ERQUINGHEM-LYS CHURCHYARD EXTENSION
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.67913, Longitude: 2.84656
Location Information
The village of Erquinghem-Lys is situated approximately 1.5 kilometres west of Armentieres.
Take the D945 from Armentieres toward the centre of Erquinghem-Lys and then turn right immediately before the Town Hall. The cemetery is 50 metres along this road on the right hand side.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to site is possible, but may be by alternative entrance.
Historical Information
The village of Erquinghem-Lys was occupied by German forces early in October 1914, and taken by the 1st Somerset Light Infantry on 16 October. It remained in Allied hands until 10 April 1918, when the 101st Infantry Brigade and the 1st/4th Duke of Wellington's, after a stubborn defence, evacuated the village during the great German offensive. The village was finally retaken in September 1918.
The earliest Commonwealth burials were made in two places in the churchyard itself, in October 1914-January 1915, but these 27 graves were moved into the extension (Plot II, Row G, and Plot III, Row G) in 1925, the churchyard being closed for burials.
The extension was begun in April 1915 and used by units and field ambulances until April 1918. It was continued down to the stream by the Germans (who also used the churchyard) in the summer of 1918, and in September and October 1918, it was used again for some Commonwealth burials.
The extension now contains 558 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (eight of them unidentified) and 130 German burials. One unidentified Russian servicemen is also buried in the extension.
Casualty Details: UK 522, Canada 2, Australia 32, New Zealand 3, Germany 130, Russia 1, Total Burials: 690
The extension was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
The village of Erquinghem-Lys is situated approximately 1.5 kilometres west of Armentieres.
Take the D945 from Armentieres toward the centre of Erquinghem-Lys and then turn right immediately before the Town Hall. The cemetery is 50 metres along this road on the right hand side.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to site is possible, but may be by alternative entrance.
Historical Information
The village of Erquinghem-Lys was occupied by German forces early in October 1914, and taken by the 1st Somerset Light Infantry on 16 October. It remained in Allied hands until 10 April 1918, when the 101st Infantry Brigade and the 1st/4th Duke of Wellington's, after a stubborn defence, evacuated the village during the great German offensive. The village was finally retaken in September 1918.
The earliest Commonwealth burials were made in two places in the churchyard itself, in October 1914-January 1915, but these 27 graves were moved into the extension (Plot II, Row G, and Plot III, Row G) in 1925, the churchyard being closed for burials.
The extension was begun in April 1915 and used by units and field ambulances until April 1918. It was continued down to the stream by the Germans (who also used the churchyard) in the summer of 1918, and in September and October 1918, it was used again for some Commonwealth burials.
The extension now contains 558 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (eight of them unidentified) and 130 German burials. One unidentified Russian servicemen is also buried in the extension.
Casualty Details: UK 522, Canada 2, Australia 32, New Zealand 3, Germany 130, Russia 1, Total Burials: 690
The extension was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Pictures in first gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem

2384 Corporal
Jack Stewart Caswell
2nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd June 1916, aged 19.
Plot I. J. 5.
Son of Francis Stewart Caswell and Lauretta Evelyn Caswell, of 39, Wood St., Manly, New South Wales. Native of Coonamble, New South Wales.
The inscription on his headstone reads; "Death Hath No Terrors."
A bank clerk prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Orsova (A67) on 14 July 1915. He died on 22 June 1916, at the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, France, of wounds received in action earlier that day, aged 19.
4260 Private Slater gave this description of the last moments of Jack Caswell; "At Fleurbaix, Caswell, who was of "D" Co., was on the parapet early morning fixing sand bags in the company of Pte. Marshall. Caswell was struck by a Machine Gun, one bullet going through his body. He was lifted off the parapet and laid on the fire-step. He said, "I'm shot, send for the S. B. (Stretcher Bearer)." At the clearing station he said "My poor mother, what will she do?" He was buried but I'm not sure where."
Jack Stewart Caswell
2nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd June 1916, aged 19.
Plot I. J. 5.
Son of Francis Stewart Caswell and Lauretta Evelyn Caswell, of 39, Wood St., Manly, New South Wales. Native of Coonamble, New South Wales.
The inscription on his headstone reads; "Death Hath No Terrors."
A bank clerk prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Orsova (A67) on 14 July 1915. He died on 22 June 1916, at the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, France, of wounds received in action earlier that day, aged 19.
4260 Private Slater gave this description of the last moments of Jack Caswell; "At Fleurbaix, Caswell, who was of "D" Co., was on the parapet early morning fixing sand bags in the company of Pte. Marshall. Caswell was struck by a Machine Gun, one bullet going through his body. He was lifted off the parapet and laid on the fire-step. He said, "I'm shot, send for the S. B. (Stretcher Bearer)." At the clearing station he said "My poor mother, what will she do?" He was buried but I'm not sure where."

