ÉCOUST MILITARY CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.18531, Longitude: 2.91082
Location Information
Ecoust-St.-Mein is a village 16 kilometres south-east of Arras on the road from Bapaume to Douai. The Cemetery is about 400 metres north east of the main crossroads in the village, on the north side of the most northerly of the two roads to Bullecourt (D10E).
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Ecoust-St.-Mein was captured by the 8th and 9th Devons in a blizzard on 2 April 1917, lost on 21 March 1918, and retaken at the end of the following August by the 3rd Division.
The military cemetery was begun in April 1917 and used by fighting units until March 1918. A number of burials were then made by the Germans and after the Armistice, further graves, almost all of the 2nd/6th North Staffords, were brought into Plot II, Row B from a position just outside the cemetery.
Ecoust Military Cemetery contains 156 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. Exactly half of the burials are unidentified but a special memorial commemorates one casualty who is known to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains 71 German burials, the majority of them unidentified.
Total Burials: 228.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 70, Australia 9, Germany 7. Total 86.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 78, Germany 64. Total 142.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
4129 Gunner
Cyril Barton Althorp
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
22nd April 1917, aged 21.
Plot II. A. 23.
Son of Arthur and Rosa Althorp, of North St., Collinswood, South Australia. Native of Gibberton, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Loving Memory of Dear Cyril, One Of God's Bravest And Best."
Cyril Barton Althorp
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
22nd April 1917, aged 21.
Plot II. A. 23.
Son of Arthur and Rosa Althorp, of North St., Collinswood, South Australia. Native of Gibberton, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Loving Memory of Dear Cyril, One Of God's Bravest And Best."
18636 Gunner
Henry Leslie Beeson
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
11th April 1917, aged 33.
Plot II. A. 30.
Son of Charles and Alice Beeson, of " Wendouree, " Letitia St., Oatley, Sydney, New South Wales. Native of Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "We Cherish His Memory, We Commend His Spirit To God Who Gave It."
Henry Leslie Beeson
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
11th April 1917, aged 33.
Plot II. A. 30.
Son of Charles and Alice Beeson, of " Wendouree, " Letitia St., Oatley, Sydney, New South Wales. Native of Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "We Cherish His Memory, We Commend His Spirit To God Who Gave It."
267091 Private
Walter Branker
"G" Company, 2nd/6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
4th May 1917, aged 29.
Plot II. A. 20.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Branker, of 9, Devonshire St., Skipton, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son"
Walter Branker
"G" Company, 2nd/6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
4th May 1917, aged 29.
Plot II. A. 20.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Branker, of 9, Devonshire St., Skipton, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son"
1662 Gunner
Douglas Harold Rygate Ferguson
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
23rd April 1917, aged 23.
Plot II. A.24.
Son of Alexander William and Adelaide Hannah Ferguson, of Wellington, New South Wales.
Gnr Ferguson enlisted on 27 January 1915 and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Seang Choon on 11 February 1915. Gnr Ferguson was wounded whilst serving at Anzac Cove. In early 1916 he was transferred to the 37th Battery, 4th Divisional Artillery. He was killed in action on 23 April 1917 in France.
Douglas Harold Rygate Ferguson
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
23rd April 1917, aged 23.
Plot II. A.24.
Son of Alexander William and Adelaide Hannah Ferguson, of Wellington, New South Wales.
Gnr Ferguson enlisted on 27 January 1915 and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Seang Choon on 11 February 1915. Gnr Ferguson was wounded whilst serving at Anzac Cove. In early 1916 he was transferred to the 37th Battery, 4th Divisional Artillery. He was killed in action on 23 April 1917 in France.
15263 Private
Philip Hennelly
24th Bn. Manchester Regiment
6th July 1917, aged 28.
Plot I. B. 2.
Son of the late Peter and Sarah Hennelly. Native of Springhead, Oldham.
Philip Hennelly
24th Bn. Manchester Regiment
6th July 1917, aged 28.
Plot I. B. 2.
Son of the late Peter and Sarah Hennelly. Native of Springhead, Oldham.
Lieutenant
Bernard Copestake Johnson
2nd/7th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
14th May 1917, aged 37.
Plot II. A. 38.
Born in South Normanton, Derbyshire in 1879. Lived Holmfirth. Had been Headmaster of Holmfirth National School for seven years prior to enlistment. Trained at St. John's College, Battersea and commenced as a teacher in London in 1900, remaining there for six years. He then took up a post at Kirkham, Lancashire before starting as Headmaster at Holmfirth National School. Married, with two children. Enlisted, 2nd October 1914, and received his commission in the 7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment in September, 1915. Was wounded during the Battle of the Somme, in July 1916, and returned to France a fortnight before he was killed, during the Battle of Arras, on 14th May 1917, aged 37.
Bernard Copestake Johnson
2nd/7th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
14th May 1917, aged 37.
Plot II. A. 38.
Born in South Normanton, Derbyshire in 1879. Lived Holmfirth. Had been Headmaster of Holmfirth National School for seven years prior to enlistment. Trained at St. John's College, Battersea and commenced as a teacher in London in 1900, remaining there for six years. He then took up a post at Kirkham, Lancashire before starting as Headmaster at Holmfirth National School. Married, with two children. Enlisted, 2nd October 1914, and received his commission in the 7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment in September, 1915. Was wounded during the Battle of the Somme, in July 1916, and returned to France a fortnight before he was killed, during the Battle of Arras, on 14th May 1917, aged 37.
33 Gunner
Neville Henry Lipscomb
10th Field Artillery Brigade, A. I. F.
23rd April 1917. aged 20.
Plot II. A. 27.
