HANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
Somme
France
Location Information
Hancourt is a village in the Department of the Somme, 12 kilometres east of Peronne.
From Peronne take the D44 towards St. Quentin. Travel approximately 4 kilometres then turn left on to the D194 to Cartigny. Go through the village of Cartigny towards Hancourt on the D194. In the centre of Hancourt turn right and at the end of the road turn left, when the cemetery will be found on the left hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Hancourt was captured by the Australian Corps in the middle of September 1918. The British Cemetery was made by Australian units in September 1918, and these original graves are in Row B, C, and D; but it was enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from the following cemetery:-
ESTREES-EN-CHAUSSEE BRITISH CEMETERY, which was immediately South of Estrees village. It contained the graves of 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from Australia, who fell in September, 1918.
The new graves are mainly of March and September 1918.
There are now 118, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 20 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to four men of the 7th Northants, believed to be buried among them.
The Cemetery covers an area of 586 square metres and is enclosed by a brick wall.
Total Burials: 118.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 67, Australia 31. Total 98.
Unidentified Casualties: 20. Total 20.
Hancourt is a village in the Department of the Somme, 12 kilometres east of Peronne.
From Peronne take the D44 towards St. Quentin. Travel approximately 4 kilometres then turn left on to the D194 to Cartigny. Go through the village of Cartigny towards Hancourt on the D194. In the centre of Hancourt turn right and at the end of the road turn left, when the cemetery will be found on the left hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Hancourt was captured by the Australian Corps in the middle of September 1918. The British Cemetery was made by Australian units in September 1918, and these original graves are in Row B, C, and D; but it was enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from the following cemetery:-
ESTREES-EN-CHAUSSEE BRITISH CEMETERY, which was immediately South of Estrees village. It contained the graves of 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from Australia, who fell in September, 1918.
The new graves are mainly of March and September 1918.
There are now 118, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 20 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to four men of the 7th Northants, believed to be buried among them.
The Cemetery covers an area of 586 square metres and is enclosed by a brick wall.
Total Burials: 118.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 67, Australia 31. Total 98.
Unidentified Casualties: 20. Total 20.
Apple trees cut down in an orchard near Hancourt, March 1917. © IWM (Q 1946)
281 Regimental Sergeant Major
Frederick William David Cole
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th September 1918, aged 28.
Row C. 20.
Son of Sarah Cole, of Westminster St., Victoria Park, Western Australia, and the late Joshua Cole.
His headstone bears the inscription; "To Live in Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die."
Frederick William David Cole
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th September 1918, aged 28.
Row C. 20.
Son of Sarah Cole, of Westminster St., Victoria Park, Western Australia, and the late Joshua Cole.
His headstone bears the inscription; "To Live in Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die."
Lieutenant
Norman Joseph Delany
2nd Bde. Australian Field Artillery
19th September 1918, aged 24.
Row C. 1.
Son of Joseph William and Charlotte Ellen Delany, of 88, The Avenue, Hurstville, New South Wales. Native of Sydney, New South Wales.
Norman Joseph Delany
2nd Bde. Australian Field Artillery
19th September 1918, aged 24.
Row C. 1.
Son of Joseph William and Charlotte Ellen Delany, of 88, The Avenue, Hurstville, New South Wales. Native of Sydney, New South Wales.
13624 Private
James Harling
1st/4th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
23rd March 1918, aged 32.
A. Coll. grave 10-20.
Husband of Sarah Harling, of Burch Place, Eyam, Sheffield.
James Harling
1st/4th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
23rd March 1918, aged 32.
A. Coll. grave 10-20.
Husband of Sarah Harling, of Burch Place, Eyam, Sheffield.
3862 Private
Samuel John Jenkins
48th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th September 1918, aged 19.
Row F. 1.
Son of Richard Burton Jenkins and Jane Jenkins of Wasleys, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Dearly Loved Son Of Richard & Jane Jenkins Of Wasleys."
From Mudla Murra, SA. A farmer prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 10th Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT Aeneas on 30 October 1917. Later transferring to the 48th Battalion, Pte Jenkins was wounded in the battalion's last battle of the war during the seizure of the Hindenburg 'outpost line' on 18 September 1918. He died later the same day, aged 19.
Samuel John Jenkins
48th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th September 1918, aged 19.
Row F. 1.
Son of Richard Burton Jenkins and Jane Jenkins of Wasleys, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Dearly Loved Son Of Richard & Jane Jenkins Of Wasleys."
From Mudla Murra, SA. A farmer prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 10th Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT Aeneas on 30 October 1917. Later transferring to the 48th Battalion, Pte Jenkins was wounded in the battalion's last battle of the war during the seizure of the Hindenburg 'outpost line' on 18 September 1918. He died later the same day, aged 19.
