FILLIÈVRES BRITISH CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
Location Information
Fillievres is a village about 44 kilometres west of Arras and 14 kilometres south-west of St Pol. The Cemetery is about 1 kilometre south of the village, on the road (D340) to Frevent.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
The register is available in the Mairie from Monday to Friday from 14.00 to 17.00
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun in June 1918 by the 46th Casualty Clearing station, used later by 6th Stationary Hospital, and subsequently completed by the inclusion of graves from French cemeteries and German burial grounds in the area. The cemetery was used again during the Second World War.
The cemeteries from which graves were brought into Fillievres British Cemetery were the following :-
ACHEUX-en-VIMEU CHURCHYARD, where three British soldiers were buried in 1916.
BOIRY ST. RICTRUDE CHURCHYARD, where one British officer was buried in 1916.
FOSSEUX FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY, where two British soldiers were buried in 1917 and 1918.
MAIZIERES CHURCHYARD, where one British soldier was buried in 1917.
TOURS-en-VIMEU CHURCHYARD, where one British soldier was buried in 1916.
The cemetery now contains 81 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (eight of them unidentified) and 19 Second World War burials.
Casualty Details: UK 79, Canada 1, New Zealand 1, Total Burials: 81
Fillievres is a village about 44 kilometres west of Arras and 14 kilometres south-west of St Pol. The Cemetery is about 1 kilometre south of the village, on the road (D340) to Frevent.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
The register is available in the Mairie from Monday to Friday from 14.00 to 17.00
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun in June 1918 by the 46th Casualty Clearing station, used later by 6th Stationary Hospital, and subsequently completed by the inclusion of graves from French cemeteries and German burial grounds in the area. The cemetery was used again during the Second World War.
The cemeteries from which graves were brought into Fillievres British Cemetery were the following :-
ACHEUX-en-VIMEU CHURCHYARD, where three British soldiers were buried in 1916.
BOIRY ST. RICTRUDE CHURCHYARD, where one British officer was buried in 1916.
FOSSEUX FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY, where two British soldiers were buried in 1917 and 1918.
MAIZIERES CHURCHYARD, where one British soldier was buried in 1917.
TOURS-en-VIMEU CHURCHYARD, where one British soldier was buried in 1916.
The cemetery now contains 81 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (eight of them unidentified) and 19 Second World War burials.
Casualty Details: UK 79, Canada 1, New Zealand 1, Total Burials: 81
Lieutenant, Edward Felix, Baxter, V. C.
1st/8th Bn King's (Liverpool) Regiment, he was killed on 18th April 1916 aged 30 years and is buried in A.10.
Son of Charles and Beatrice Baxter, of Hartlebury, Worcestershire; husband of Leonora M. Gray (formerly Baxter), of 10, Bungalow, R.A.F., Uxbridge.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 26th Sept., 1916, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery. Prior to a raid on the hostile line he was engaged during two nights in cutting wire close to the enemy's trenches. The enemy could be heard on the other side of the parapet. Second Lieutenant Baxter, while assisting in the wire cutting, held a bomb in his hand with the pin withdrawn ready to throw. On one occasion the bomb slipped and fell to the ground, but he instantly picked it up, unscrewed the base plug, and took out the detonator, which he smothered in the ground, thereby preventing the alarm being given, and undoubtedly saving many casualties. Later, he led the left storming party with the greatest gallantry, and was the first man into the trench shooting the sentry with his revolver. He then assisted to bomb dug-outs, and finally climbed out of the trench and assisted the last man over the parapet. After this he was not seen again, though search parties went out at once to look for him. There seems no doubt that he lost his life in his great devotion to duty."
1st/8th Bn King's (Liverpool) Regiment, he was killed on 18th April 1916 aged 30 years and is buried in A.10.
Son of Charles and Beatrice Baxter, of Hartlebury, Worcestershire; husband of Leonora M. Gray (formerly Baxter), of 10, Bungalow, R.A.F., Uxbridge.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 26th Sept., 1916, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery. Prior to a raid on the hostile line he was engaged during two nights in cutting wire close to the enemy's trenches. The enemy could be heard on the other side of the parapet. Second Lieutenant Baxter, while assisting in the wire cutting, held a bomb in his hand with the pin withdrawn ready to throw. On one occasion the bomb slipped and fell to the ground, but he instantly picked it up, unscrewed the base plug, and took out the detonator, which he smothered in the ground, thereby preventing the alarm being given, and undoubtedly saving many casualties. Later, he led the left storming party with the greatest gallantry, and was the first man into the trench shooting the sentry with his revolver. He then assisted to bomb dug-outs, and finally climbed out of the trench and assisted the last man over the parapet. After this he was not seen again, though search parties went out at once to look for him. There seems no doubt that he lost his life in his great devotion to duty."
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Lieutenant
Geoffrey Joseph Lightbourne Welsford
15th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps and 3rd Bn. Middlesex Regiment
30th March 1916, aged 20.
Row A. 5.
Only son of Mildred L. Freeborn, widow of the late J. W. W. Welsford, M.A., and wife of E. W. Freeborn, M.A., of Bradbys, Harrow-on-the-Hill.
His headstone carries the inscription; "Only son of the late J. W. W. Welsford & Mrs E. W. Freeborn."
Geoffrey Joseph Lightbourne Welsford
15th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps and 3rd Bn. Middlesex Regiment
30th March 1916, aged 20.
Row A. 5.
Only son of Mildred L. Freeborn, widow of the late J. W. W. Welsford, M.A., and wife of E. W. Freeborn, M.A., of Bradbys, Harrow-on-the-Hill.
His headstone carries the inscription; "Only son of the late J. W. W. Welsford & Mrs E. W. Freeborn."
Lieutenant
Malcolm Henry Young
5th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
29th June 1916
Row A. 1.
Malcolm Henry Young
5th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
29th June 1916
Row A. 1.
Wounded British troops wearing German helmets outside a Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly, September 1916. © IWM (Q 1256)
Wounded British troops arriving at 43 Casualty Clearing Station, Frevent, 8 April 1918. © IWM (Q 334)