Born: 2 October 1896, son of William & Jessie Lipscomb of Normanhurst, NSW.
His headstone bears the inscription "Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Loved One Sleeping"
Occupation: Student (at Hawkesbury Agricultural College) & Soldier; enlisted 24 August 1914 in the First Light Horse Field Ambulance; trained at Queen’s Park, Waverly & then Broadmeadows, Victoria; departed Melbourne in October 1914 on board troopship Southern for Egypt via Albany and Colombo; observed the Sydney/Emden naval battle en route; further training in Egypt; served as a medical orderly on hospital ships Galeko, Minnewaska, Saturnia and Clan McGillivray evacuating wounded from Gallipoli; landed at Gallipoli in August 1915 and served as a stretcher bearer for two weeks until evacuated with dysentery; hospitalised at Mudros and then by hospital ship Ascarius to hospital in Malta; evacuated to England on board Hospital Ship Italia - admitted County of London War Hospital at Epsom; on recovery he departed Portsmouth in February 1916 via Troopship Saturnia and rejoined his unit at Australian Overseas Depot, Gizeh, Cairo; transferred to Artillery - moved to Camp of the 37thBattery at Seraphum, Egypt; Joined British Expeditionary Force at Alexandria and sailed for Marseilles on the Arcadian in June 1916; moved to the Armentieres Sector and relieved 2nd Div Artillery near Bois Grenier (4 km S of Armentieres); engaged at Ypres in September 1916; killed in action by artillery fire on 23rd April 1917 at the village of Ecoust, near Bullecourt - about 16 km south-east of Arras and 10 km north-east of Bapaume (aged 20). Neville's brother Eric was killed five weeks earlier near Armentieres, he is buried at the Tancrez Farm Cemetery.
Photograph and information courtesy of Adrian Lipscomb, nephew of this soldier
Neville Henry Lipscomb
10th Field Artillery Brigade, A. I. F.
23rd April 1917. aged 20.
Plot II. A. 27.
Born: 2 October 1896, son of William & Jessie Lipscomb of Normanhurst, NSW.
His headstone bears the inscription "Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Loved One Sleeping"
Occupation: Student (at Hawkesbury Agricultural College) & Soldier; enlisted 24 August 1914 in the First Light Horse Field Ambulance; trained at Queen’s Park, Waverly & then Broadmeadows, Victoria; departed Melbourne in October 1914 on board troopship Southern for Egypt via Albany and Colombo; observed the Sydney/Emden naval battle en route; further training in Egypt; served as a medical orderly on hospital ships Galeko, Minnewaska, Saturnia and Clan McGillivray evacuating wounded from Gallipoli; landed at Gallipoli in August 1915 and served as a stretcher bearer for two weeks until evacuated with dysentery; hospitalised at Mudros and then by hospital ship Ascarius to hospital in Malta; evacuated to England on board Hospital Ship Italia - admitted County of London War Hospital at Epsom; on recovery he departed Portsmouth in February 1916 via Troopship Saturnia and rejoined his unit at Australian Overseas Depot, Gizeh, Cairo; transferred to Artillery - moved to Camp of the 37thBattery at Seraphum, Egypt; Joined British Expeditionary Force at Alexandria and sailed for Marseilles on the Arcadian in June 1916; moved to the Armentieres Sector and relieved 2nd Div Artillery near Bois Grenier (4 km S of Armentieres); engaged at Ypres in September 1916; killed in action by artillery fire on 23rd April 1917 at the village of Ecoust, near Bullecourt - about 16 km south-east of Arras and 10 km north-east of Bapaume (aged 20). Neville's brother Eric was killed five weeks earlier near Armentieres, he is buried at the Tancrez Farm Cemetery.
Photograph and information courtesy of Adrian Lipscomb, nephew of this soldier
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Lieutenant
Thomas Smith Shackleton
2nd/6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
5th May 1917, aged 26.
Plot II. A. 21.
Son of Thomas Smith Shackleton and Rachel Anne Shackleton, of Keighley.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
Thomas Smith Shackleton
2nd/6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
5th May 1917, aged 26.
Plot II. A. 21.
Son of Thomas Smith Shackleton and Rachel Anne Shackleton, of Keighley.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
Lieutenant
Harold Rymer Smith
2nd/6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
21st March 1918, aged 23.
Plot II. B. 26.
Son of Joseph Ralph and Abigail Smith, of 100, West Hill, Putney, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Not Forgotten Also In Loving Memory Of His Brother Ralph, Killed 5th August 1917, aged 28.
His brother Ralph Prichard Smith is buried in Somer Farm Cemetery in Belgium
A Rededication service was held on Thursday 23rd March 2023. Recent research has shown Lieutenant Smith is buried here.
Harold Rymer Smith
2nd/6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
21st March 1918, aged 23.
Plot II. B. 26.
Son of Joseph Ralph and Abigail Smith, of 100, West Hill, Putney, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Not Forgotten Also In Loving Memory Of His Brother Ralph, Killed 5th August 1917, aged 28.
His brother Ralph Prichard Smith is buried in Somer Farm Cemetery in Belgium
A Rededication service was held on Thursday 23rd March 2023. Recent research has shown Lieutenant Smith is buried here.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
An advanced dressing station under a ruined house at Ecoust-Saint-Mein, 17 July, 1917, showing the Royal Army Medical Corps Captain, decorated with a Military Cross, and an Officer of the Gordon Highlanders. © IWM (Q 5689)
Plotting reference: 57C B 6 12 G 1 2 7 8. Key feature: Ecoust-St-Mein. © IWM (BOX 858-2098-205V-57C-1918)
