FEUCHY CHAPEL BRITISH CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.26924, Longitude: 2.85646
Location Information
Wancourt is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais. It lies in the valley of the Cojeul River nearly 2 kilometres south of the main road from Arras to Cambrai. Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery is situated on the south side of this road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this site is possible, but maybe by alternative entrance.
Historical Information
Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting, lost in March 1918, and retaken by the Canadian Corps on the following 26 August.
The cemetery was begun by the VI Corps Burial Officer in May 1917, used at intervals until March 1918, and again in August and September 1918. At the Armistice, it contained 249 graves, all in the present Plot I. It was then enlarged when 834 graves (mainly of April and May 1917) were brought in from the battlefields of Fampoux, Roeux, Monchy and Wancourt, and from a few smaller burial grounds, including:-
FEUCHY CHAPEL QUARRY CEMETERY, FEUCHY, about 200 metres North of "Feuchy Chapel", containing the graves of 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in April, 1917; and;-
GUILDFORD TRENCH CEMETERY, TILLOY-LES-MOFFLAINES, between Blangy and Tilloy, containing the graves of 24 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly of the 12th Division) who fell on the 9th April, 1917.
There are now 1,103 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War in this cemetery. 578 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 14 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate six casualties buried in Feuchy Chapel Quarry Cemetery, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
Total Burials: 1,103.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 504, Canada 20, South Africa 1. Total 525.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 572, Canada 6. Total 578
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith
Lieutenant
Juan Manuel Aldana
12th Bn. attached to 4th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
21st April 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 33.
Son of Abelards and Eliza Halliday Aldana, of 32, Park Avenue, Porthcawl, Glam.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Conviction Of Duty Is A Divine Inspiration"
Juan Manuel Aldana
12th Bn. attached to 4th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
21st April 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 33.
Son of Abelards and Eliza Halliday Aldana, of 32, Park Avenue, Porthcawl, Glam.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Conviction Of Duty Is A Divine Inspiration"
15889 Private
Arthur Cliffe
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
3rd May 1917
Plot III. D. 2.
Arthur Cliffe
11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
3rd May 1917
Plot III. D. 2.
40943 Private
Alexander Fraser Cruickshank, M. M. Croix de Guerre (France)
7th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers, attd. 46th Trench Mortar Bty. (Formerly 22209, Royal Canadian Regiment)
Plot V. H. 3.
Son of Henry Cruickshank and Jemima (nee Martin) Cruickshank
Alex was born in Kemnay, Scotland on 7th November 1893. He lived in Sauchen and enlisted at Aberdeen.
Pictures courtesy of great, great nephew Graham Cruickshank Smith. Also remembered by William Cruickshank.
Alexander Fraser Cruickshank, M. M. Croix de Guerre (France)
7th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers, attd. 46th Trench Mortar Bty. (Formerly 22209, Royal Canadian Regiment)
Plot V. H. 3.
Son of Henry Cruickshank and Jemima (nee Martin) Cruickshank
Alex was born in Kemnay, Scotland on 7th November 1893. He lived in Sauchen and enlisted at Aberdeen.
Pictures courtesy of great, great nephew Graham Cruickshank Smith. Also remembered by William Cruickshank.
172387 Private
David Law Lumsden
5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
26th August 1918.
Plot III. E. 15.
David Law Lumsden
5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
26th August 1918.
Plot III. E. 15.
Second Lieutenant
Cyril John Pile
12th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Field Artillery
29th April 1917, aged 19.
Plot III. C. 19.
Son of Sir Thomas D. Pile, 1st Bart., and Lady Pile, of Kenilworth House, Willesden Lane, London. Born Dublin.
Lieutenant Cyril John Pile, Royal Field Artillery and Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action in his 19th year, was the youngest son of Sir Thomas D. Pile, of Kenilworth House, Willesden Lane. He was born at Rathgar, Dublin, and was educated at Mill Hill School, London. Leaving there when 18 years of age, he joined the Royal Field Artillery as Second Lieutenant, and was gazetted to the Royal Flying Corps in January, 1916. Lieut. Pile was a very enthusiastic and successful Flying officer, and within three weeks of his appointment was sent to the front. He lost his life while scouting, being suddenly attacked by an enemy aeroplane, whom he defeated. Unfortunately the lower planes of his machine were shot away in the combat. He managed to bring the machine safely down to within a few hundred feet, when it suddenly collapsed, Lieutenant Pile being so badly injured that he died almost immediately.
