Estaires Communal Cemetery and Extension, Nord, France

ESTAIRES COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND EXTENSION

Nord

France

Location Information

Estaires is a town and commune in the Department of the Nord, about 11 kilometres west of Armentieres.

The Cemetery is on the eastern outskirts of the town and on the east side of the road to Bailleul.

Leave the church and head north-east on the Avenue Kennedy. Take the second road on the left after 400 metres onto Rue de l'Egalite, which leads to the cemetery on the right hand side of the road. The Extension is on the far left hand side of the Communal Cemetery.

Visiting Information

Winter hours : Monday to Sunday 8.00 to 17.00

Summer hours : Monday to Sunday 8.00 to 19.00

Historical Information

Estaires town was occupied by French cavalry on the 15 October 1914, and passed at once into British hands. On the 10 April 1918 it was captured by the enemy, after an obstinate defence by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division; and it was finally retaken by British troops at the beginning of September 1918.

The town was a Field Ambulance centre as early as November 1914, and later the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station was posted in it. It was later "adopted" by the County Borough of Plymouth.

Estaires Communal Cemetery was used for British burials from the early days of November 1914 to June 1917, and two burials of September 1918 are in Plot II, Row P. Estaires Communal Cemetery Extension was used from April 1917 to April 1918, and again in September-November 1918. The Plots are numbered IV and V, in continuation of the numbering for the Communal Cemetery.

The Portuguese graves of June-August 1917 and two French graves were removed after the Armistice. A German Plot of 63 graves, made on the North side during the enemy occupation in 1918, has been removed.

There are a total of 877 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war here, of which 65 are unidentified. There are 9 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-45 War, killed during the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk at the end of May 1940. There are also 14 Non Commonwealth burials in C.W.G.C. care.

The five Plots cover an area of 3,336 square metres.

The Communal and Extension were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Noel Ackroyd Rew

Total Burials: 900.

World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 605, Australia 139, New Zealand 56, Canada 6, Germany 6, India 6. Total 818.

World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 9. Total 9.

Non Commonwealth Burials: 14.

Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem

Brigadier General, Sir John Edmond Gough, V. C., K. C. B., C. M. G. (Twice mentioned in Despatches)
General Staff, A. D. C. to H.M. The King. Chief of Staff, First Army late Rifle Brigade.
Died of wounds on 22nd February 1915, aged 43.
Plot II. A. 7. (Communal)

Son of Gen. Sir Charles Gough, V.C., G.C.B.; husband of Lady Gough, of 4, Upper Harley St., Regent's Park, London.

The award was won in Somaliland in 1903,

Citation:

V. C. won Somaliland, 1903. An extract from the London Gazette dated 15th January 1904 records the following: "During the action at Daratoleh, on 22nd April last, Major Gough assisted Captains Walker and Rolland in carrying back the late Captain Bruce (who had been mortally wounded) and preventing that Officer from falling into the hands of the enemy. Captains Walker and Rolland have already been awarded the Victoria Cross for their gallantry on this occasion, but Major Gough (who was in command of the column) made no mention of his own conduct, which has only recently been brought to notice."

Headstone and Funeral

Estaires Communal Cemetery & Extension Victoria Cross Gough

Picture © Werner Van Caneghem

Funeral of Brigadier-General Sir John Edmond Gough, VC, who died of wounds on the 22nd February 1915. © IWM (Q 57413)

Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos

Shot at Dawn

10958 Private A. Penn, 1st Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers, executed for desertion 22nd April 1915. Plot III. D. 6. (Joint grave)

10853 Private A. Troughton, 1st Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers, executed for desertion 22nd April 1915, aged 22. Son of Nathaniel Troughton, of 14, Ash Grove, Stoney Station Rd., Coventry. Plot III. D. 6. (Joint grave)

They were executed together on 22 Apr 1915, but no other detail is available. (Putkowski, p.42)

Estaires Communal Cemetery & Extension Shot at Dawn Penn

Picture © Geerhard Joos

Estaires Communal Cemetery & Extension Shot at Dawn Troughton

Picture © Geerhard Joos

Original graves at Estaires Communal Cemetery and Extension. © Jeremy Gordon-Smith

The Battle of the Lys, April 1918. Estaires in flames at night. Estaires fell on 11 April after fierce street fighting with the 5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and 6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers of the British 50th Division. © IWM (Q 55258)