HIBERS TRENCH CEMETERY
Wancourt
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.25092, Longitude: 2.85657
Location Information
Wancourt is a village approximately 8 kilometres south-east of Arras. Hibers Trench Cemetery is about one kilometre north-west of the village on the north side of the road from Wancourt to Arras.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this site is possible, but maybe by alternative entrance.
Historical Information
Wancourt was captured by Commonwealth troops on 12 April 1917, and Wancourt Tower was taken by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division on the 13th. At the end of March 1918, the village and its neighbourhood were lost during the German advance, but they were recovered by the Canadian Corps on the following 26 August.
Hibers Trench Cemetery was made in April 1917, by the 50th Division Burial Officer and used until the following October. Three Canadian graves were added in August and September 1918, and two further burials in the summer of 1919.
Hibers Trench Cemetery contains 136 burials and commemorations of the First World War. Six of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to two casualties who are known to be buried among them.
Total Burials: 136.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 128, Canada 2. Total 130.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 5, Canada 1. Total 6.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith
Dedications
R/14375 Rifleman James Skene, 9th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps. 6th May 1917, aged 27.
Remembered by Susan Mary Walsh
Cemetery images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
R/18040 Rifleman
Thornton Butler
7th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
11th April 1917, aged 21.
Row D. 21.
Son of Thomas Frederick and Kate Butler, of Wickford, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died That We Might Live In Freedom."
Thornton Butler
7th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
11th April 1917, aged 21.
Row D. 21.
Son of Thomas Frederick and Kate Butler, of Wickford, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died That We Might Live In Freedom."
Second Lieutenant
George Rodolph De Salis
8th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
21st June 1917, aged 19.
Row E. 16.
Son of Cecil De Salis, of Dawley Court, Uxbridge, Middx.
George Rodolph De Salis
8th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
21st June 1917, aged 19.
Row E. 16.
Son of Cecil De Salis, of Dawley Court, Uxbridge, Middx.
275542 Gunner
Hugh Forsythe
20th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
23rd July 1917
Row C. 27.
Hugh Forsythe
20th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
23rd July 1917
Row C. 27.
551133 Rifleman
Sidney J. Hunt
1st/16th Bn. London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)
1st May 1917
Row C. 24.
Sidney J. Hunt
1st/16th Bn. London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)
1st May 1917
Row C. 24.
300045 Serjeant
Brian Needell
"A" Coy. 1st/5th Bn. London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
2nd May 1917, aged 28.
Row E. 8.
Son of Mr. T. J. and Mrs. Florence Needell, of Hendon, Middx.; husband of Eleanor Frances Needell, of "The Hey," 1025, Broom Rd., Teddington, Middx. Served 8 years in the London Rifle Brigade.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Primus In Urbe" And First In My Life E.F.N."
(The Latin basically translates to First In The City, recognising them as the first volunteer corps raised in the City of London. The latter part of the inscription is a personal tribute from his wife Eleanor Frances Needell (E. F. N.)
Brian Needell
"A" Coy. 1st/5th Bn. London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
2nd May 1917, aged 28.
Row E. 8.
Son of Mr. T. J. and Mrs. Florence Needell, of Hendon, Middx.; husband of Eleanor Frances Needell, of "The Hey," 1025, Broom Rd., Teddington, Middx. Served 8 years in the London Rifle Brigade.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Primus In Urbe" And First In My Life E.F.N."
(The Latin basically translates to First In The City, recognising them as the first volunteer corps raised in the City of London. The latter part of the inscription is a personal tribute from his wife Eleanor Frances Needell (E. F. N.)
275363 Serjeant
John O'Hara
1st/7th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
21st April 1917, aged 44.
Plot D. 26.
Son of John and Mary O'Hara, of Whitehaven; husband of Susannah O'Hara, of 4, Hawthorn St., South Millfield, Sunderland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy."
Picture courtesy of Martin Gibson (Great Grandson)
John O'Hara
1st/7th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
21st April 1917, aged 44.
Plot D. 26.
Son of John and Mary O'Hara, of Whitehaven; husband of Susannah O'Hara, of 4, Hawthorn St., South Millfield, Sunderland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy."
Picture courtesy of Martin Gibson (Great Grandson)
755674 Gunner
Ernest Porritt
"C" Battery, 251st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
23rd April 1917
Row A. 13.
Born in West Lutton, East Riding, Yorkshire.
Picture courtesy of Mrs. P. Sutterby, Ernest was her mothers cousin
Ernest Porritt
"C" Battery, 251st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
23rd April 1917
Row A. 13.
Born in West Lutton, East Riding, Yorkshire.
Picture courtesy of Mrs. P. Sutterby, Ernest was her mothers cousin
200344 Serjeant
Fred Shore, M. M.
4th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
21st April 1917
Row B. 4.
Fred Shore, M. M.
4th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
21st April 1917
Row B. 4.
Captain
Charles Claude Whitley, M. C.
7th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
11th April 1917, aged 28.
Row C. 15.
Born at Halewood, Liverpool. Son of Mr. Ed. and Elizabeth Eleanor Whitley, of Primley, Paignton, Devon.
His headstone bears the inscription; "I Thank My God Upon Every Remembrance Of You" Phillipians Ch.1 Verse 3."
Charles Claude Whitley, M. C.
7th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
11th April 1917, aged 28.
Row C. 15.
Born at Halewood, Liverpool. Son of Mr. Ed. and Elizabeth Eleanor Whitley, of Primley, Paignton, Devon.
His headstone bears the inscription; "I Thank My God Upon Every Remembrance Of You" Phillipians Ch.1 Verse 3."
Troops of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) in an avenue of dug-outs near Wancourt, 29 April, 1917. © IWM (Q 5272)
British troops watching shell-bursts near Wancourt, SE of Arras, 21st June 1917. © IWM (Q 2552)
British officers dining in a reserve trench at Wancourt, 29 April 1917. © IWM (Q 5276)
