FIENVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.11576 Longitude: 2.21988
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Location Information
Fienvillers is a village in the Department of the Somme, on the Doullens-Abbeville main road, 11 kilometres south-west of Doullens. There is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission signpost on the Doullens-Abbeville main road. The British Cemetery is at the south-east side of the road to Pernois, near the south-west corner of the village.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
TWO SPECIAL HEADSTONES IN FIENVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY
Visitors with an attentive eye may have noticed two headstones that stand out from the rest in Fienvillers British Cemetery. At first glance, you might think the wrong material was used for those two headstones. However, historical research has revealed the truth. Originally, all the headstones were erected in Stancliffe sandstone. Later, in the 1950's all, except for those two, were replaced by headstones of Portland stone. At that time, it was believed that the soft Stancliffe sandstone would not wear as well and that Portland would be easier to maintain. However the two surviving headstones in sandstone disprove this theory.
Historical Information
The cemetery was made by the 38th and 34th Casualty Clearing Stations which were posted at Fienvillers in the summer of 1918. It was begun in May 1918 and used until the following September, and one grave was brought in after the Armistice from an isolated position near Bernaville.
Fienvillers British Cemetery now contains 125 First World War burials.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdon 123, Canada 1, New Zealand 1. Total 125.
The cemetery was designed by A J S Hutton and Sir Edwin Lutyens
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
218762 Corporal
William Aitken
2nd Light Railway Operating Coy. Royal Engineers
20th May 1918, aged 46.
Row A. 1.
Son of the late Alexander and Isabella Brown Aitken, of Innerleithen.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He died, that we may live."
William Aitken
2nd Light Railway Operating Coy. Royal Engineers
20th May 1918, aged 46.
Row A. 1.
Son of the late Alexander and Isabella Brown Aitken, of Innerleithen.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He died, that we may live."
205675 Private
Herman Dean
1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment
5th September 1918, aged 30.
Row D. 16.
Son of William Dean, of 5, Trafalgar Square, Ashton-under-Lyne. Also served at the Dardanelles.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sadly Missed Silently Mourned"
Herman Dean
1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment
5th September 1918, aged 30.
Row D. 16.
Son of William Dean, of 5, Trafalgar Square, Ashton-under-Lyne. Also served at the Dardanelles.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sadly Missed Silently Mourned"
24/532 Lance Corporal
Edgar George Murfitt
"C" Coy. 2nd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
31st August 1918, aged 26.
Row D. 4.
Son of G. B. Murfitt, of Rangiora, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Edgar George Murfitt
"C" Coy. 2nd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
31st August 1918, aged 26.
Row D. 4.
Son of G. B. Murfitt, of Rangiora, Christchurch, New Zealand.
54481 Private
Edward Allen Phillips
14th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
27th August 1918, aged 22.
Row B. 9.
Born at Bryngolen Briw, Llangedwyn, Oswestry.
His headstone bears the inscription "Fold Him O Father, In Thine Arms, And Let Him Henceforth Be"
Edward Allen Phillips
14th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
27th August 1918, aged 22.
Row B. 9.
Born at Bryngolen Briw, Llangedwyn, Oswestry.
His headstone bears the inscription "Fold Him O Father, In Thine Arms, And Let Him Henceforth Be"
54582 Lance Corporal
Peter Thomas
17th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
1st September 1918, aged 28.
Row D. 11.
Husband of Elizabeth Thomas, of Mostyn Cottage, Milford St., Mold, Flints.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory The Beloved Husband Of Elizabeth Thomas"
Peter Thomas
17th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
1st September 1918, aged 28.
Row D. 11.
Husband of Elizabeth Thomas, of Mostyn Cottage, Milford St., Mold, Flints.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory The Beloved Husband Of Elizabeth Thomas"
267953 Private
William John Wride
13th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
28th August 1918, aged 19.
Row B. 33.
Son of Charles and Agnes Louisa Wride, of 30, Gellicrossing, Ystrad (Rhondda), Glam.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Battles Are Over, And God Thought Best To Take Him To Eternal Rest"
William John Wride
13th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
28th August 1918, aged 19.
Row B. 33.
Son of Charles and Agnes Louisa Wride, of 30, Gellicrossing, Ystrad (Rhondda), Glam.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Battles Are Over, And God Thought Best To Take Him To Eternal Rest"
Shot at Dawn
20062 Private James A. Anderson. 12th Bn. The King's (Liverpool) Regiment executed for cowardice 12th September 1916, aged 30. Row D. 22.
He was an early volunteer, enlisting in Sept 1914. In the evening of 4 Aug 1916, Anderson had been in a working party carrying rations to the front line, but started to go back. When accosted by an officer, he said: ‘I am going out. I can stick it no longer. My nerves are gone’. He was apparently let pass — & in due course found asleep in his dugout.
Examined by the battalion MO, the report was that there was nothing wrong with him, no evidence of nervous exhaustion & — in terms — no sign of shell-shock.
At trial, Anderson said (but not on oath) that in June 1916 he had been buried in a dugout & had a nervous breakdown, spending some weeks in hospital. In March he had been sent to hospital for chronic bronchitis. On the night in question his nerves were ‘all shook up’ due to the shelling.
No character witnesses were available, the 2 officers sought being amongst recent casualties. In mitigation, Anderson said that 2 brothers had been killed in France & another wounded at Gallipoli. He also mentioned that he had taken part in the battle of Loos in 1915.
The CO — without personal knowledge of Anderson, who had only been with the battalion since 24 July — opined that Anderson was so frightened of shell-fire that he deliberately prepared to take his chance of the consequences rather than remain under it; & that he was not worth keeping, & deserved execution for the sake of example. The other commanders all concurred. (Corns, pp. 199-200, 212)
20062 Private James A. Anderson. 12th Bn. The King's (Liverpool) Regiment executed for cowardice 12th September 1916, aged 30. Row D. 22.
He was an early volunteer, enlisting in Sept 1914. In the evening of 4 Aug 1916, Anderson had been in a working party carrying rations to the front line, but started to go back. When accosted by an officer, he said: ‘I am going out. I can stick it no longer. My nerves are gone’. He was apparently let pass — & in due course found asleep in his dugout.
Examined by the battalion MO, the report was that there was nothing wrong with him, no evidence of nervous exhaustion & — in terms — no sign of shell-shock.
At trial, Anderson said (but not on oath) that in June 1916 he had been buried in a dugout & had a nervous breakdown, spending some weeks in hospital. In March he had been sent to hospital for chronic bronchitis. On the night in question his nerves were ‘all shook up’ due to the shelling.
No character witnesses were available, the 2 officers sought being amongst recent casualties. In mitigation, Anderson said that 2 brothers had been killed in France & another wounded at Gallipoli. He also mentioned that he had taken part in the battle of Loos in 1915.
The CO — without personal knowledge of Anderson, who had only been with the battalion since 24 July — opined that Anderson was so frightened of shell-fire that he deliberately prepared to take his chance of the consequences rather than remain under it; & that he was not worth keeping, & deserved execution for the sake of example. The other commanders all concurred. (Corns, pp. 199-200, 212)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Herbert Asquith, the British Prime Minister, with Major Edward Gerald Thompson, the ADC to General Douglas Haig, passing by a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12 biplane at RFC headquarters at Fienvillers, 7th August 1916. © IWM (Q 11866)
