LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.51796, Longitude: 2.52532
Image © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Lapugnoy is a village 6 kilometres west of Bethune.
From the centre of Lapugnoy, head south-west on the D70 in the direction of Marles-les-Mines. On the outskirts there is a crucifix at the side of the main road, turn right here towards Allouagne. After approximately 500 metres there is a track on the left hand side (the Cemetery is signposted here) and the Cemetery can be found on the left hand side, approximately 500 metres, along this track.
Historical Information
The first burials were made in Plot I of the cemetery in September 1915, but it was most heavily used during the Battle of Arras, which began in April 1917. The dead were brought to the cemetery from casualty clearing stations, chiefly the 18th and the 23rd at Lapugnoy and Lozinghem, but between May and August 1918 the cemetery was used by fighting units.
Lapugnoy Military Cemetery contains 1,324 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 3 being unidentified, and 11 from the Second World War, all dating from May 1940.
Total Burials: 1,337.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 964, Canada 348, Australia 7, Germany 2, South Africa 2. Total 1,323.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 2, Canada 1. Total 3.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 11.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith
Shot at Dawn
34453 Private Arthur Charles Dagesse, 22nd Battalion Canadian Infantry, executed for desertion 15th March 1918, aged 33. Plot VIII. B. 8. Husband of Hettie Dagesse, of Thorold, Ontario. Native of Montreal. An American who had joined the Canadian army at the outbreak of war, he served as a cook with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. When serving in France, Dagesse alternated between going absent & receiving treatment for venereal disease. In October 1916, he was transferred to a fighting unit, but in May 1917 went absent again, when he was under arrest & his battalion warned for the trenches. Dagesse was detained 5 months later, masquerading as a sergeant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. In January 1918, he was tried for some offence (of which no details are available); & was executed after further trial on 15 March 1918, having been in custody for 4 months. (Putkowski,pp.239-240)
8793 Private John Taylor, 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment, executed for desertion 06th November 1917. Plot VII. A. 11. Husband of Catherine Annie Taylor, of 16, Nile Terrace, Birmingham. A regular who but for the war would have been transferred to the Reserve in the summer of 1916, he deserted in the mistaken belief that on this anniversary he was entitled to a month’s leave. Taylor had deserted twice before — perhaps out of a sense of grievance — before his third conviction led to execution. (Putkowski, p.214)
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
S/10986 Lance Corporal
Samuel Adamson
1st Bn. Cameron Highlanders
18th April 1918, aged 21.
Plot VIII. D. 26.
Son of Samuel Adamson, of Craigmurie, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire. Native of Anwoth, Kirkcudbrightshire. Groom to Sir William Maxwell, Bt., of Cardoness, before enlistment.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Safe In The Arms Of Jesus Safe On His Gentle Breast There By His Love O'er Shaded Sweetly His Soul Shall Rest."
Samuel Adamson
1st Bn. Cameron Highlanders
18th April 1918, aged 21.
Plot VIII. D. 26.
Son of Samuel Adamson, of Craigmurie, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire. Native of Anwoth, Kirkcudbrightshire. Groom to Sir William Maxwell, Bt., of Cardoness, before enlistment.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Safe In The Arms Of Jesus Safe On His Gentle Breast There By His Love O'er Shaded Sweetly His Soul Shall Rest."
Lieutenant
Arthur Henry Beer, M. C.
275th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
21st April 1918, aged 23.
Plot IX. C. 16.
Son of Lina Beer, of 11, Livingston Drive, Liverpool, and the late Walter Beer.
Arthur Henry Beer, M. C.
275th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
21st April 1918, aged 23.
Plot IX. C. 16.
Son of Lina Beer, of 11, Livingston Drive, Liverpool, and the late Walter Beer.
S/26986 Private
John Boa
3rd Bn. Cameron Highlanders
24th April 1918, aged 20.
Plot VII. E. 23.
Son of Walter and Jessie Boa, of Station House, Maxton, Newtown St. Boswells, Roxburghshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Banner Over Me Is Love."
Picture courtesy of Walter Moffat, nephew of this soldier
John Boa
3rd Bn. Cameron Highlanders
24th April 1918, aged 20.
Plot VII. E. 23.
Son of Walter and Jessie Boa, of Station House, Maxton, Newtown St. Boswells, Roxburghshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Banner Over Me Is Love."
Picture courtesy of Walter Moffat, nephew of this soldier
7765 Private
John Brough
"B" Coy. 7th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
5th March 1916, aged 30.
