GRAND RAVINE BRITISH CEMETERY
Havrincourt
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.10408, Longitude: 3.09449
Location Information
Havrincourt is a village approximately 10 kilometres south west of Cambrai and 3 kilometres south of the Cambrai to Bapaume road (N30). The cemetery is signposted from the centre of the village. Continue along Rue de Ribécourt. Passing the 62nd Division Memorial, the single track road continues into Havrincourt Wood where the cemetery is signposted to the right. and is located at the end of an unsurfaced track about 100 metres long.
Historical Information
Havrincourt village was stormed by the 62nd (West Riding) Division on 20 November 1917. It was lost on 23 March 1918, but it was retaken on 12 September by the 62nd Division, who held it against a counter-attack the following day.
Grand Ravine British Cemetery consists of three rows of graves. Row B was made by the 62nd Division Burial Officer in December 1917, and Rows A and C by the same officer in October 1918.
The cemetery contains 139 First World War burials, 11 of them unidentified.
The cemetery was designed by Noel Ackroyd Rew
Total Burials: 139.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 128.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 11.
Second Lieutenant
George Will Barraclough, M. C.
6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
29th September 1918.
Row C. 13.
Son of Mr. H. Barraclough, of Grove St., Dewsbury, Yorks.
George Will Barraclough, M. C.
6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
29th September 1918.
Row C. 13.
Son of Mr. H. Barraclough, of Grove St., Dewsbury, Yorks.
242083 Lance Corporal
William Cowling
5th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
27th September 1918, aged 22.
Row A. 26.
Son of Mr. J. P. and Mrs. S. J. Cowling, of Clough Farm, Swinefleet, Goole, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "May God Grant Him Eternal Rest"
William Cowling
5th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
27th September 1918, aged 22.
Row A. 26.
Son of Mr. J. P. and Mrs. S. J. Cowling, of Clough Farm, Swinefleet, Goole, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "May God Grant Him Eternal Rest"
Second Lieutenant
Joseph Dines
13th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
27th September 1918, aged 32.
Row A. 42.
Husband of Ethel Henrietta Eugenie Dines, of 176, Chigwell Rd., South Woodford, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember."
Joe Dines was an amateur footballer who represented the England amateur team at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, winning the gold medal. During his football career he played for Liverpool, Queen's Park Rangers, Millwall, King's Lynn, Ilford and Walthamstow Avenue.
Joseph Dines
13th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
27th September 1918, aged 32.
Row A. 42.
Husband of Ethel Henrietta Eugenie Dines, of 176, Chigwell Rd., South Woodford, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember."
Joe Dines was an amateur footballer who represented the England amateur team at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, winning the gold medal. During his football career he played for Liverpool, Queen's Park Rangers, Millwall, King's Lynn, Ilford and Walthamstow Avenue.
83839 Private
George Harrison
3rd Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
8th October 1918, aged 40.
Row C. 46.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Harrison, of Kirkby, Notts.; husband of Ellen Harrison, of 51, Harrington St., Mansfield, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription "Jesu In Thy Gracious Keeping We Now Thy Servant Sleeping"
George Harrison
3rd Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
8th October 1918, aged 40.
Row C. 46.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Harrison, of Kirkby, Notts.; husband of Ellen Harrison, of 51, Harrington St., Mansfield, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription "Jesu In Thy Gracious Keeping We Now Thy Servant Sleeping"
42006 Lance Corporal
Joseph Megson
2nd/5th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
20th November 1917, aged 40.
Row B. 5.
Husband of Mary W. Megson, of 31, Ryecroft St., Ossett, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Beloved husband of Mary W. Megson, of Ossett, Yorkshire."
Joseph Megson
2nd/5th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
20th November 1917, aged 40.
Row B. 5.
Husband of Mary W. Megson, of 31, Ryecroft St., Ossett, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Beloved husband of Mary W. Megson, of Ossett, Yorkshire."
47434 Private
Alfred Naylor
2nd/4th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
28th September 1918, aged 25.
Row C. 39.
Son of Bennett and Annie Naylor, of Denholme Drive, Ossett, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Of 3 South Terrace Ossett, Yorkshire. The Sacrifice Was Great."
Alfred Naylor
2nd/4th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
28th September 1918, aged 25.
Row C. 39.
Son of Bennett and Annie Naylor, of Denholme Drive, Ossett, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Of 3 South Terrace Ossett, Yorkshire. The Sacrifice Was Great."
57292 Rifleman
Richard Petty
2nd/8th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
20th November 1917, aged 27.
Row B. 25.
Son of Jane Petty, of Bishops House, Dunsop Bridge, Yorks, and the late Richard Petty.
His headstone bears the inscription "Here Have We No Continuing City Heb. 13-14 V.
Richard Petty
2nd/8th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
20th November 1917, aged 27.
Row B. 25.
Son of Jane Petty, of Bishops House, Dunsop Bridge, Yorks, and the late Richard Petty.
His headstone bears the inscription "Here Have We No Continuing City Heb. 13-14 V.
G/294 Private
Henry Playle
"D" Company, 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
27th September 1918, aged 36.
Row A. 38.
Son of Mary Ann Playle, of Hackney Wick, London; husband of Rose Emma Playle, of 69, Mabley St., Homerton, London.
Henry Playle
"D" Company, 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
27th September 1918, aged 36.
Row A. 38.
Son of Mary Ann Playle, of Hackney Wick, London; husband of Rose Emma Playle, of 69, Mabley St., Homerton, London.
