FRECHENCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Somme
France
Location Information
Frechencourt is a village in the Somme department of France and is approximately 12 kilometres north-east of Amiens.
From Amiens head along the D929 towards Albert. At the village of Querrieu turn left along the D30 towards St Gratien and then first right along a minor road towards Frechencourt. Just before you reach the village there is a Commission road sign directing you to turn right towards the Communal Cemetery. The Commission plot is at the rear of the cemetery.
Historical Information
The communal cemetery was used by Commonwealth troops from April to August 1918 and contains 57 burials of the First World War.
Casualty Details: UK 8, Australia 49, Total Burials: 57
Frechencourt is a village in the Somme department of France and is approximately 12 kilometres north-east of Amiens.
From Amiens head along the D929 towards Albert. At the village of Querrieu turn left along the D30 towards St Gratien and then first right along a minor road towards Frechencourt. Just before you reach the village there is a Commission road sign directing you to turn right towards the Communal Cemetery. The Commission plot is at the rear of the cemetery.
Historical Information
The communal cemetery was used by Commonwealth troops from April to August 1918 and contains 57 burials of the First World War.
Casualty Details: UK 8, Australia 49, Total Burials: 57
Lieutenant
Reginald McClure Abernethy
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
22nd May 1918
Row D. 8.
Son of William McClure Abernethy and Margaret Abernethy, of Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "I Will Give Thee A Crown Of Life Rev. 2.10."
Reginald Abernethy can be seen in the image below, second from the right which was taken on 23rd April 1917. He would be killed one month later.
Reginald McClure Abernethy
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
22nd May 1918
Row D. 8.
Son of William McClure Abernethy and Margaret Abernethy, of Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "I Will Give Thee A Crown Of Life Rev. 2.10."
Reginald Abernethy can be seen in the image below, second from the right which was taken on 23rd April 1917. He would be killed one month later.
Informal portrait of officers outside the 105th Howitzer Battery Headquarters' dugout, the position being the first one occupied by the Battery on coming down to the Somme in April 1918. The howitzers were behind the bank on the immediate left. The position was taken over from a British Battery on 9 April 1918. The 14th Battery position was about 200 yards to the right. Left to right: Lieutenant (Lt) J. F. Strachan; Lt Rene Anthony Ulcoq MC; Captain (Capt) C. C. C. Wren MC, Officer Commanding, 14th Battery (foreground); Lt Miles Burnett Connor (in doorway); Lt Reginald Mcclure Abernethy, 14th Battery (Killed In Action By An Aerial Bomb Near Amiens On 22 May 1918); Major G. H. Parker, Officer Commanding. Capt Wren is holding a toy, celluloid 'Kewpie' doll that has a ribbon around its middle.
33303 Gunner
Harold Henry Jacob
11th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
9th April 1918, aged 19.
Row B. 12.
Son of Frederick Henry and Sarah Jacob, of 34, Clanscreen St., North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "Also Pte. H.G. Jacob 6th Batt. Died At Sea 2/5/15 From Wounds. Duty Done." (Herbert Gordon Jacob is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.)
Harold Henry Jacob
11th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
9th April 1918, aged 19.
Row B. 12.
Son of Frederick Henry and Sarah Jacob, of 34, Clanscreen St., North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "Also Pte. H.G. Jacob 6th Batt. Died At Sea 2/5/15 From Wounds. Duty Done." (Herbert Gordon Jacob is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.)
2430A Gunner
Frederick Platten
11th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
24th April 1918
Row D. 13.
Frederick Platten
11th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
24th April 1918
Row D. 13.
871 Gunner
Henry William Purnell, M. M.
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
29th May 1918, aged 24.
Plot D. 2.
Son of Robert and Helen Purnell, of Hermitage Rd., Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
William Purnell's Military Medal citation reads; "At Ribemont on 16 May 1918, Gunner Purnell with two others endeavoured at great personal risk to himself, to put out blazing ammunition, exploding charges, and primers in a gun pit. The heat and fumes drove him back repeatedly but each time he returned and continued his efforts, at one time rolling clear of the conflagration shells which had become dangerously hot. Finding that it was impossible to put out the fire, he with two others went into the blaze again and manhandled the gun clear of the fire. This man's courage undoubtedly was of great assistance in preventing the destruction of the Howitzer."
