Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery

HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Nord

France

GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.71629 Longitude: 2.5325

Picture © Geerhard Joos

Location Information

Hazebrouck is a town lying about 56 kilometres south-east of Calais and is easily reached from Calais or Boulogne. The Communal Cemetery is on the south-western outskirts of the town.

From the Grand Place in Hazebrouck follow the D916 Bethune road. Traverse the first set of traffic lights and the Communal Cemetery will be found 200 metres further along on the right hand side of the road, as indicated by a signpost. The War Graves Plot lies immediately inside the entrance to the cemetery.

Historical Information

From October 1914 to September 1917, casualty clearing stations were posted at Hazebrouck. The Germans shelled and bombed the town between September 1917 and September 1918 making it unsafe for hospitals, but in September and October 1918, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital was stationed there.

Commonwealth burials began in the communal cemetery in October 1914 and continued until July 1918. At first, they were made among the civilian graves, but after the Armistice these earlier burials were moved into the main Commonwealth enclosure.

During the Second World War, Hazebrouck was garrisoned and was on the western flank of the area occupied by the British Expedionary Force until May 1940. The cemetery was used again, mainly for the burial of those killed in late May 1940 during the fighting which covered the retreat of the BEF to the Dunkirk-Nieuport perimeter

The cemetery now contains 881 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (17 of them unidentified) and 86 from the Second World War (20 of them unidentified).

The Commonwealth plot, for the construction of which the town of Hazebrouck contributed 20,000 francs, was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton

Total Burials: 967.

World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 715, Canada 58, Australia 50, New Zealand 30, India 11. Total 864.

World War One Unidentified Casualties: 17.

World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 66.

World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 20.

Dedications

M1/08138 Private James McGinley, 3rd Cav. Division, Army Service Corps.,7th June 1915. aged 21. Son of Patrick and Mary McGinley, of 19, North Elgin St., Clydebank, Glasgow.

Remembered by niece, Joan Sannachan

Cemetery images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos

Lieutenant Colonel
Clarence Wells Didier Daly, D. S. O. M. I. D.
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th April 1918, aged 27.
Plot III. E. 24.

Son of William Disney John Eyre Daly and Florence Eleonore Daley, of "Quitchambo," Mangarra Rd., Canterbury, Victoria, Australia. Native of Hobart, Tasmania.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved 3rd Son Of W.J. Disney Eyre Daly And F. Beckx Daly Deo Et Regi Fidelis Anzac." (Translates from Latin to 'Faithful To My God And King')

On 13 April 1918, Colonel Daly was taking up a support position in the Foret de Nieppe, to hold up the advance of the Germans at Hazebrouck. The night had been quiet but soon after 5 a.m. the Germans opened up on the village of La Motte and its environs with 4.2 inch and 5.9 inch guns. Colonel Daly was riding on the La Motte-Vieuxberquin road, superintending the dispositions when he was killed with his favourite horse 'Bobby'. He was buried with full military honours on the afternoon of 14 April, with Padre Carter performing the last rites. The impressive service was punctuated by the tearing crash of high explosives as the Germans shelled the vicinity consistently with huge 15 inch shells.

1009 Lance Corporal
John Dodgson
1st/5th King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
10th May 1915, aged 21.
Plot II. E. 16.

Son of Jane Dodgson, of 13, Sandy Lane, Preesall, Fleetwood, and the late John Dodgson. Native of Pilling, Preston.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Dearer To Memory Than Words Can Tell."

Picture courtesy of Stephen Singleton

Hazebrouck, 14th May 1918; A view of fields and town buildings, taken from the church tower, showing some of the damage caused by severe shelling in the previous month during the German force's unavailing attempts to reach the town. At the time the sector was defended by the 1st Australian Division.

300 Private
Anthony Gradwell
1st/5th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
27th April 1915, aged 27.
Plot I. F. 32.

Husband of Mary Eleanor Gradwell, of 30, St. Leonardgate, Lancaster.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."

7497 Private
Emanuel Carl Hansen
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
16th April 1918, aged 30.
Plot III. E. 14.

