to the 25th November, 1919.
Douai British Cemetery was begun at the end of October, 1918, and closed in November, 1919; but graves were brought into it later from the neighbouring battlefields and from other burial grounds, including:-
EMERCHICOURT CHURCHYARD, which contained 20 Commowealth burials (mainly Canadians) of October and November, 1918.
PETIT-CUINCY GERMAN CEMETERY, CUINCY, which contained 12 Commonwealth burials.
There are over 200, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to a soldier from the United Kingdom, buried in RAIMBEAUCOURT GERMAN CEMETERY, whose grave could not be found.
The British Cemetery covers an area of 718 square metres and is enclosed by a low stone rubble wall.
Casualty Details: UK 202, Canada 33, South Africa 4, Total Burials: 239
Party of Royal Engineers of the 8th Division who removed the German flag from the prefecture at Douai, 18 October 1918. © IWM (Q 11818)
552236 Corporal
George Amos Adams
38th Bn. Canadian Infantry
30th October 1918
Row G. 16.
George Amos Adams
38th Bn. Canadian Infantry
30th October 1918
Row G. 16.
41677 Private
C. S. Hardwick
2nd Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment, attached to 24th Brigade, Trench Mortar Battery
14th October 1918, aged 19.
Plot G. 5.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Hardwick, of Cambridge Rd., Histon, Cambs.
C. S. Hardwick
2nd Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment, attached to 24th Brigade, Trench Mortar Battery
14th October 1918, aged 19.
Plot G. 5.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Hardwick, of Cambridge Rd., Histon, Cambs.
Lieutenant
George Thomas Holmes
100th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps
6th May 1917, aged 23.
Row F. 6.
Son of Thomas Barton Holmes and Mary Holmes, of Petridge Wood, Redhill, Surrey. Born at Whetstone, Middx.
Added to the headstone was the following inscription; "Now God be thanked who has matched us with his hour."
George Thomas Holmes
100th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps
6th May 1917, aged 23.
Row F. 6.
Son of Thomas Barton Holmes and Mary Holmes, of Petridge Wood, Redhill, Surrey. Born at Whetstone, Middx.
Added to the headstone was the following inscription; "Now God be thanked who has matched us with his hour."
Captain
Clifford Angus Mallam, M. C. and Bar.
3rd Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
29th October 1918, aged 28.
Row A. 1.
Son of George and Annie Mallam, of Hall Place, Sparsholt, Wantage, Berks.
Clifford Angus Mallam, M. C. and Bar.
3rd Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
29th October 1918, aged 28.
Row A. 1.
Son of George and Annie Mallam, of Hall Place, Sparsholt, Wantage, Berks.
291671 Driver
James Pitcher
No.10 A.A.H. Coy. M. T., Army Service Corps
12th November 1918.
Row B. 18.
Died of Influenza
Picture courtesy of granddaughter, Ann Adams
James Pitcher
No.10 A.A.H. Coy. M. T., Army Service Corps
12th November 1918.
Row B. 18.
Died of Influenza
Picture courtesy of granddaughter, Ann Adams
Second Lieutenant
Robert Edward Taylor
41st Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
17th September 1917, aged 27.
Row G. 3.
Son of Mr. W. J. and Mrs. A. E. Taylor, of South Woodslee, Ontario, Canada.
Robert Edward Taylor
41st Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
17th September 1917, aged 27.
Row G. 3.
Son of Mr. W. J. and Mrs. A. E. Taylor, of South Woodslee, Ontario, Canada.
British officer distributing newspapers to French refugees who had returned to Douai, 25 October 1918. The city was deserted on the day of its occupation by the British 8th Division on 17 October. © IWM (Q 11406)