240989 Rifleman
James Henthorne
"A" Coy. 2nd/5th Bn. South Lancashire Regiment
6th August 1917, aged 38.
Plot II. D. 34.
Husband of Elizabeth Ratcliffe (formerly Henthorne), of 42, Clarence Court, Peasley Cross, St. Helens.
James Henthorne
"A" Coy. 2nd/5th Bn. South Lancashire Regiment
6th August 1917, aged 38.
Plot II. D. 34.
Husband of Elizabeth Ratcliffe (formerly Henthorne), of 42, Clarence Court, Peasley Cross, St. Helens.

2177 Private
Frank Leslie Keals
28th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st May 1916, aged 23
Plot I. J. 2.
Son of Fanny Keals, of Wharf St., Queen's Park, Western Australia, and the late William Keals. Native of London, England.
The inscription on his headstone reads; "Greater Love Hath No Man He Laid Down His Life For Others."
Frank Leslie Keals
28th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st May 1916, aged 23
Plot I. J. 2.
Son of Fanny Keals, of Wharf St., Queen's Park, Western Australia, and the late William Keals. Native of London, England.
The inscription on his headstone reads; "Greater Love Hath No Man He Laid Down His Life For Others."

658 Lance Corporal
Hugh Lamont
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th May 1916, aged 25.
Plot I. K. 6.
Son of Farquhar and Ellen Lamont. Native of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
A farm hand prior to enlistment on 16 March 1915, Pte Lamont embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Euripides (A14) on 10 May 1915. He arrived at Gallipoli on 30 August and was promoted to Lance Corporal just prior to the evacuation of the AIF in December. On 27 May 1916, Lance Corporal Lamont died of injuries in France, aged 25. After an inquiry into his death, a board found that he died as a result "of a self inflicted shot wound as the result of a mental aberation, as there is a complete absence of either motive or premeditation."
Hugh Lamont
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th May 1916, aged 25.
Plot I. K. 6.
Son of Farquhar and Ellen Lamont. Native of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
A farm hand prior to enlistment on 16 March 1915, Pte Lamont embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Euripides (A14) on 10 May 1915. He arrived at Gallipoli on 30 August and was promoted to Lance Corporal just prior to the evacuation of the AIF in December. On 27 May 1916, Lance Corporal Lamont died of injuries in France, aged 25. After an inquiry into his death, a board found that he died as a result "of a self inflicted shot wound as the result of a mental aberation, as there is a complete absence of either motive or premeditation."

2302 Private
James Henry Paterson
22nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd June 1916, aged 23.
Plot I. J. 4.
Son of Robert Paterson, of People's Palace, King St., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and the late Janet Paterson. Native of Hagley, Tasmania.
Pte. Paterson enlisted on 22 July 1915 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Hororata on 27 September 1915. He died of wounds on 3 June 1916.
James Henry Paterson
22nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd June 1916, aged 23.
Plot I. J. 4.
Son of Robert Paterson, of People's Palace, King St., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and the late Janet Paterson. Native of Hagley, Tasmania.
Pte. Paterson enlisted on 22 July 1915 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Hororata on 27 September 1915. He died of wounds on 3 June 1916.

2561 Sergeant
William Henry Pearce
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th July 1916, aged 28.
Plot I. K. 4.
Son of Mary Brace Pearce, of Pearcedale, Somerville, Victoria, Australia, and the late Nathaniel Pearce.
His headstone has the following inscription; "A Son And Brother, Kind And True. Loved And Respected By All He Knew."
William Henry Pearce
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th July 1916, aged 28.
Plot I. K. 4.
Son of Mary Brace Pearce, of Pearcedale, Somerville, Victoria, Australia, and the late Nathaniel Pearce.
His headstone has the following inscription; "A Son And Brother, Kind And True. Loved And Respected By All He Knew."

R/358243 Private
Thwaite Williamson
"A" Coy. 2nd/10th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
23rd April 1917, aged 41.
Plot II. B. 31.
Son of John Thwaite Williamson and Isabella Williamson, of Keswick, Cumberland; husband of Alice Maude Williamson, of 23, Fleming Square, Maryport, Cumberland.
His headstone has the following inscription; "Till The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away."
Thwaite Williamson
"A" Coy. 2nd/10th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
23rd April 1917, aged 41.
Plot II. B. 31.
Son of John Thwaite Williamson and Isabella Williamson, of Keswick, Cumberland; husband of Alice Maude Williamson, of 23, Fleming Square, Maryport, Cumberland.
His headstone has the following inscription; "Till The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away."

The effect of the first shell which landed in Erquinghem-Lys, November 1914. The stable was demolished and two horses (seen left and right) were killed. The driver, between them, who was grooming them at the time, was untouched. Lieutenant Colonel A A Watson, commanding officer of the 18th Field Ambulance, 6th Division, is in the centre. © IWM (Q 50226)