HANGARD WOOD BRITISH CEMETERY
Somme
France
Location Information
Hangard is a village between Domart and Demuin. The road to Villers-Bretonneux goes due north from the village, up a steep hillside. After 2 kilometres it passes between the two portions of Hangard Wood, and Hangard Wood British Cemetery will be found at this point.
Historical Information
At the end of March 1918, Hangard was at the junction of the French and Commonwealth forces defending Amiens. Between 4 and 25 April, the village and Hangard Wood were the scene of incessant fighting, in which the line was held and the 18th Division were particularly heavily engaged.
In July 1918, the site of the cemetery was in German hands, but it was cleared by the Canadian Corps early on 8 August 1918, and the Corps Burial Officer began this cemetery later in the month. A number of graves of April 1918, as well of those of August, were brought in, and after the Armistice other graves of April 1918, were concentrated from Villers-Bretonneux, and of October 1916, from other parts of the Somme battlefield.
The cemetery now contains 141 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 39 of which are unidentified. There are also 14 French burials in the cemetery.
Casualty Details: UK 58, Canada 61, Australia 17, South Africa 5, France 20, Total Burials: 161
Hangard is a village between Domart and Demuin. The road to Villers-Bretonneux goes due north from the village, up a steep hillside. After 2 kilometres it passes between the two portions of Hangard Wood, and Hangard Wood British Cemetery will be found at this point.
Historical Information
At the end of March 1918, Hangard was at the junction of the French and Commonwealth forces defending Amiens. Between 4 and 25 April, the village and Hangard Wood were the scene of incessant fighting, in which the line was held and the 18th Division were particularly heavily engaged.
In July 1918, the site of the cemetery was in German hands, but it was cleared by the Canadian Corps early on 8 August 1918, and the Corps Burial Officer began this cemetery later in the month. A number of graves of April 1918, as well of those of August, were brought in, and after the Armistice other graves of April 1918, were concentrated from Villers-Bretonneux, and of October 1916, from other parts of the Somme battlefield.
The cemetery now contains 141 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 39 of which are unidentified. There are also 14 French burials in the cemetery.
Casualty Details: UK 58, Canada 61, Australia 17, South Africa 5, France 20, Total Burials: 161
445312 Private John Bernard Croak, V. C.
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment), died of wounds 8th August 1918 aged 26, Plot I. A. 9.
Son of James and Cecelia Croak, of New Aberdeen, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Born at Little Bay, Newfoundland.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 30922, dated 24th Sept., 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery in attack when having become separated from his section he encountered a machine gun nest, which he bombed and silenced, taking the gun and crew prisoners. Shortly afterwards he was severely wounded, but refused to desist. Having rejoined his platoon, a very strong point, containing several machine guns, was encountered. Private Croak, however, seeing an opportunity, dashed forward alone and was almost immediately followed by the remainder of the platoon in a brilliant charge. He was the first to arrive at the trench line, into which he led his men, capturing three machine guns and bayoneting or capturing the entire garrison. The perseverance and valour of this gallant soldier who was again severely wounded, and died of his wounds, were an inspiring example to all."
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment), died of wounds 8th August 1918 aged 26, Plot I. A. 9.
Son of James and Cecelia Croak, of New Aberdeen, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Born at Little Bay, Newfoundland.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 30922, dated 24th Sept., 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery in attack when having become separated from his section he encountered a machine gun nest, which he bombed and silenced, taking the gun and crew prisoners. Shortly afterwards he was severely wounded, but refused to desist. Having rejoined his platoon, a very strong point, containing several machine guns, was encountered. Private Croak, however, seeing an opportunity, dashed forward alone and was almost immediately followed by the remainder of the platoon in a brilliant charge. He was the first to arrive at the trench line, into which he led his men, capturing three machine guns and bayoneting or capturing the entire garrison. The perseverance and valour of this gallant soldier who was again severely wounded, and died of his wounds, were an inspiring example to all."
2075449 Private
Robert Brown Bell
"A" Coy. 13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 18.
Plot I. D. 1.