Cyril John Pile
12th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Field Artillery
29th April 1917, aged 19.
Plot III. C. 19.
Son of Sir Thomas D. Pile, 1st Bart., and Lady Pile, of Kenilworth House, Willesden Lane, London. Born Dublin.
Lieutenant Cyril John Pile, Royal Field Artillery and Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action in his 19th year, was the youngest son of Sir Thomas D. Pile, of Kenilworth House, Willesden Lane. He was born at Rathgar, Dublin, and was educated at Mill Hill School, London. Leaving there when 18 years of age, he joined the Royal Field Artillery as Second Lieutenant, and was gazetted to the Royal Flying Corps in January, 1916. Lieut. Pile was a very enthusiastic and successful Flying officer, and within three weeks of his appointment was sent to the front. He lost his life while scouting, being suddenly attacked by an enemy aeroplane, whom he defeated. Unfortunately the lower planes of his machine were shot away in the combat. He managed to bring the machine safely down to within a few hundred feet, when it suddenly collapsed, Lieutenant Pile being so badly injured that he died almost immediately.
Pre 1937 - ©CWGC
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Second Lieutenant
David Lyon Scott
4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
9th April 1917, aged 23.
Plot I. E. 22.
Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Scott, of Aberdeen.
David Lyon Scott
4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
9th April 1917, aged 23.
Plot I. E. 22.
Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Scott, of Aberdeen.
104936 Gunner
Eli Smith
"B" Battery, 70th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
19th April 1917.
Plot II. E. 10.
Eli Smith
"B" Battery, 70th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
19th April 1917.
Plot II. E. 10.
31744 Private
H. Swan
9th Bn. Essex Regiment
9th April 1917, aged 19.
Plot I. A. 22.
Son of Charles and Mary Ann Swan, of Hempstead Rd., Radwinter, Saffron Walden, Essex.
His brother William Swan also fell on the same day and he is buried very close by in Fampoux British Cemetery
H. Swan
9th Bn. Essex Regiment
9th April 1917, aged 19.
Plot I. A. 22.
Son of Charles and Mary Ann Swan, of Hempstead Rd., Radwinter, Saffron Walden, Essex.
His brother William Swan also fell on the same day and he is buried very close by in Fampoux British Cemetery
44645 Private
Arthur Thompson
12th Bn. Manchester Regiment
14th April 1917, aged 38.
Plot III. A. 16.
Son of Mrs. Isabella Thompson, of 58, Curzon St., Burnley.
Arthur Thompson
12th Bn. Manchester Regiment
14th April 1917, aged 38.
Plot III. A. 16.
Son of Mrs. Isabella Thompson, of 58, Curzon St., Burnley.
Lieutenant
Leonard Patrick Vernon, M. C.
10th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
18th June 1917
Plot I. G. 15.
Leonard Patrick Vernon, M. C.
10th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
18th June 1917
Plot I. G. 15.
7764 Sergeant
Sidney Welch
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
25th July 1917, aged 30.
Plot II. F. 8.
Son of Mrs. Eliza Ann Welch, of Cothelestone, Bishop's Lydeard, Taunton.
Sidney Welch
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
25th July 1917, aged 30.
Plot II. F. 8.
Son of Mrs. Eliza Ann Welch, of Cothelestone, Bishop's Lydeard, Taunton.
Pre 1937 - ©CWGC
Troops of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) in an avenue of dug-outs near Wancourt, 29 April, 1917. © IWM (Q 5272)
British troops watching shell-bursts near Wancourt, SE of Arras, 21st June 1917. © IWM (Q 2552)
British officers dining in a reserve trench at Wancourt, 29 April 1917. © IWM (Q 5276)
