FONTAINE-AU-PIRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.1305, Longitude: 3.3701
Location Information
Fontaine-au-Pire is a large village in the Department of the Nord, about 11 kilometres south-east of Cambrai.
From Cambrai, take the N43 main road towards Le Cateau. After 11 kilometres, at Beauvois en Cambresis, turn right onto the D74 road towards Fontaine-au-Pire. After 1 kilometre, and at the boundary of Beauvois and Fontaine-au-Pire, turn right following signs to the Communal Cemetery. After 100 metres turn left into the 'Voie Serechal'. The Communal Cemetery is situated 400 metres down this road to the left.
Historical Information
The North-West end of the Communal Cemetery was used by the enemy after the Battle of Le Cateau, 1914, and the British wounded who died in the Mairie were buried there. Other British graves were made by the enemy during the War; and in October, 1918, the New Zealand Division, who took the village, buried three of their dead. The majority of the British burials are in one row, behind which is the terrace carrying the War Cross, but some are isolated in the ground South-East of the row.
There are 171, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these 101 are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to a United Kingdom soldier believed to be buried among them.
Plot I covers an area of 503 square metres.
The Commonwealth Plot was designed by Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, M. C.
Total Commonwealth Burials: 171
Identified Commonwealth Burials: United Kingdom 67, New Zealand 3. Total 70.
Unidentified Commonwealth Burials: United Kingdom 101.
German prisoners taken by the 4th Canadian Division during its crossing of the Canal du Nord on 27 September 1918. The prisoners are near Inchy, which was just behind the Canadian sector of the front, to the west of the canal. © IWM (CO 3302)
9111 Private
John Crilley
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
26th August 1914
Plot I. A. 55.
John Crilley
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
26th August 1914
Plot I. A. 55.
2/2822 Corporal
Robert Gordon Fordyce
1st Battery, New Zealand Field Artillery
19th October 1918, aged 23.
Plot III. 3.
Son of W. B. and C. Fordyce, of Marama Avenue, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. Born at Mount Eden, Auckland.
Robert Gordon Fordyce
1st Battery, New Zealand Field Artillery
19th October 1918, aged 23.
Plot III. 3.
Son of W. B. and C. Fordyce, of Marama Avenue, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. Born at Mount Eden, Auckland.
7513 Private
Ernest Gard
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
26th August 1914.
Plot I. B. 32.
Ernest Gard
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
26th August 1914.
Plot I. B. 32.
9396 Private
Albert George Harris
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
26th August 1914, aged 20.
Plot I. A. 29.
Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Harris, of Queen St., North Petherton, Bridgwater, Somerset.
Albert George Harris
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
26th August 1914, aged 20.
Plot I. A. 29.
Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Harris, of Queen St., North Petherton, Bridgwater, Somerset.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Lieutenant
Edward Montague Swayne Kent
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
26th August 1914, aged 23.
Plot I. B. 75.
Son of Colonel George Edward and Emma Perkins Kent of Normanhurst, Cavendish Road, Southsea.
Edward Montague Swayne Kent
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
26th August 1914, aged 23.
Plot I. B. 75.
Son of Colonel George Edward and Emma Perkins Kent of Normanhurst, Cavendish Road, Southsea.
10844 Corporal
David Ernest Murray
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
13th May 1915, aged 20.
Plot I. A. 64.
Son of Peter and Mary Murray, of 61 Highgate Street, Liverpool, Lancashire.
David Ernest Murray
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
13th May 1915, aged 20.
Plot I. A. 64.
Son of Peter and Mary Murray, of 61 Highgate Street, Liverpool, Lancashire.
Major
Stuart Hamilton Rickman, Twice Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. attd. Cdg. 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade
27th August 1914, aged 42.
Plot II. 7.
Son of the late Lt. Col. A. D. Rickman, The Rifle Brigade, and of Mrs. Edward Dunn, of Childrey Manor, Wantage, Berks.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Cambrai, Le Cateau. Beloved Son Of The Late Col. A.D.Rickman, R.B. Mrs. Edward Dunn."
Stuart Hamilton Rickman, Twice Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. attd. Cdg. 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade
27th August 1914, aged 42.
Plot II. 7.
Son of the late Lt. Col. A. D. Rickman, The Rifle Brigade, and of Mrs. Edward Dunn, of Childrey Manor, Wantage, Berks.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Cambrai, Le Cateau. Beloved Son Of The Late Col. A.D.Rickman, R.B. Mrs. Edward Dunn."
2210 Private
Albert Edward George Watts
1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
26th August 1914, aged 17.
Plot I. A. 3.
Son of Albert E. & Annie E. Watts of Gosford Street, Coventry
His Brother John Spencer George Watts aged 20 was also killed during the Great War and died on 26th August 1914, aged 20. He is buried in Locre Hospice Cemetery in Belgium.
Albert Edward George Watts
1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
26th August 1914, aged 17.
Plot I. A. 3.
Son of Albert E. & Annie E. Watts of Gosford Street, Coventry
His Brother John Spencer George Watts aged 20 was also killed during the Great War and died on 26th August 1914, aged 20. He is buried in Locre Hospice Cemetery in Belgium.
Capture of Cambrai by the British 57th Division. Soldiers of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment wearing pickelhaubes which they found whilst on patrol in Cambrai, 9 October 1918. © IWM (Q 11367)
