HAUTMONT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Nord
France
Location Information
Hautmont is a town in the Department of the Nord, 5 kilometres south-west of Maubeuge, in the valley of the Sambre. Hautmont Communal Cemetery is located North-West of the centre.
Historical Information
Hautmont was captured by the Germans in the early days of the First World War, and it remained in their hands until retaken by the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on 8 November 1918. The communal cemetery was used by the German troops for the burial of their dead, and the Allied prisoners who died in the local German hospitals were buried there by the authorities of the town. A war plot was formed outside the south-east part of the cemetery, which was later extended to enclose it. The Commonwealth graves are in two groups: in the south-west part of the cemetery are graves of 1918 and of 1914, and in the south-east part are those soldiers who died after the recapture of the town.
Hautmont Communal Cemetery contains 246 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. Seven of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to three casualties believed to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains 55 French, 100 Russian and 1 Belgian burials.
Casualty Details: UK 243, Canada 2, Australia 1, Total Burials: 246 (Commonwealth)
Hautmont is a town in the Department of the Nord, 5 kilometres south-west of Maubeuge, in the valley of the Sambre. Hautmont Communal Cemetery is located North-West of the centre.
Historical Information
Hautmont was captured by the Germans in the early days of the First World War, and it remained in their hands until retaken by the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on 8 November 1918. The communal cemetery was used by the German troops for the burial of their dead, and the Allied prisoners who died in the local German hospitals were buried there by the authorities of the town. A war plot was formed outside the south-east part of the cemetery, which was later extended to enclose it. The Commonwealth graves are in two groups: in the south-west part of the cemetery are graves of 1918 and of 1914, and in the south-east part are those soldiers who died after the recapture of the town.
Hautmont Communal Cemetery contains 246 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. Seven of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to three casualties believed to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains 55 French, 100 Russian and 1 Belgian burials.
Casualty Details: UK 243, Canada 2, Australia 1, Total Burials: 246 (Commonwealth)
241590 Lance Corporal
Ernest Baldwin, M. M.
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
8th November 1918, aged 21.
Plot IV. D. 1.
Son of Bolton and Ada Baldwin, of 44, Gray St., Burnley.
Prior to enlisting he was employed as a Carter by Jonathan Woods, Pork Butchers of Burnley. His Military Medal was awarded after he volunteered to go out and raid an important post to obtain "certain" information before handing over the trench to the French. He had to go out on two separate nights before the information could be obtained.
Ernest Baldwin, M. M.
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
8th November 1918, aged 21.
Plot IV. D. 1.
Son of Bolton and Ada Baldwin, of 44, Gray St., Burnley.
Prior to enlisting he was employed as a Carter by Jonathan Woods, Pork Butchers of Burnley. His Military Medal was awarded after he volunteered to go out and raid an important post to obtain "certain" information before handing over the trench to the French. He had to go out on two separate nights before the information could be obtained.
40612 Private
William Randolph Cliffe
2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment
30th October 1918, aged 20.
Plot IV. B. 4.
Son of William and Margaret Cliffe, of 6, Sandy Lane, Moss Bank, St. Helens, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."
William Randolph Cliffe
2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment
30th October 1918, aged 20.
Plot IV. B. 4.
Son of William and Margaret Cliffe, of 6, Sandy Lane, Moss Bank, St. Helens, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."
240486 Private
Robert Clough Houghton
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
6th November 1918, aged 23.
Plot IV. D. 5.
Husband of Mrs Houghton, 9 Lee Street, Burnley, Lancashire.
His death was described in a letter to Robert's wife by Second Lieutenant W. Etchells, "D" Company, 1st/5th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment;
“It is with regret that I write to tell you of your husband’s death. He was killed in action on November 8th by a shell, another comrade meeting his end at the same time. He met his death under rather singular circumstances. We had advanced and taken up a position on the outskirts of a town, and your husband was at the time sitting round a stove in the house along with his comrades, when a shell burst outside and several pieces of shrapnel came through the window. As his Platoon Officer, I can say that I always found him most willing and cheerful even under the most trying circumstances. His remains have been buried in the civilian cemetery at Hautmont, and the number of the grave is 551. Comrades tender their deepest sympathy with you in your sad bereavement; we all keenly feel his loss.”
Robert Clough Houghton
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
6th November 1918, aged 23.
Plot IV. D. 5.
Husband of Mrs Houghton, 9 Lee Street, Burnley, Lancashire.
His death was described in a letter to Robert's wife by Second Lieutenant W. Etchells, "D" Company, 1st/5th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment;
“It is with regret that I write to tell you of your husband’s death. He was killed in action on November 8th by a shell, another comrade meeting his end at the same time. He met his death under rather singular circumstances. We had advanced and taken up a position on the outskirts of a town, and your husband was at the time sitting round a stove in the house along with his comrades, when a shell burst outside and several pieces of shrapnel came through the window. As his Platoon Officer, I can say that I always found him most willing and cheerful even under the most trying circumstances. His remains have been buried in the civilian cemetery at Hautmont, and the number of the grave is 551. Comrades tender their deepest sympathy with you in your sad bereavement; we all keenly feel his loss.”
A group of Irish Guardsmen at Maubeuge, 12 November 1918. © IWM (Q 3360)
Signposts at L'ange Gardien near the Maubeuge Road, November 1917. The sign reads: "The enemy sees you. Vehicular and horse traffic forbidden." © IWM (Q 80287)