35226 Private
John Henry Roberts
XI. Platoon, "C" Company, 2nd/4th Bn. Duke Of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
29th September 1918, aged 27.
Row C. 11.
Husband of Frances Roberts, of 16, Fowler Terrace, Hendon, Sunderland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Blessed Are They That Mourn For They Shall Be Comforted Matthew CH. 5, V. 4.
John Henry Roberts was born in July 1891 in Kilnhurst, 4 miles north east of Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
He was one of 11 children born to Henry Leech Roberts and Jane Roberts and lived at 294 Queen Street, Swinton.
Census records indicate that 9 of his siblings died and that the only other survivor was his sister, Susannah, who was about 8 years his junior.
The family seemed to have lived at other addresses in close proximity to Swinton before finally settling at no. 4 Albany Row in Kilnhurst.
Nothing is known of John's education but when he left school, he worked as a trammer at Thrybergh Hall Colliery.
On Friday 28th May 1915, at the age of 23 yrs and 10 months, John signed up for war service with the 3rd Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment at their training depot in Pontefract and was immediately posted to Sunderland where hundreds of soldiers from different Regiments had been drafted in to help protect the shipyards, railways, bridges and coastline.
It would appear that some time after his arrival, he met local girl Frances Wright and the two married at the Parish Church, Kilnhurst in August 1917.
During his army service, John was transferred between York & Lancs, East Yorkshire and Northumberland Fusiliers Regiments before being transferred to 'Class W' Reserve. 'Class W' meant that he was returned to his civilian job until the army were ready to call him back to the colours.
In the meantime, John 'lived in' with his new wife and her family in the Hendon area of Sunderland and on Friday 12th July 1918, their daughter Mary was born by which time, he had been recalled to the colours.
On Friday 30th August 1918, John was posted to the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment and embarked with the British Expeditionary Force to France.
On Monday 2nd September, having presumably arrived in France, he was transferred permanently to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment and sent to Havrincourt about 7½ km south west of Cambrai.
Havrincourt had been lost to the Germans in March 1918 but was retaken by the British 62nd Division (which included the Duke of Wellington's) on the 12th September and they held it against a counter attack the next day.
During trench fighting around Havrincourt on Sunday 29th September involving the New Zealanders and 37th Division, John was killed in action.
His daughter Mary was only twelve weeks old.
Pictures and above information courtesy of Irwin Smart (Grandson)
John Henry Roberts
XI. Platoon, "C" Company, 2nd/4th Bn. Duke Of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
29th September 1918, aged 27.
Row C. 11.
Husband of Frances Roberts, of 16, Fowler Terrace, Hendon, Sunderland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Blessed Are They That Mourn For They Shall Be Comforted Matthew CH. 5, V. 4.
John Henry Roberts was born in July 1891 in Kilnhurst, 4 miles north east of Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
He was one of 11 children born to Henry Leech Roberts and Jane Roberts and lived at 294 Queen Street, Swinton.
Census records indicate that 9 of his siblings died and that the only other survivor was his sister, Susannah, who was about 8 years his junior.
The family seemed to have lived at other addresses in close proximity to Swinton before finally settling at no. 4 Albany Row in Kilnhurst.
Nothing is known of John's education but when he left school, he worked as a trammer at Thrybergh Hall Colliery.
On Friday 28th May 1915, at the age of 23 yrs and 10 months, John signed up for war service with the 3rd Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment at their training depot in Pontefract and was immediately posted to Sunderland where hundreds of soldiers from different Regiments had been drafted in to help protect the shipyards, railways, bridges and coastline.
It would appear that some time after his arrival, he met local girl Frances Wright and the two married at the Parish Church, Kilnhurst in August 1917.
During his army service, John was transferred between York & Lancs, East Yorkshire and Northumberland Fusiliers Regiments before being transferred to 'Class W' Reserve. 'Class W' meant that he was returned to his civilian job until the army were ready to call him back to the colours.
In the meantime, John 'lived in' with his new wife and her family in the Hendon area of Sunderland and on Friday 12th July 1918, their daughter Mary was born by which time, he had been recalled to the colours.
On Friday 30th August 1918, John was posted to the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment and embarked with the British Expeditionary Force to France.
On Monday 2nd September, having presumably arrived in France, he was transferred permanently to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment and sent to Havrincourt about 7½ km south west of Cambrai.
Havrincourt had been lost to the Germans in March 1918 but was retaken by the British 62nd Division (which included the Duke of Wellington's) on the 12th September and they held it against a counter attack the next day.
During trench fighting around Havrincourt on Sunday 29th September involving the New Zealanders and 37th Division, John was killed in action.
His daughter Mary was only twelve weeks old.
Pictures and above information courtesy of Irwin Smart (Grandson)
665 Private
William Henry Wilkinson
2nd/4th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
28th September 1918, aged 28.
Row C. 41.
Son of George Edwin and Sarah Ann Wilkinson, The Lilacs, Shaw Lane, Barnsley.
His headstone bears the inscription "Son Of George & Sarah Ann Wilkinson, Barnsley, Yorks"
William Henry Wilkinson
2nd/4th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
28th September 1918, aged 28.
Row C. 41.
Son of George Edwin and Sarah Ann Wilkinson, The Lilacs, Shaw Lane, Barnsley.
His headstone bears the inscription "Son Of George & Sarah Ann Wilkinson, Barnsley, Yorks"
Men of the 11th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in a captured German communications trench near Havrincourt during the Battle of Cambrai, November 1917. © IWM (Q 3187)
An artillery observation officer on top of a ruined wall at Havrincourt, 20 November 1917. © IWM (Q 3205)
