HAMEL MILITARY CEMETERY
Beaumont-Hamel
Somme
France
Picture © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Hamel is a small village about 6.5 kilometres north of Albert.
Using the D929 from Bapaume to Albert, continue until you come to La Boisselle, where there is a right turn signposted to Aveluy on the D20. Upon entering Aveluy, continue straight until you reach the crossroads where you should turn right to Beaumont-Hamel. Continue for 5 kilometres until you reach Hamel village where the military cemetery is on your immediate left.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Beaumont village was captured by British troops in November, 1916, but Hamel was in British occupation from the summer of 1915, until the 27th March, 1918.
Hamel Military Cemetery was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in August 1915, and carried on until June 1917. A few further burials were made in Plot II, Row F, after the capture of the village in 1918. It was known at times by the names of "Brook Street Trench" and "White City". It was enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of 48 graves from the immediate neighbourhood.
There are 494, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 79 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to four soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. A number of French and German military graves have been removed to other burial grounds.
The cemetery covers an area of 2,235 square metres, without including the public right of way on the North side and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Total Burials: 494.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 414, Germany 1. Total 415.
Unidentified Casualties: 79.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens & Arthur James Scott Hutton
Hamel is a small village about 6.5 kilometres north of Albert.
Using the D929 from Bapaume to Albert, continue until you come to La Boisselle, where there is a right turn signposted to Aveluy on the D20. Upon entering Aveluy, continue straight until you reach the crossroads where you should turn right to Beaumont-Hamel. Continue for 5 kilometres until you reach Hamel village where the military cemetery is on your immediate left.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Beaumont village was captured by British troops in November, 1916, but Hamel was in British occupation from the summer of 1915, until the 27th March, 1918.
Hamel Military Cemetery was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in August 1915, and carried on until June 1917. A few further burials were made in Plot II, Row F, after the capture of the village in 1918. It was known at times by the names of "Brook Street Trench" and "White City". It was enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of 48 graves from the immediate neighbourhood.
There are 494, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 79 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to four soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. A number of French and German military graves have been removed to other burial grounds.
The cemetery covers an area of 2,235 square metres, without including the public right of way on the North side and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Total Burials: 494.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 414, Germany 1. Total 415.
Unidentified Casualties: 79.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens & Arthur James Scott Hutton
A panoramic view of an area near Beaumont Hamel, clearly showing German barbed wire entanglements, taken in October 1916 during the end stages of the Battle of the Somme. © IWM (Q 1547)
Second Lieutenant
John Homfray Addenbrooke
North Staffordshire Regiment, attd. 11th Bn. Manchester Regiment
23rd November 1916, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 25.
Son of the Rev. John Gordon Addenbrooke and Ethel Addenbrooke, of The Warren, Knebworth, Herts.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "His Death Is Swallowed Up In Victory."
John Homfray Addenbrooke
North Staffordshire Regiment, attd. 11th Bn. Manchester Regiment
23rd November 1916, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 25.
Son of the Rev. John Gordon Addenbrooke and Ethel Addenbrooke, of The Warren, Knebworth, Herts.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "His Death Is Swallowed Up In Victory."
18860 Lance Corporal
Samuel Beattie
12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
7th March 1916, aged 35.
Plot I. A. 27.
Husband of Maria Beattie, of 91, Queen St., Ballymena.
Samuel Beattie
12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
7th March 1916, aged 35.
Plot I. A. 27.
Husband of Maria Beattie, of 91, Queen St., Ballymena.
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
Norman Ormsby Burge, Mentioned in Despatches
Nelson Bn. R.N. Div. Royal Marine Light Infantry
13th November 1916, aged 40.
Plot II. D. 20.
Son of Col. and Mrs. B. H. Burge; husband of Lily K. Blatchford (formerly Burge), of 2, South Parade, Southsea, Portsmouth.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Faithful Unto Death."
Norman Ormsby Burge, Mentioned in Despatches
Nelson Bn. R.N. Div. Royal Marine Light Infantry
13th November 1916, aged 40.
Plot II. D. 20.
Son of Col. and Mrs. B. H. Burge; husband of Lily K. Blatchford (formerly Burge), of 2, South Parade, Southsea, Portsmouth.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Faithful Unto Death."
14168 Rifleman
Randolph Churchill Bestall Campbell
14th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
6th April 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. E. 20.
Son of Mr. H. A. and Mrs. C. E. Campbell, of 16, Cyprus Park, Belfast. Native of Ballynahinch, Co. Down.
His headstone bears the inscription; "With Christ Which Is Far Better."
Randolph Churchill Bestall Campbell
14th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
6th April 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. E. 20.
Son of Mr. H. A. and Mrs. C. E. Campbell, of 16, Cyprus Park, Belfast. Native of Ballynahinch, Co. Down.
His headstone bears the inscription; "With Christ Which Is Far Better."
Lieutenant
William Balfour Bethune Duncan
4th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
3rd September 1916, aged 20.
Plot I. F. 20.
Son of A. Bethune Duncan and Margaret Balfour Duncan, of Graycraig, Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."
William Balfour Bethune Duncan
4th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
3rd September 1916, aged 20.
Plot I. F. 20.
Son of A. Bethune Duncan and Margaret Balfour Duncan, of Graycraig, Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."
Captain
Arthur Stanley Fabian
8th Bn. attd. 13th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
3rd September 1916, aged 23.
Plot II. A. 24.
Son of James W. Fabian, of 6, Daleham Gardens, Hampstead, London. A Member of the Hon. Artillery Company previous to the outbreak of war.
Arthur Stanley Fabian
8th Bn. attd. 13th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
3rd September 1916, aged 23.
Plot II. A. 24.
Son of James W. Fabian, of 6, Daleham Gardens, Hampstead, London. A Member of the Hon. Artillery Company previous to the outbreak of war.
19137 Private
George Hartley
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
4th January 1916, aged 17.
Plot I. A. 25.
Lived at 61 Robinson Street, Burnley, Lancashire.
George Hartley
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
4th January 1916, aged 17.
Plot I. A. 25.
Lived at 61 Robinson Street, Burnley, Lancashire.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
1362 Private
J. Northfield
1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regiment
23rd September 1916, aged 22.
Plot II. B. 6.
Son of George John and Angeline Northfield, of 348, Mill Rd., Cambridge.
J. Northfield
1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regiment
23rd September 1916, aged 22.
Plot II. B. 6.
Son of George John and Angeline Northfield, of 348, Mill Rd., Cambridge.
2601 Private
John Thomas
"B" Coy. 12th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
3rd September 1916, aged 22.
Plot I. E. 31.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Z. Thomas, of Hastings; husband of Ellen Louisa Buchanan (formerly Thomas), of Cross Creek, York County, New Brunswick, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Fell Upon The Field Of Battle Thank God He Did His Duty Well."
John Thomas
"B" Coy. 12th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
3rd September 1916, aged 22.
Plot I. E. 31.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Z. Thomas, of Hastings; husband of Ellen Louisa Buchanan (formerly Thomas), of Cross Creek, York County, New Brunswick, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Fell Upon The Field Of Battle Thank God He Did His Duty Well."
Image © Nicholas Philpot
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Image © Nicholas Philpot
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A shell bursting amongst the barbed wire entanglements on the battlefield at Beaumont Hamel, December 1916. © IWM (Q 1688)
The man on the left has been extricated from the mud into which he had sunk up to the arm pits. The soldier on the right is thought to be serving in the South Staffordshire Regiment, Beaumont Hamel, November 1916. © IWM (Q 1563)
British troops, two corporals, near Beaumont Hamel, November 1916. © IWM (Q 1562)