Plot I. E. 30.
Son of John Henry and Kate Brough, of 22, Enoch Terrace, Peas Hill Rd., Nottingham.
Picture courtesy of great niece, Jillian Lewis
John Brough
"B" Coy. 7th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
5th March 1916, aged 30.
Plot I. E. 30.
Son of John Henry and Kate Brough, of 22, Enoch Terrace, Peas Hill Rd., Nottingham.
Picture courtesy of great niece, Jillian Lewis
110156 Lance Corporal John Albert Ferguson 8th Company Canadian Machine Gun Corps. 24th April 1917, aged 22. Plot III. G. 14. A young farm boy, John originally joined the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Probably because of his love and experience with horses. He later transferred to 8th Coy. Canadian Machine Guns Corps. He died at the age of 22 on April 24th 1917 of wounds received the previous morning (his birthday). Son of Alexander and Mary Jane Ferguson of Cornwall, Ontario. His headstone bears the inscription; "Thine Is A Perfect Rest." Pictures courtesy of nephew Gordon A. Ferguson, Williamstown, Ontario, and Ralph Cameron, Ottawa, Ontario. |
Circumstances of Death Report
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269889 Private
Frederick William Gaunt
1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
12th April 1918.
Plot VIII. C. 14.
Frederick was the Brother in Law of my first Cousin x 3 removed.
Picture and text courtesy Philip Brooks
Frederick William Gaunt
1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
12th April 1918.
Plot VIII. C. 14.
Frederick was the Brother in Law of my first Cousin x 3 removed.
Picture and text courtesy Philip Brooks
269286 Private
John William Gregory
1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
22nd March 1918, aged 22.
Plot IX. A. 12.
Son of James and Hannah Gregory of Lydgate, Holmesfield, Sheffield.
His name is carved on the WW1 memorial in the churchyard of Holmesfield Parish Church. He was always known by his full Christian name, John William. His older brother Albert was captured at Ypres, held a prisoner at Stendal in Germany but escaped captivity and survived the war.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done In Earth As It Is In Heaven" Matthew 6th 10 Ver."
Picture courtesy of great nephew, J. R. Malpass
John William Gregory
1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
22nd March 1918, aged 22.
Plot IX. A. 12.
Son of James and Hannah Gregory of Lydgate, Holmesfield, Sheffield.
His name is carved on the WW1 memorial in the churchyard of Holmesfield Parish Church. He was always known by his full Christian name, John William. His older brother Albert was captured at Ypres, held a prisoner at Stendal in Germany but escaped captivity and survived the war.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done In Earth As It Is In Heaven" Matthew 6th 10 Ver."
Picture courtesy of great nephew, J. R. Malpass
2880 Private
Samuel Kirk Laurie
1st Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
11th April 1918.
PLOT VIII. C. 6.
Click on image to enlarge
Samuel Kirk Laurie was born 21st January 1879 in Dumfries, Scotland. He was married to Lizzie on 22nd August 1902, who died in 1919, so all of their children were orphaned. We believe he fought in the Boer War and lost his life on 11th April 1918 in WW1 when he was fighting with 1st Bn, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 2880.
Remembered by Julia Thompson (Great Granddaughter)
Samuel Kirk Laurie
1st Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
11th April 1918.
PLOT VIII. C. 6.
Click on image to enlarge
Samuel Kirk Laurie was born 21st January 1879 in Dumfries, Scotland. He was married to Lizzie on 22nd August 1902, who died in 1919, so all of their children were orphaned. We believe he fought in the Boer War and lost his life on 11th April 1918 in WW1 when he was fighting with 1st Bn, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 2880.
Remembered by Julia Thompson (Great Granddaughter)
Samuel Laurie is in the middle row, seated on the left
44510 Private
Geoffrey Frederick Horatio Lloyd
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
2nd August 1918, aged 26.
Plot X. C. 3.
Son of Florence M. Lloyd, of Grove House, Elson Rd., Ellesmere, Salop, and the late William Henry Lloyd. Transferred from the King's Shropshire Light Inf.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Only Son Of Florence M. &. Late W. H. Lloyd Ellesmere, Salop"
The information below supplied by 'The Ellesmerian Club', the alumni organisation for Ellesmere College where Geoffrey was a pupil.
Geoffrey Frederick Horatio Lloyd
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
2nd August 1918, aged 26.
Plot X. C. 3.