2402 Sergeant
Archibald Alan Johnstone
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th September 1918, aged 23.
Row B. 13.
Born at Melbourne. Son of Blanch Johnstone, of 69, Alfred Crescent, Fitzroy North, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the simple inscription; "Waiting."
A clerk from Clifton Hill, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Johnstone embarked with the 7th Reinforcements from Melbourne on RMS Persia on 10 August 1915. Later promoted to Sergeant, he died on 20 September 1918, aged 23, of wounds received in action, and was buried in the Hancourt British Cemetery, France. Two brothers also served in the AIF. 738 Corporal Donald Wallace Johnstone, 5th Battalion, was killed in action on 11 December 1916, he is buried at Beaulencourt British Cemetery and 847 Lieutenant Thomas Watt Johnstone MC, 8th Battalion, returned to Australia on 22 August 1919.
Archibald Alan Johnstone
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th September 1918, aged 23.
Row B. 13.
Born at Melbourne. Son of Blanch Johnstone, of 69, Alfred Crescent, Fitzroy North, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the simple inscription; "Waiting."
A clerk from Clifton Hill, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Johnstone embarked with the 7th Reinforcements from Melbourne on RMS Persia on 10 August 1915. Later promoted to Sergeant, he died on 20 September 1918, aged 23, of wounds received in action, and was buried in the Hancourt British Cemetery, France. Two brothers also served in the AIF. 738 Corporal Donald Wallace Johnstone, 5th Battalion, was killed in action on 11 December 1916, he is buried at Beaulencourt British Cemetery and 847 Lieutenant Thomas Watt Johnstone MC, 8th Battalion, returned to Australia on 22 August 1919.
Captain
James Towers Kirkland, M. C.
141st Field Amb.Royal Army Medical Corps attd. 1st Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
18th September 1918
Row F. 21.
James Towers Kirkland, M. C.
141st Field Amb.Royal Army Medical Corps attd. 1st Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
18th September 1918
Row F. 21.
178906 Gunner
James McCallum
"D" Battery, 232nd Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
21st September 1918.
Row B. 2.
James McCallum
"D" Battery, 232nd Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
21st September 1918.
Row B. 2.
643 Private
Magnus Mowat
5th Bn. Australian machine Gun Corps
18th September 1918, aged 21.
Row C. 11.
Son of Margaret Callaghan, of Montville, Queensland. Native of Beenleigh, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."
Magnus Mowat
5th Bn. Australian machine Gun Corps
18th September 1918, aged 21.
Row C. 11.
Son of Margaret Callaghan, of Montville, Queensland. Native of Beenleigh, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."
358 Lance Sergeant
Frederick Watts, M. M.
15th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th September 1918, aged 22.
Row C. 9.
Son of Ernest George Watts, of Howard St., Rosalie, Queensland. Native of Brisbane, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memory Of The Dearly Loved Son Of Mr. E. G. Watts, Of Brisbane."
358 Private (Pte) Frederick Watts (left) and 359 Pte George Ernest Watts (right) with their father Ernest George Watts. Both men were grooms from Ascot, Queensland prior to enlistment and embarked with B Company, 15th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic on 22 December 1914. Pte Frederick Watts was wounded in action at Gallipoli and, following his return to duty was awarded the Military Medal "for conspicuous gallantry in action near Villers-Bretonneux....His cheerfulness and gallantry throughout the tour of duty in the line greatly inspired all the men around him." Later promoted to Lance Sergeant, he died of wounds received in action and was buried in the Hancourt British Cemetery, France. Pte George Watts was killed in action at Gallipoli on 9 May 1915 and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.
Frederick Watts, M. M.
15th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th September 1918, aged 22.
Row C. 9.
Son of Ernest George Watts, of Howard St., Rosalie, Queensland. Native of Brisbane, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memory Of The Dearly Loved Son Of Mr. E. G. Watts, Of Brisbane."
358 Private (Pte) Frederick Watts (left) and 359 Pte George Ernest Watts (right) with their father Ernest George Watts. Both men were grooms from Ascot, Queensland prior to enlistment and embarked with B Company, 15th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic on 22 December 1914. Pte Frederick Watts was wounded in action at Gallipoli and, following his return to duty was awarded the Military Medal "for conspicuous gallantry in action near Villers-Bretonneux....His cheerfulness and gallantry throughout the tour of duty in the line greatly inspired all the men around him." Later promoted to Lance Sergeant, he died of wounds received in action and was buried in the Hancourt British Cemetery, France. Pte George Watts was killed in action at Gallipoli on 9 May 1915 and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.
8th September 1918 - Hancourt, France. Pioneers of the 5th Division filling in mine craters at the main cross roads. The explosion of these craters was part of the German effort to delay the advance of allied troops.
Apple trees cut down in an orchard near Hancourt, March 1917. © IWM (Q 1947)
