HERBÉCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.92331, Longitude: 2.83563
Location Information
Herbécourt is a village and commune in the Department of the Somme, on the Amiens-Peronne road 8 kilometres west of Peronne.
The British Cemetery is situated on the D1 road after leaving the village in the direction of Bray-sur-Somme.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The first six burials in Row A were made in February and March, 1917. At that time and until after the Armistice the cemetery was an Extension Eastwards of the Communal Cemetery Extension used by French and German troops, but the French and German Extension has been removed. The village fell into German hands in March, 1918, and was recaptured by the 6th Australian Infantry Brigade on the following 29th August; and in August and September, 1918, the cemetery was completed.
There are 59,1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.
The cemetery covers an area of 326 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
The cemetery was designed by George Hartley Goldsmith
Total Burials: 59.
Identified Casualties: Australia 51, United Kingdom 8. Total 59.
Dedications
5036 Private Norman Sydney Baldry, 56th Bn. Australian Infantry,, A. I. F., 31st August 1918, aged 19. Son of Samuel and Mary Baldry
Remembered by great-great niece, Helen Lewis
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Lieutenant
Stanley Colless, M. C., D. C. M.
55th Bn. Australian Infantry
1st September 1918, aged 25.
Row C. 1.
Son of Henry and Elizabeth Jane Colless, of North St., Penrith, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Perfect Peace; With Loved Ones Far Away In Jesu's Keeping He Is Safe."
5390 Corporal E. Johnson of "A" Company, 55th Bn., witnessed Stanley Colless's final moments;
"I saw him killed by Machine Gun fire in the forehead, near the right of Mount St. Quentin-Peronne. he only lived a few minutes and was unconscious, having a clean bullet wounding the forehead; it was about 5.30p.m. We were going along to support the left flank of the 53rd; he was having a look over the top at the time. After going on a bit farther, I was hit about ten minutes later and as i came back he was lying dead in the trench."
Stanley Colless, M. C., D. C. M.
55th Bn. Australian Infantry
1st September 1918, aged 25.
Row C. 1.
Son of Henry and Elizabeth Jane Colless, of North St., Penrith, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Perfect Peace; With Loved Ones Far Away In Jesu's Keeping He Is Safe."
5390 Corporal E. Johnson of "A" Company, 55th Bn., witnessed Stanley Colless's final moments;
"I saw him killed by Machine Gun fire in the forehead, near the right of Mount St. Quentin-Peronne. he only lived a few minutes and was unconscious, having a clean bullet wounding the forehead; it was about 5.30p.m. We were going along to support the left flank of the 53rd; he was having a look over the top at the time. After going on a bit farther, I was hit about ten minutes later and as i came back he was lying dead in the trench."
3777 Private
Verner Murray Ellis
55th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
2nd September 1918.
Row D. 12.
Son of Eli James and Mary Emma Ellis, of Green Vale, Boree Creek, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "While Life And Memory Last We Will Remember Thee Dear Vernie."
A farmer from Greenvale, NSW, Pte Ellis embarked with the 55th Battalion, 10th Reinforcements, on 31 October 1917 aboard HMAT Euripides (A14). Pte Ellis was killed in action on 2 September 1918 in Peronne, France.
Killed in action at 8 a.m., near Peronne by a Machine Gun bullet to the forehead during his battalions attack. He died in the trench.
Verner Murray Ellis
55th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
2nd September 1918.
Row D. 12.
Son of Eli James and Mary Emma Ellis, of Green Vale, Boree Creek, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "While Life And Memory Last We Will Remember Thee Dear Vernie."
A farmer from Greenvale, NSW, Pte Ellis embarked with the 55th Battalion, 10th Reinforcements, on 31 October 1917 aboard HMAT Euripides (A14). Pte Ellis was killed in action on 2 September 1918 in Peronne, France.
Killed in action at 8 a.m., near Peronne by a Machine Gun bullet to the forehead during his battalions attack. He died in the trench.
241 Lance Corporal
James Alfred Weir McKenzie
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
1st September 1918, aged 29.
Row B. 7.
Son of Alexander and Ellen McKenzie, of McLeod St., Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia. Native of Murtoa, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Our Dear Boy, So Sadly Missed."
He enlisted on 11th March 1915 and Died of Wounds received at Mont St. Quentin.
James Alfred Weir McKenzie
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
1st September 1918, aged 29.
Row B. 7.
Son of Alexander and Ellen McKenzie, of McLeod St., Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia. Native of Murtoa, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Our Dear Boy, So Sadly Missed."
He enlisted on 11th March 1915 and Died of Wounds received at Mont St. Quentin.
3465 Corporal
Austin Joseph Ryan
58th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
31st August 1918, aged 24.
Row A. 8.
Son of Michael and Honora Ryan. Native of Camperdown, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This."
A dairyman from Mount Gambier, SA, Pte Ryan enlisted on 23 January 1917. He was killed in action on 31st August 1918.
Austin Joseph Ryan
58th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
31st August 1918, aged 24.
Row A. 8.
Son of Michael and Honora Ryan. Native of Camperdown, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This."
A dairyman from Mount Gambier, SA, Pte Ryan enlisted on 23 January 1917. He was killed in action on 31st August 1918.
2269 Private
Arthur Washington Walker
55th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
1st September 1918, aged 33.
Row C. 14.
Son of Samuel Washington Walker and Margaret Ellen Walker of 160, Bridge Rd., Glebe, New South Wales.
The picture to the left shows; Arthur as a Cadet Sergeant, aged 14 years.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man For He Died For Friends And Country."
2663 Sergeant H. J. C. Green of the 55th Bn., saw Arthur Washington just after he was wounded;
"On September 1st 1918, near Peronne, I saw Walker sitting back against the side of the trench. He had been hit in the head with a piece of shell, and was dying at the time. He was unconscious and could not speak. I was assisting to take other wounded men away at the time and when i saw Walker later, he was dead, that was the last I saw of him. He was in my Company (D)."
Captain Crawford, Chaplain 20th Battalion (second from the right) conducting a burial service on the Battlefield. Herbécourt 31st August 1918.
An exterior view of four buildings used as an Advanced Dressing Station. (Probably Herbecourt) The station was used by the Australians during their operations around Peronne from 20 August to 5 September 5th 1918.
