ÉCOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY
Mont-St. Eloi
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.34215 Longitude: 2.68709
Location Information
Mont-St. Éloi is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 8 kilometres north-west of Arras. Écoivres is a hamlet lying at the foot of the hill, to the south-west and about 1.5 kilometres from Mont-St. Éloi. The cemetery is on the D49 road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the site is possible.
There is room to park two cars on the side on the road directly in front of the this cemetery. Further parking is available at the communal cemetery.
Historical Information
This cemetery is really the extension of the communal cemetery, where the French army had buried over 1,000 men. The 46th (North Midland) Division took over the extension with this part of the line in March 1916, and their graves are in Rows A to F of Plot I. Successive divisions used the French military tramway to bring their dead in from the front line trenches and, from the first row to the last, burials were made almost exactly in the order of date of death. The attack of the 25th Division on Vimy Ridge in May 1916 is recalled in Plots I and II. The 47th (London) Division burials (July to October 1916) are in Plot III, Rows A to H, and Canadian graves are an overwhelming majority in the rest of the cemetery, Plots V and VI containing the graves of men killed in the capture of Vimy Ridge in April 1917
The graves of eight men of the 51st (Highland) Division who had been buried by the 153rd Brigade in March, 1916, in what became known as Bray Military Cemetery, due South of the Mount, between the hamlet of Bray and the Bois de Maraeuil, were moved after the Armistice in to Plot VIII, Row A.
Écoivres Military Cemetery contains 1,728 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 786 French and four German war graves.
Total Burials: 2,519.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 896, Canada 825, South Africa 4, Australia 2, Germany 2. Total 1,729.
There are also 786 French graves and 2 unidentified German graves.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Arthur James Scott Hutton
Dedications
184104 Private Roger Wilson, 31st Bn. Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment), 9th April 1917, aged 21.
Remembered by great niece Danielle Wilson and family
Écoivres Military Cemetery c.1919; ©Jeremy Gordon-Smith
10967 Private
H. Bridewell
1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment
3rd May 1916, aged 30.
Plot I. H. 20.
Son of Tom and Matilda Bridewell, of Five Lanes, Potterne; husband of Maud Louisa Bridewell, of 5, Council Cottages, The Butts, Potterne, Wilts
H. Bridewell
1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment
3rd May 1916, aged 30.
Plot I. H. 20.
Son of Tom and Matilda Bridewell, of Five Lanes, Potterne; husband of Maud Louisa Bridewell, of 5, Council Cottages, The Butts, Potterne, Wilts
Lieutenant
Kenneth Archibald Campbell
42nd Bn. Canadian Infantry, (Quebec Regiment)
23rd January 1917, aged 24.
Plot IV. B. 19.
(of the house of Barcaldine). Son of George Douglas Campbell and Kate Glidden Campbell. Native of North Weymouth, Nova Scotia.
"On or about Jan. 25, 1917 at 0715 it was reported to Campbell as officer on duty that a man had been killed by a sniper. Campbell went to the place and looked over the parapet in the direction from which the shot came, and was killed instantaneously. It was at Cornman Crater Post, opposite Vimy. I was in the centre on duty, he was to the right." Eye witness Private Neville
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Ian M. Campbell
Kenneth Archibald Campbell
42nd Bn. Canadian Infantry, (Quebec Regiment)
23rd January 1917, aged 24.
Plot IV. B. 19.
(of the house of Barcaldine). Son of George Douglas Campbell and Kate Glidden Campbell. Native of North Weymouth, Nova Scotia.
"On or about Jan. 25, 1917 at 0715 it was reported to Campbell as officer on duty that a man had been killed by a sniper. Campbell went to the place and looked over the parapet in the direction from which the shot came, and was killed instantaneously. It was at Cornman Crater Post, opposite Vimy. I was in the centre on duty, he was to the right." Eye witness Private Neville
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Ian M. Campbell
13826 Private
Harold Cassidy
11th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
7th April 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 17.
Nephew of Martha Pickles, of 29, Hartley St., Nelson, Lancs. Born at Nelson, Lancs.
Harold Cassidy
11th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
7th April 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 17.
Nephew of Martha Pickles, of 29, Hartley St., Nelson, Lancs. Born at Nelson, Lancs.
8354 Private
Montague Charles Court
10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
24th April 1916
Plot I. F. 15.
Brother of Mrs. Delury, of 2, Rita Rd., South Lambeth Rd., London.