Son of Florence M. Lloyd, of Grove House, Elson Rd., Ellesmere, Salop, and the late William Henry Lloyd. Transferred from the King's Shropshire Light Inf.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Only Son Of Florence M. &. Late W. H. Lloyd Ellesmere, Salop"
The information below supplied by 'The Ellesmerian Club', the alumni organisation for Ellesmere College where Geoffrey was a pupil.
Geoffrey Frederick Horatio Lloyd was born on 10th June 1892 in Wem, Shropshire and was admitted to Ellesmere College in May 1903. He was placed in Form Upper I under the tutelage of Mr. Isbister and was allocated to the ‘Arthur’ dormitory. He was the son of William, a veterinary surgeon, and his wife, Florence. The 1911 Census records the family had moved to Ellesmere where William ran his practice from his home in Talbot Street.
In the three years he spent at the college, before he left in April 1906, it is presumed that he took an active part in college life – at the time there were several pupils with the surname ‘Lloyd’ and in the records, The Ellesmerian etc of that period, there is no distinction made between the various individuals and their accomplishments and so it is almost impossible to define any individual’s achievements.
Following the declaration of war, Geoffrey enlisted as Private Lloyd, Service No. 9508 in the 2nd Battalion, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. After his basic training he was sent to France, arriving three days before Christmas 1914.
Subsequently, he was posted to the Western Front on 17th February 1915 and, two months later, he transferred to the 1st Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry as Private, Service No. 44510. During his military career he was wounded a total of three times, once at the Battle of Ypres.
The detailed war diaries of the 1st Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry have survived and these record that the battalion was stationed at Mount Bernanchon on 20th July 1918. All things considered, the writer noted, they had been experiencing a relatively quiet time although the weather had turned quite stormy at times making life in the trenches very unpleasant.
The battalion had been able to undertake some training and had sent out many small patrols into the enemy positions to gather intelligence but had not been involved in any major action for a while. They still had regular contact with the enemy and suffered shelling, gas attacks etc. and two men were wounded by German snipers on 30th July – it is not known if one of these was Geoffrey as ‘other ranks’ were not named but the diaries do not show any men being wounded or killed in the first week of August so it would appear that Geoffrey died of wounds received earlier.
On 2nd August, the diary records: “Enemy artillery much more active during the day. Les Harisoirs being shelled three times. The usual shelling occurred on the canal line and Chelsea Bridge during the night. Little aerial activity.”
Geoffrey died as a result of his wounds on 2nd August 1918 and was buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery.
The Battalion suffered fifty-seven fatalities that month with a further one hundred and seventy-three men wounded and another twenty-five being recorded as ‘missing’.
Geoffrey is commemorated on the War Memorials at Ellesmere College and at St. Mary’s Church, Ellesmere.
In the three years he spent at the college, before he left in April 1906, it is presumed that he took an active part in college life – at the time there were several pupils with the surname ‘Lloyd’ and in the records, The Ellesmerian etc of that period, there is no distinction made between the various individuals and their accomplishments and so it is almost impossible to define any individual’s achievements.
Following the declaration of war, Geoffrey enlisted as Private Lloyd, Service No. 9508 in the 2nd Battalion, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. After his basic training he was sent to France, arriving three days before Christmas 1914.
Subsequently, he was posted to the Western Front on 17th February 1915 and, two months later, he transferred to the 1st Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry as Private, Service No. 44510. During his military career he was wounded a total of three times, once at the Battle of Ypres.
The detailed war diaries of the 1st Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry have survived and these record that the battalion was stationed at Mount Bernanchon on 20th July 1918. All things considered, the writer noted, they had been experiencing a relatively quiet time although the weather had turned quite stormy at times making life in the trenches very unpleasant.
The battalion had been able to undertake some training and had sent out many small patrols into the enemy positions to gather intelligence but had not been involved in any major action for a while. They still had regular contact with the enemy and suffered shelling, gas attacks etc. and two men were wounded by German snipers on 30th July – it is not known if one of these was Geoffrey as ‘other ranks’ were not named but the diaries do not show any men being wounded or killed in the first week of August so it would appear that Geoffrey died of wounds received earlier.
On 2nd August, the diary records: “Enemy artillery much more active during the day. Les Harisoirs being shelled three times. The usual shelling occurred on the canal line and Chelsea Bridge during the night. Little aerial activity.”
Geoffrey died as a result of his wounds on 2nd August 1918 and was buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery.
