FRICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY (BRAY ROAD)
Somme
France
Location Information
Fricourt is a village in the Department of the Somme, approximately 5 kilometres east of Albert.
Fricourt British Cemetery (Bray Road) is just south of the village, on the right hand side of the road to Bray-sur-Somme and on the north bank of a small stream.
Visiting Information
This cemetery contains graves in which more than one casualty is buried and on which more than one headstone is erected. As each of the graves has a single grave number, it follows that the numbering of the grave will in some cases not correspond with the number of the headstone as determined by counting from the beginning of the row. Visitors should therefore examine the whole row if they do not at once find the grave in which they are interested.
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
On 30 June 1916, Fricourt village was just within the German front line. It was attacked on 1 July by the 17th Division, and by the end of the day it was caught between that division to the west, the 21st to the north and the 7th to the south. the village was occupied by the 17th Division the following day. From 25 March 1918 to the following 26 August, Fricourt was again in German hands.
Two cemeteries were made by the 17th Division, and most of the dead buried in them belonged to that division.
Fricourt British Cemetery (Bray Road) was made by the 7th East Yorkshire Regiment between 5 and 11 July 1916. It was used until the end of October, and again (for four burials) in 1918.
The cemetery contains 133 burials and commemorations of the First World War. One of the burials is unidentified and a special memorial commemorates one casualty known to be buried in the cemetery whose grave could not be located.
Total Burials: 133 and 1 Special Memorial.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 131, New Zealand 1. Total 132.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
27073 Private Percy Clayton Bryan 7th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment 1st July 1916, aged 21. A. 22. Son of Mr and Mrs John Henry Bryan of South Parade, Cleckheaton. |
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26479 Private
William Auckland
7th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 25.
Sp. Mem. D. 2.
Son of Margaret Fryer (formerly Auckland), of 109, Waterloo Rd., Middlesbrough, and the late William Auckland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy."
William Auckland
7th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 25.
Sp. Mem. D. 2.
Son of Margaret Fryer (formerly Auckland), of 109, Waterloo Rd., Middlesbrough, and the late William Auckland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy."
14486 Private
Charlton Waggett Forster
7th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 39.
Sp. Mem. B. 13.
Son of the late John and Elizabeth Forster, husband of Agnes Forster, of 39, Peel St., South Shields.
The inscription on his headstone reads; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
Charlton Waggett Forster
7th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 39.
Sp. Mem. B. 13.
Son of the late John and Elizabeth Forster, husband of Agnes Forster, of 39, Peel St., South Shields.
The inscription on his headstone reads; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
The bombardment of Fricourt, 2 July 1916. Fricourt was captured early in the morning of the 2nd by the 17th Division. © IWM (Q 114)
Major
Ronald Henry Greig, D. S. O.
54th Field Coy. Royal Engineers
28th August 1916, aged 40.
Row B. 3.
Son of Colonel Greig (Royal Artillery) and Mrs. Banks Greig; husband of Mary H. Greig, of 54, Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Blessed Are The Pure In Heart."
Ronald Henry Greig, D. S. O.
54th Field Coy. Royal Engineers
28th August 1916, aged 40.
Row B. 3.
Son of Colonel Greig (Royal Artillery) and Mrs. Banks Greig; husband of Mary H. Greig, of 54, Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Blessed Are The Pure In Heart."
12476 Private
Daniel Mackin
7th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 26.
Row A. 8.
Son of Stephen and Mary Mackin, of 7, Wellington Street, South Bank, Yorks.
Daniel Mackin
7th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 26.
Row A. 8.
Son of Stephen and Mary Mackin, of 7, Wellington Street, South Bank, Yorks.
Major
Robert George Raper
8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
2nd July 1916, aged 39.
Row B. 24A.
Husband of Mrs I Raper of Richards Hill, Battle, Sussex.
Robert George Raper
8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
2nd July 1916, aged 39.
Row B. 24A.
Husband of Mrs I Raper of Richards Hill, Battle, Sussex.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
A group of British soldiers having a rest on their way from the trenches. Near Fricourt, on the Fricourt-Contalmaison road. November 1916. © IWM Q 4495