Picture courtesy of great niece, Carol Bradley
Montague Charles Court
10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
24th April 1916
Plot I. F. 15.
Brother of Mrs. Delury, of 2, Rita Rd., South Lambeth Rd., London.
Picture courtesy of great niece, Carol Bradley
Major
Beverley Crowther, M. C.
3rd Bn. Canadian Infantry
3rd May 1917, aged 28.
Plot VI. H. 11.
Son of William C. and Kate M. Crowther, of Toronto. Canada.
Beverley Crowther, M. C.
3rd Bn. Canadian Infantry
3rd May 1917, aged 28.
Plot VI. H. 11.
Son of William C. and Kate M. Crowther, of Toronto. Canada.
Lieutenant Colonel
Michael Frederic Beauchamp Dennis, D. S. O.
7th/8th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
19th May 1918, aged 37.
Plot V. L. 1.
Son of George Beauchamp Gore Dennis, of Newacott, Bridgerule, Devon; husband of Louise M. Dennis, of Mosali Choma, Northern Rhodesia.
Michael Frederic Beauchamp Dennis, D. S. O.
7th/8th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
19th May 1918, aged 37.
Plot V. L. 1.
Son of George Beauchamp Gore Dennis, of Newacott, Bridgerule, Devon; husband of Louise M. Dennis, of Mosali Choma, Northern Rhodesia.
4813 Private
Charles Jeoffrey Finney
1st/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
31st March 1916, aged 18.
Plot I. C. 18.
Son of William and Catherine Finney, of Knossington, nr. Oakham, Rutland.
Charles Jeoffrey Finney
1st/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
31st March 1916, aged 18.
Plot I. C. 18.
Son of William and Catherine Finney, of Knossington, nr. Oakham, Rutland.
Second Lieutenant
Arthur Edmund Gould
13th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
14th May 1916, aged 31.
Plot I. M. 21.
Son of James George and Alice Mary Gould, of "Rocklands," 109, Crouch Hill, London.
Arthur Edmund Gould
13th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
14th May 1916, aged 31.
Plot I. M. 21.
Son of James George and Alice Mary Gould, of "Rocklands," 109, Crouch Hill, London.
Lieutenant
Kenneth Leslie Hallward
3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
28th May 1916, aged 25.
Plot II. E. 12.
Son of Arthur Wellesley Hallward and Caroline Sarah Hallward (nee Marley), of "Holly Mount," Knotty Green, Beaconsfield, Bucks.
Kenneth Leslie Hallward
3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
28th May 1916, aged 25.
Plot II. E. 12.
Son of Arthur Wellesley Hallward and Caroline Sarah Hallward (nee Marley), of "Holly Mount," Knotty Green, Beaconsfield, Bucks.
The Cemetery at Ecoivres, restored by the Canadians, 30 October 1917. © IWM (Q 78617)
901266 Private
John S. Henderson
42nd Bn. Canadian Infantry, (Quebec Regiment)
30th January 1917, aged 19.
Plot IV. C. 3.
Son of James and Eliza Henderson, of Westville, Nova Scotia.
Picture courtesy of Paul Henderson
John S. Henderson
42nd Bn. Canadian Infantry, (Quebec Regiment)
30th January 1917, aged 19.
Plot IV. C. 3.
Son of James and Eliza Henderson, of Westville, Nova Scotia.
Picture courtesy of Paul Henderson
Captain
F. M. Hutchinson
11th Field Company, Canadian Engineers
1st March 1917.
Plot IV. E. 3.
Son of Frederick Thomas and Jessie Florence Hutchinson, of 507, Keele St., Toronto, Canada.
F. M. Hutchinson
11th Field Company, Canadian Engineers
1st March 1917.
Plot IV. E. 3.
Son of Frederick Thomas and Jessie Florence Hutchinson, of 507, Keele St., Toronto, Canada.
Second Lieutenat
Edward Herbert Jewell
B Company, 11th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
16th May 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. M. 11.
Native of Salsey, Sussex. Son of Ada Margaret and the late Maurice Jewell.
Edward Herbert Jewell
B Company, 11th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
16th May 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. M. 11.
Native of Salsey, Sussex. Son of Ada Margaret and the late Maurice Jewell.
Captain
Wilfrid Max Langdon
10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
21st May 1916, aged 27.
Plot II. B. 6.