Son of John N. and Jessie Bell, of 91C, Lasalle Rd., Verdun, P.Q., Canada. Native of Larbert, Scotland.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "We Miss Him Most Who Loved Him Best."
Robert Brown Bell
"A" Coy. 13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 18.
Plot I. D. 1.
Son of John N. and Jessie Bell, of 91C, Lasalle Rd., Verdun, P.Q., Canada. Native of Larbert, Scotland.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "We Miss Him Most Who Loved Him Best."
Lieutenant
Ernest Creighton
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 27.
Plot I. A. 2.
Son of James A. and Sarah A. Creighton, of Doons, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Ireland.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "Faithful Unto Death."
Ernest Creighton
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 27.
Plot I. A. 2.
Son of James A. and Sarah A. Creighton, of Doons, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Ireland.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "Faithful Unto Death."
127186 Private
William Evans
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. A. 18.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Evans, of 51, Pinki St., Kitchener, Ontario.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "Our Dear Son At Rest With His Father In Heaven."
William Evans
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. A. 18.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Evans, of 51, Pinki St., Kitchener, Ontario.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "Our Dear Son At Rest With His Father In Heaven."
A/20159 Corporal
Norman V. Fitton, M. M.
"A" Coy. 16th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 31.
Plot I. C. 20.
Son of Charles and Mary Jane Fitton, of Timperley, Cheshire, England.
Norman V. Fitton, M. M.
"A" Coy. 16th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 31.
Plot I. C. 20.
Son of Charles and Mary Jane Fitton, of Timperley, Cheshire, England.
Captain
James Fuller Henderson
7th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
26th April 1918
Plot II. A. 20.
James Fuller Henderson
7th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
26th April 1918
Plot II. A. 20.
Captured German Tank Elfriede put out of action and captured by "A" Company 1st Battalion Tank Corps, one kilometre from Villers, Bretonneux on the Hangard en Santerre Road, during the first German tank attack, 24th April, 1918. Only 20 of these tanks were built, the track being shorter then the body, they carried 8 heavy machine guns and a 57 mm. quick-firing gun. © IWM (Q 29578)
Lieutenant
Charles Edward Hyde
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
7th August 1918
Plot I. A. 4.
Charles Edward Hyde
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
7th August 1918
Plot I. A. 4.
222564 Private
H. James
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918
Plot I. A. 23.
H. James
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918
Plot I. A. 23.
133188 Private
Robert Lavery
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 1.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lavery, of 40, Hungerford St., Hartford, Conn., U.S.A.
Robert Lavery
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 1.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lavery, of 40, Hungerford St., Hartford, Conn., U.S.A.
Lieutenant
Arthur Norman Sclater, M. C.
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 29.
Plot I. A. 3.
Son of Charles P. and Margaret Sclater, of 4331, Montrose Avenue, Westmount, P.Q., Canada. Native of Montreal.
Arthur Norman Sclater, M. C.
13th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 29.
Plot I. A. 3.
Son of Charles P. and Margaret Sclater, of 4331, Montrose Avenue, Westmount, P.Q., Canada. Native of Montreal.
799926 Private
John Todd Walker
15th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 19.
Plot I. B. 8.
Son of John Todd Walker and Hannah Walker, of 115, Bingham Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "A Message From Mother, Mizpah."
(From Genesis 31:49 'And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.')
The term 'Mizpah' has come to represent an emotional bond between people who are separated.
John Todd Walker
15th Bn. Canadian Infantry
8th August 1918, aged 19.
Plot I. B. 8.
Son of John Todd Walker and Hannah Walker, of 115, Bingham Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.
His headstone bears the following inscription; "A Message From Mother, Mizpah."
(From Genesis 31:49 'And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.')
The term 'Mizpah' has come to represent an emotional bond between people who are separated.
Captured German Tank Elfriede put out of action and captured by "A" Company 1st Battalion Tank Corps, one kilometre from Villers, Bretonneux on the Hangard en Santerre Road, during the first German tank attack, 24th April, 1918. Only 20 of these tanks were built, the track being shorter then the body, they carried 8 heavy machine guns and a 57 mm. quick-firing gun. © IWM (Q 29583)