The Battalion suffered fifty-seven fatalities that month with a further one hundred and seventy-three men wounded and another twenty-five being recorded as ‘missing’.
Geoffrey is commemorated on the War Memorials at Ellesmere College and at St. Mary’s Church, Ellesmere.
424307 Lance Corporal
Jack McMeeken, M. M.
28th Bn. Canadian Infantry
1st August 1917, aged 26.
Plot V. A. 12.
(Note: CWGC incorrectly record his name as McMeeken)
Pictures courtesy of great niece, Ethel Lanser
Jack McMeeken, M. M.
28th Bn. Canadian Infantry
1st August 1917, aged 26.
Plot V. A. 12.
(Note: CWGC incorrectly record his name as McMeeken)
Pictures courtesy of great niece, Ethel Lanser
Lieutenant
Alfred Newman
12th Bn. South Wales Borderers
1st July 1916, aged 23.
Plot X. F. 9
Son of M J and W N Newman, of 51 Dora Road, Small Heath, Birmingham.
Alfred Newman
12th Bn. South Wales Borderers
1st July 1916, aged 23.
Plot X. F. 9
Son of M J and W N Newman, of 51 Dora Road, Small Heath, Birmingham.
1594 Gunner
William Charles Rolison
6th (London) Bde. Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
31st October 1915, aged 19.
Plot I. A. 4.
Eldest son of William and Mary Georgina Rolison, of Lambeth, London.
Picture courtesy of nephew, Dennis Rolison
His headstone bears the inscription; "Having Fought A Good Fight, He Is At Peace With Jesus."
William Charles Rolison
6th (London) Bde. Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
31st October 1915, aged 19.
Plot I. A. 4.
Eldest son of William and Mary Georgina Rolison, of Lambeth, London.
Picture courtesy of nephew, Dennis Rolison
His headstone bears the inscription; "Having Fought A Good Fight, He Is At Peace With Jesus."
Brigadier General Gordon Strachey Shephard, D. S. O., M. C., M. I. D. Staff, Commanding 1st Bde. Royal Flying Corps, Formerly Royal Fusiliers 19th January 1918, aged 32. Plot VI. B. 15 Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France). Son of Sir Horatio and Lady Shephard, of 58, Montagu Square, London. His headstone bears the inscription; "In A Short Space He Fulfilled A Long Time Wisdom Iv.14 R.I.P." Pictures courtesy of Nancy Wilson |
Click on image to enlarge
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42598 Corporal
Henry Sykes
3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery
Born 10th December 1890, died 5th June 1917, aged 26.
Plot IV. C. 11.
Native of Sheffield, England. Son of John and Annie E. Sykes, of 559, Keele St., Toronto.
His headstone bears the inscription "May The Sacrifice Not Be In Vain"
Thank you for your sacrifice, Diane Sykes (Great Niece)
Please click on image to enlarge
Henry Sykes
3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery
Born 10th December 1890, died 5th June 1917, aged 26.
Plot IV. C. 11.
Native of Sheffield, England. Son of John and Annie E. Sykes, of 559, Keele St., Toronto.
His headstone bears the inscription "May The Sacrifice Not Be In Vain"
Thank you for your sacrifice, Diane Sykes (Great Niece)
Please click on image to enlarge
797113 Private
Lewis Edgar West
14th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)
7th September 1917, aged 23.
Plot VI. A. 3.
Son of Abram and Emmeline West, of Kingslake, Ontario. Native of Norfolk, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Loving Memory Of Our Beloved Son, Who Died For King And Country."
This soldier also had two brothers killed in 1917, follow the link below to view images of them. Nine Elms Military Cemetery
Photo courtesy of Andy Mercer
Lewis Edgar West
14th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)
7th September 1917, aged 23.
Plot VI. A. 3.
Son of Abram and Emmeline West, of Kingslake, Ontario. Native of Norfolk, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Loving Memory Of Our Beloved Son, Who Died For King And Country."
This soldier also had two brothers killed in 1917, follow the link below to view images of them. Nine Elms Military Cemetery
Photo courtesy of Andy Mercer
Roll call of the 1st Battallion, Black Watch outside their billets at Lapugnoy, 10 April 1918. © IWM (Q 10881)
Battle of Estaires. A Medical Officer examining the breast wounds of a Highlander of the 51st Division, at an Advanced Dressing Station RAMC at Lapugnoy, 11 April 1918. He is accompanied by a soldier of the South Staffordshire Regiment. © IWM (Q 11600)