Son of Edward Henry and Ada Langdon, of Manchester. Barrister, Inner Temple. Scholar of Rugby (Whitelaw's) and New College, Oxford.
Wilfrid Max Langdon
10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
21st May 1916, aged 27.
Plot II. B. 6.
Son of Edward Henry and Ada Langdon, of Manchester. Barrister, Inner Temple. Scholar of Rugby (Whitelaw's) and New College, Oxford.
15793 Serjeant
Richard Newport
10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
1st May 1916, aged 28.
Plot I. H. 6.
Son of John and Elizabeth Newport, of Halton, nr. Runcorn, Cheshire. Formerly assistant schoolmaster. Enlisted September, 1914.
Richard Newport
10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
1st May 1916, aged 28.
Plot I. H. 6.
Son of John and Elizabeth Newport, of Halton, nr. Runcorn, Cheshire. Formerly assistant schoolmaster. Enlisted September, 1914.
5158 Rifleman
Robert (Bob) William Pedley
17th Bn. (Stepney & Poplar Rifles) London Regiment.
14th September 1916, aged 18.
Plot III. G. I.
Rifleman Bob Pedley was killed when his unit, the Stepney and Poplar Rifles (17th Bn. the London Rifle Brigade) attacked High Wood during the later phases of the Battle of the Somme, in 1916. Most of this Battalion were wiped out by German machine gun fire.
An uncle I never knew and a brother my late father scarcely knew, Bob Pedley was one of 11 children of the East End family of William and Charlotte Pedley.
Picture courtesy of his nephew, Graham Pedley
Robert (Bob) William Pedley
17th Bn. (Stepney & Poplar Rifles) London Regiment.
14th September 1916, aged 18.
Plot III. G. I.
Rifleman Bob Pedley was killed when his unit, the Stepney and Poplar Rifles (17th Bn. the London Rifle Brigade) attacked High Wood during the later phases of the Battle of the Somme, in 1916. Most of this Battalion were wiped out by German machine gun fire.
An uncle I never knew and a brother my late father scarcely knew, Bob Pedley was one of 11 children of the East End family of William and Charlotte Pedley.
Picture courtesy of his nephew, Graham Pedley
Shot at Dawn
13857 Lance Corporal James Holland, 10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, executed for cowardice and quitting his post on 30th May 1916, aged 31. Plot II. E. 17. Son of Samuel and Mary Holland, of Northwich, Cheshire.
He joined up in Aug 1914, & by May 1916 was serving near Mont St Eloi. On 8 May, Holland was detailed, with 4 Privates to hold — at all costs — a position on the outpost line forward of the front line in No-man’s-land, from 0230 for 24 hours, the Lance Corporal being told to send a man back to report if anything happened. Late in the afternoon Holland went to the sergeant at the next post, asking to be relieved because of a severe headache, but was told to talk to the officer when he next came round.
1 of the Privates saw 2 men approaching that he could not identify, & looked round for Holland but could not see him. Soon thereafter, Holland & all of his party dashed back to the main front line, Holland pausing to fire a shot at the interlopers. Arrived back at company HQ, they were all arrested.
At trial — on his own, for the Privates testified for the prosecution — Holland said that he thought that the whole post had been rushed; that he had heard a shout: ‘We’re all prisoners’; that he’d found himself alone, & had gone back to raise the alarm. As to his condition at the time, he mentioned being treated for piles, suffering violent headaches in consequence & being medically unfit meant that he had no control over himself.
His company commander described him as an efficient NCO.
The court ’strongly recommended to mercy on grounds of ill health at time of offence & long hours of duty’. This was not supported by the Brigade commander, while the Divisional commander was for commutation, but sentence was confirmed.
Holland’s parents were not given the true cause of his death, the Army chaplain falsely intimating that Holland had been buried in shell debris. (Corns, pp. 185-187, 212; Putkowski, pp.83-84)
416008 Private Eugene Perry, 22nd Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed for desertion on 11th April 1917, aged 21. Plot VI. C. 7.
A labourer in civilian life, he joined his (French-speaking) battalion in Oct 1915, to serve in France -- with credit -- from June 1916 to Feb 1917. There Perry was soon sentenced to 28 days’ Field Punishment No 1 for a brief absence, but 3 days later went missing for nearly 10 hours. His execution was the first in his battalion, but 4 others were to follow. (Putkowski, p. 168)
285031 Private Malcolm R. Richmond, 1st/6th Bn. Gordon Highlanders, executed for desertion on 26th May 1918, aged 22. Plot V. L. 8.