Son of Edward and Ellen Hansen. Husband of Naomi Kathleen Walker (formerly Hansen). Native of Victoria, Australia.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Veil Is Lifted And All Shadows Pass Away."

Emanuel (Mannie) was born 27 May 1887 to Edward Hansen and Ellen Walsh in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Emanuel joined the Sportsman's Unit 25 RFTF, 7 Bn. on 15 June 1917 as a Private. He was killed in action on 16 April 1918 and is buried at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery. He was married with two children.

Picture and details below courtesy of Dianne Bates, great niece

Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem

9716 Corporal
Andrew Hughes
8th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
5th October 1916
Plot I. B. 2.

Picture courtesy of Bernard Williams, Andrew Hughes was the best mate of his grandfather

1134 Gunner
John Reginald Jones
39th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
23rd November 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. G. 26.

Son of Thomas Arrowsmith Jones and Edith Laura Jones, of 29, Horringford Rd., Aigburth, Liverpool. Native of Garston, Liverpool.

His headstone bears the inscription; "He Led Them Forth By The Right Way." (From Psalm 107:7, as in "And he led them forth by a right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.")

47607 Private
Edward Clifford Joscelyne
16th Labour Coy. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
24th March 1917
Plot I. D. 23.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Of Braintree Essex."

77922 Air Mechanic 2nd Class
Walter Pocock
45th Sqdn. 11th Wing, Royal Flying Corps
12th June 1917, aged 23.
Plot I. G. 10.

Son of John and Emily Pocock, of Elizabeth Cottage, Mill Plat, Isleworth, Middx.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved By All."

In the late 1970s in New York City, I volunteered to visit a home-bound elderly person. That is how I met Daisy Campbell. At our very first meeting, Daisy told me her life's story. At that time, the BBC series Upstairs Downstairs was being broadcast here. Daisy told me that her story was just like that of Rose, the parlour maid. Like Rose, Daisy had worked in domestic service in London and like Rose, her fiancé was killed in World War I. Though more than 60 years had passed, Daisy’s eyes filled with tears as she told me, “He was the only man I ever loved.” Daisy was an extraordinary woman and a great friend. She would be happy to know that Walt’s and her sacrifice has not been forgotten.

Images from the left, Walter with Daisy, Walter in uniform and Walter's headstone at Hazebrouck.

Courtesy of Valerie Thaler

Battle of Hazebrouck. Evacuating wounded from a dressing station near Merris, 12 April 1918. Ambulance is of the British 34th Division. © IWM (Q 8696)

Captain
Charles Robert Edgar Saunders
4th Bn. London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
28th April 1915, aged 29.
Plot II. D. 35.

Son of Charles Stanley Saunders and Susannah Saunders, of 189, Tulse Hill, London; husband of Eleanor Frances Saunders.

His headstone bears the inscription: "Entered Into The Fuller Life."

Lieutenant
Guy Staniforth Wemyss St. George
1st Bn. 1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
28th April 1915, aged 26.
Plot II. D. 38.

Son of Lt. Col. Harry Hammersley St. George and Agnes Collier Wemyss St. George.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Pro Patria." (Translates from Latin as "For One's Country.")

72651 Serjeant
Willie Tebbs
9th Air Line Section, Royal Engineers
15th January 1916, aged 30.
Plot II. E. 2.

Son of Joe and Emma Tebbs, of Leeds; husband of Emma Tebbs, of 27, Winfield Rd., Blackman Lane, Leeds.

Pictures courtesy of Great, great grandson, Adam Hicks

Willie with his wife Emma and son Wilfred, Willie died of acute Nephritis.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Into Thy Hands O Lord I Come."

Hazebrouck, May 1917; An informal group photograph of some of the unidentified members of the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company, which was abbreviated to AAMM&B, the unit was nicknamed the 'Alphabetical Company'.

Shot at Dawn

2063 Driver, B. De Fehr, 1st Reserve Park, Canadian Army Service Corps, executed for murder, 25th August 1916. Plot I. A. 13.

He had served as a non-combatant on the Western Front for 16 months, when on 19 Aug 1918 he shot RSM Scott in the back — & is buried 3 graves away from his victim. (Putkowski, p. 103)