Hédauville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme

HÉDAUVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Somme

France

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.04755, Longitude: 2.56542

Location Information

Hédauville is approximately 5 kilometres north-west of Albert, on the road to Doullens.

Using the D919 from Arras to Amiens you will drive through the villages of Bucquoy, Puisieux, Serre-les-Puisieux and Mailly Maillet. After leaving Mailly Maillet continue on the D919 until you come to a crossroads where you should turn right on to the D938 in the direction of Doullens. Hédauville Communal Cemetery is 600 metres further on the right.

Visiting Information

Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.

Historical Information

The extension was begun at the end of March 1918, when the front line was consolidated a short distance east of the village following the German offensive. It was used by field ambulances and fighting units until the following August. The extension contained 95 graves at the Armistice, but was later increased when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields of March-August 1918.

There are now 178 First World War burials in the extension and two from the Second World War.

Total Burials: 180.

World War One Identified Burials: United Kingdom 164, New Zealand 9, Australia 1. Total 174.

World War One Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 4.

World War Two Identified Burials: United Kingdom, 2. Total 2.

The extension was designed by William Harrison Cowlishaw

L/9065 Corporal
Arthur Ainsworth, M. M.
"B" Battery, 150th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
9th April 1918.
Row G. 7.

Second Lieutenant
Archie Maynard Brown
126th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
6th April 1918, aged 28.
Row C. 9.

Husband of Gertrude Mary Brown, of 23, Patrick St., Limerick.

His headstone bears the inscription "His Memory Like The Ivy Clings Round My Broken Heart"

13561 Sapper
Richard Carter
New Zealand Engineers
6th April 1918, aged 27.
Row H. 16.

Son of Henry and Julia Eliza Carter, of Hikurangi, Whangarei, New Zealand.

63847 Private
Percy Harold Feierabend
2nd Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
13th April 1918.
Row H. 25.

29244 Private
Frederick Benjamin Gill
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
14th April 1918, aged 28.
Row H. 26.

Son of Alfred and Mary Ann Ainelia Gill. of Nelson, New Zealand.

207971 Sapper
Frank Gimber
248th Field Company, Royal Engineers
1st April 1918.
Row C. 3.

220331 Pioneer
William Lester Hassall
"N" Special Company, Royal Engineers
3rd April 1918, aged 20.
Row B. 6.

Son of Charles L. and Annie Hassall, of Gretna Villa, The Picknalls, Uttoxeter, Staffs.

His headstone bears the inscription "Blessed Are The Pure In Heart For They Shall See God"

17933 Private
William Arthur Miller
New Zealand Machine Gun Corps
7th April 1918, aged 21.
Row H. 24.

Son of Rudolph and Jessie Miller. Born at Invercargill, New Zealand.

29071 Corporal
Leonard Wesley Peryman
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
6th April 1918, aged 33.
Row H. 15.

Son of Henry Edward and Catherine Mary Peryman, of Tai Taper, Canterbury, New Zealand.

325604 Pioneer
James Starkey
Royal Engineers, attached to 17th Brigade, Signal Sub. Sect.
21st June 1918
Row E. 18.

Battle of Rosières (Operation Michael). A 6-inch Mark VII gun of the Royal Garrison Artillery in action near Hédauville, 26 March 1918. © IWM (Q 8628)