Hermies British Cemetery, Pas de Calais

HERMIES BRITISH CEMETERY

Pas De Calais

France

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.11123, Longitude: 3.03069

Picture © Geerhard Joos

Location Information

Hermies is a town in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, approximately 3.5 kilometres south of the road (D930) from Bapaume to Cambrai.

From the D930 take the D34 for 3.2 kilometres to its junction with the D5E where the first CWGC sign is situated. The Cemetery lies on the right side of the road 150 metres from the junction.

Historical Information

Hermies village was seized on the morning of the 9th April 1917, by a surprise attack of the 2nd and 3rd Australian Infantry Battalions. It was held against the advancing Germans on the 22nd March 1918, by the 17th Division, but evacuated on the following day; and it was retaken in September 1918.

It was later "adopted", with Havrincourt, by the County Borough of Huddersfield.

The cemetery was made in April-December 1917, by fighting units and Field Ambulances.

There are 109, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 3 are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to one soldier from the United Kingdom, who is believed to be one of them. Eight graves in Rows A and B, identified as a whole but not individually, are marked by headstones bearing the additional words "Buried near this spot".

The cemetery covers an area of 731 square metres and is enclosed by a low brick wall.

Total Burials: 109.

Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 80, Australia 26. Total 106.

Unidentified Casualties: 3.

Picture © Johan Pauwels.

Brigadier General Roland Boys Bradford, V. C. & M. C. Mentioned three times in Despatches
2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Commanding 186th Brigade.
30th November 1917 aged 25 years.
Row F. 10.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Bradford, of Milbanke, Darlington.

His brothers, James Barker Bradford and George Nicholson Bradford also died on service.

James (M. C.) is buried in Duisans British Cemetery in France and George (V. C.) is buried in Blankenberge Town Cemetery in Belgium

Thomas Andrews Bradford (D. S. O.) was the eldest brother who survived the war and died in 1966.

His headstone bears the inscription "Dulce Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori"

Citation

An extract from "The London Gazette," dated the 24th Nov., 1916, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and good leadership in attack, whereby he saved the situation on the right flank of his Brigade and of the Division. Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford's' Battalion was in support. A leading Battalion having suffered very severe casualties, and the Commander wounded, its flank became dangerously exposed at close quarters to the enemy. Raked by machine-gun fire, the situation of the Battalion was critical. At the request of the wounded Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford asked permission to command the exposed Battalion in addition to his own. Permission granted, he at once proceeded to the foremost lines. By his fearless energy under fire of all description, and his skilful leadership of the two Battalions, regardless of all danger, he succeeded in rallying the attack, captured and defended the objective, and so secured the flank."

Headstone

Picture © Geerhard Joos

Roland Boys Bradford's three brothers

Thomas Andrews Bradford, D. S. O.

George Nicholson Bradford, V. C. is buried in Blankenberge Town Cemetery in Belgium

James Barker Bradford, M. C. is buried in Duisans British Cemetery

Images in gallery below © Geerhard Joos

3062 Lance Corporal
Frank Wadhurst Fry
3rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th April 1917, aged 25.
Row E. 8.

Son of Richard and Mary Fry, of "Wadhurst," Charles St., West Maitland, New South Wales.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten."

3695 Private Leslie Boot gave this description of the circumstances of Frank Fry's death;

"Frank Fry was in charge of a Lewis Gun crew and killed in an outpost in front of Hermies on the Somme. Sergt. Gordon went out reconnoitring beyond the outpost and Fry tried to save him, but got mortally shot. Gordon escaped but was wounded. I had charge of the relieving gun crew and saw Fry's body. It was 10 to 15 yards from the outpost and because we had to wait till after dark and the weather was very dark and stormy, we could not bring him in before, being relieved about 12.a.m., so I know nothing about his burial."

5099 Private J. M. Harper added; "He went out to rescue Sgt. Gordon of 3rd Battalion and enemy turned machine gun on him and killed him instantly. I assisted in bringing him in but do not know where he was buried."

17727 Rifleman
John Goldsworthy
12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
14th September 1917
Row H. 4.

6020 Private
John Thomas Hart (served as John Henry Hart)
2nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th April 1917, aged 26.
Row A. 8.

Son of John Henry and Jane Hart; husband of May Hart, of Burraga, New South Wales. Born at Narromine, New South Wales.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Dearer To Us Than Words Can Tell Was A Husband & Father We Loved So Well."

6020 Private John Thomas Hart (served as John Henry Hart), 2nd Battalion. He enlisted in Dubbo on 22 March 1916 and departed from Australia on board HMAT Wiltshire on 22 August 1916, arriving in England and proceeding to France in December 1916. He was killed in action, aged 26, on 9 April 1917 at Hermies, France.

4022, S. P. Whittingham of the same battalion gave details of the death of John Hart;

"Hart was killed by an M. G. bullet during the stunt at Hermies on April 9th. I did not see him hit but saw him lying dead afterwards. He was buried in the brick0kiln at the village of Hermies - there were about 25 buried together. The grave had one big cross with all their names on."

1841 Private
Stanley MacQuarie Tonkins*
2nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 13.

Son of George and Myra Tonkin. Born at Gladstone.

His headstone bears the inscription; "He Laid Down His Life Like A Hero In Response To His Country's Call."

*CWGC have his name as TONKIN, all other sources show TONKINS

Captured German communication trench in foreground with a group of German prisoners standing on left. A slag heap is visible in the background. Near Hermies, 20 November 1917. © IWM (Q 3179)