Harry Purnell was killed by a premature shell burst whilst on the guns at the battery position to the right of the Albert Road, about 2 kilometres past Franvillers.
Henry William Purnell, M. M.
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
29th May 1918, aged 24.
Plot D. 2.
Son of Robert and Helen Purnell, of Hermitage Rd., Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
William Purnell's Military Medal citation reads; "At Ribemont on 16 May 1918, Gunner Purnell with two others endeavoured at great personal risk to himself, to put out blazing ammunition, exploding charges, and primers in a gun pit. The heat and fumes drove him back repeatedly but each time he returned and continued his efforts, at one time rolling clear of the conflagration shells which had become dangerously hot. Finding that it was impossible to put out the fire, he with two others went into the blaze again and manhandled the gun clear of the fire. This man's courage undoubtedly was of great assistance in preventing the destruction of the Howitzer."
Harry Purnell was killed by a premature shell burst whilst on the guns at the battery position to the right of the Albert Road, about 2 kilometres past Franvillers.
9465 Sergeant
Leslie Thomas Sheils
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
13th July 1918, aged 28.
Row B. 9.
Son of William and Elizabeth Sheils; husband of Ivy Ursula Sheils, of Una St., Harris Park, New South Wales. Native of Bobundarah, Cooma, New South Wales.
The inscription on his headstone reads; "As The Ivy Clings To The Oak Our Memory Clings To Thee."
One Sergeant Goodliffe gives the following description of the death of Leslie Sheils and another man, Gunner W. A. Hair in the same incident; "These two men were killed at the same time in Mericourt l'Abbe on 13th July. They were in a dugout which was hit by a shell, they were buried but were soon dug out. Sheils was alive when he was got out, but he had struggled a great deal to get himself out, and was exhausted and he died near the spot where the incident occurred. hair had evidently been killed instantly. They would be buried at Frechencourt on the Somme." Gunner William Angus Ilett Hair is now buried in the next grave to Leslie Sheils, Row B. 8.
Leslie Thomas Sheils
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
13th July 1918, aged 28.
Row B. 9.
Son of William and Elizabeth Sheils; husband of Ivy Ursula Sheils, of Una St., Harris Park, New South Wales. Native of Bobundarah, Cooma, New South Wales.
The inscription on his headstone reads; "As The Ivy Clings To The Oak Our Memory Clings To Thee."
One Sergeant Goodliffe gives the following description of the death of Leslie Sheils and another man, Gunner W. A. Hair in the same incident; "These two men were killed at the same time in Mericourt l'Abbe on 13th July. They were in a dugout which was hit by a shell, they were buried but were soon dug out. Sheils was alive when he was got out, but he had struggled a great deal to get himself out, and was exhausted and he died near the spot where the incident occurred. hair had evidently been killed instantly. They would be buried at Frechencourt on the Somme." Gunner William Angus Ilett Hair is now buried in the next grave to Leslie Sheils, Row B. 8.
A portion of the communal cemetery at Frechencourt, Department of the Somme, France on the Amiens to Albert Road, showing graves of soldiers of the 4th Australian Division Field Artillery Brigade and others. Names include 4306 Gunner George Benson Todd from Launceston, Tasmania; 2430A Gunner Frederick Platten from Brisbane, Queensland; and 21142 Bombardier Louis Gerald Leyland from Barcaldine, Queensland who were all in the 11th Brigade, Australian Field Artillery and were all killed in action on 24 April 1918. Also included is 18948 Gunner Harry Twyford Truman, 5th Brigade, Australian Field Artillery from Sydney, NSW who was killed in action on 19 April 1918.
A view of a group of lorries at the railhead at Frechencourt. The lorry on the left bears the mark of the 10th Motor Ambulance Convoy, and the vehicle next to it, First Division. Frechencourt, March 1917. © IWM (Q 4823)