A volunteer, he escaped from the guardroom at Etaples soon after the 1917 mutiny. Arrested a month later in Boulogne (where he had given false particulars), he escaped again in Dec. Arrested again in Boulogne early in 1918, he escaped after a fortnight, being finally detained a day later when masquerading as a driver in the Army Service Corps. At trial, he claimed a personal & family history of mental illness — which inquiries failed to confirm. (Putkowski, p 245)
830020 Private Dimitro Sinizky, 52nd Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed for cowardice on 9th October 1917, aged 22. Plot VI. K. 19.
He was a Russian-born labourer who enlisted in Dec 1915. 6 months after joining his battalion in France which was operating near Vimy Ridge, he expressed an unwillingness to serve in the trenches, & was therefore escorted up the line. There he sat down in the communication trench, & despite remonstrations, refused to continue. On review, his case was said to be one of the worst in the Canadian Corps. (Putkowski, p 203)
13857 Lance Corporal James Holland, 10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, executed for cowardice and quitting his post on 30th May 1916, aged 31. Plot II. E. 17. Son of Samuel and Mary Holland, of Northwich, Cheshire.
He joined up in Aug 1914, & by May 1916 was serving near Mont St Eloi. On 8 May, Holland was detailed, with 4 Privates to hold — at all costs — a position on the outpost line forward of the front line in No-man’s-land, from 0230 for 24 hours, the Lance Corporal being told to send a man back to report if anything happened. Late in the afternoon Holland went to the sergeant at the next post, asking to be relieved because of a severe headache, but was told to talk to the officer when he next came round.
1 of the Privates saw 2 men approaching that he could not identify, & looked round for Holland but could not see him. Soon thereafter, Holland & all of his party dashed back to the main front line, Holland pausing to fire a shot at the interlopers. Arrived back at company HQ, they were all arrested.
At trial — on his own, for the Privates testified for the prosecution — Holland said that he thought that the whole post had been rushed; that he had heard a shout: ‘We’re all prisoners’; that he’d found himself alone, & had gone back to raise the alarm. As to his condition at the time, he mentioned being treated for piles, suffering violent headaches in consequence & being medically unfit meant that he had no control over himself.
His company commander described him as an efficient NCO.
The court ’strongly recommended to mercy on grounds of ill health at time of offence & long hours of duty’. This was not supported by the Brigade commander, while the Divisional commander was for commutation, but sentence was confirmed.
Holland’s parents were not given the true cause of his death, the Army chaplain falsely intimating that Holland had been buried in shell debris. (Corns, pp. 185-187, 212; Putkowski, pp.83-84)
416008 Private Eugene Perry, 22nd Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed for desertion on 11th April 1917, aged 21. Plot VI. C. 7.
A labourer in civilian life, he joined his (French-speaking) battalion in Oct 1915, to serve in France -- with credit -- from June 1916 to Feb 1917. There Perry was soon sentenced to 28 days’ Field Punishment No 1 for a brief absence, but 3 days later went missing for nearly 10 hours. His execution was the first in his battalion, but 4 others were to follow. (Putkowski, p. 168)
285031 Private Malcolm R. Richmond, 1st/6th Bn. Gordon Highlanders, executed for desertion on 26th May 1918, aged 22. Plot V. L. 8.
A volunteer, he escaped from the guardroom at Etaples soon after the 1917 mutiny. Arrested a month later in Boulogne (where he had given false particulars), he escaped again in Dec. Arrested again in Boulogne early in 1918, he escaped after a fortnight, being finally detained a day later when masquerading as a driver in the Army Service Corps. At trial, he claimed a personal & family history of mental illness — which inquiries failed to confirm. (Putkowski, p 245)
830020 Private Dimitro Sinizky, 52nd Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed for cowardice on 9th October 1917, aged 22. Plot VI. K. 19.
He was a Russian-born labourer who enlisted in Dec 1915. 6 months after joining his battalion in France which was operating near Vimy Ridge, he expressed an unwillingness to serve in the trenches, & was therefore escorted up the line. There he sat down in the communication trench, & despite remonstrations, refused to continue. On review, his case was said to be one of the worst in the Canadian Corps. (Putkowski, p 203)
The Cemetery at Ecoivres, restored by the Canadians, 30 October 1917. © IWM (Q 78616)
