Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Fleurbaix

LE TROU AID POST CEMETERY

Fleurbaix

Pas De Calais

France

Picture © Werner Van Caneghem

Location Information

Fleurbaix is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, five kilometres south-west of Armentieres and fourteen kilometres west of Lille. Le Trou is a hamlet of Fleurbaix, south of the village, on the side road, off the D175, known as the Rue-Petillon. Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery is located on the D175.

Visiting Information

Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.

Historical Information

Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery

In October 1914 British soldiers serving in the Fleurbaix sector began burying their fallen comrades beside a regimental aid post and dressing station located not far from the support trenches that led to the front-line. Le Trou Aid Post cemetery was used until July of 1915 and when the war ended contained just 123 burials, all of which are now in Row F. In the years after the Armistice, the cemetery was enlarged when the remains of Commonwealth soldiers were brought here from other burial grounds and battlefields throughout the region. The cemetery is now the final resting place of officers and men killed in heavy fighting at Le Maisnil in October 1914, the Battle of Aubers Ridge (9-10 May 1915), the Battle of Loos (25 September – 14 October 1915), and the Battle of Fromelles (19-20 July 1916).

The unique architectural features and landscaping in the cemetery were designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the celebrated British architect who also designed the Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle. Today more than 350 Commonwealth soldiers of the First World War are buried at Le Trou Aid Post. Over 200 burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate five casualties known or believed to be buried among them. There are also two French war graves.

The Battles of Fromelles

On the night of 20 October 1914, as the First Battle of Ypres raged further north in Flanders, the men of the 19th Infantry Brigade of III Corps, were ordered to occupy the villages of Fromelles and Le Maisnil. The Brigade was forced to retire the next day in the face of fierce artillery fire and determined infantry attacks and the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and 1st Middlesex suffered heavy casualties. The British dead were buried in what had now become German territory. By the end of 1914, the villages of Neuve Chapelle, Aubers and Fromelles were behind German lines.

Following the British capture of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, the Germans greatly reinforced their defensive lines in the sector, particularly around a portion of the front near Fromelles that became known as the Sugarloaf Salient. As part of the Allied spring offensive of 1915, a combination of British and Indian units staged a major assault on the German positions on Aubers Ridge on 9 May. The artillery bombardments that opened the attack made little impression on the fortified German positions and German machine-gunners were able to remain at their posts with the result that many of the attacking troops were cut down as soon as they left their trenches. Despite some initial successes, the British Expeditionary Force failed to achieve its objectives and over 10,000 officers and men were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.

Over a year later, in July 1916, an attack was launched on the German lines around Fromelles. The attack was designed to prevent the Germans from sending units from this sector to their divisions on the Somme front, which was now the scene of a major Allied offensive. On the evening of 19 July, the men of the British 61st (2nd South Midland) Division and the 5th (Australian) Division, most of whom had no experience of combat on the Western Front, advanced towards a well prepared and well organised enemy. Withering machine gun fire forced the units of the 61st Division to retreat before they reached the German lines. To begin with, the Australians fared better and managed to overrun the German forward trenches. They were unable to hold their newly occupied positions, however, and the attack was called off the next day. The Battle of Fromelles made little impact on the German troop movements and the combined British and Australian force suffered over 7,000 casualties.

Casualty Details: UK 293, Canada 7, Australia 56, France 2, Total Burials: 358

Panoramic view of the ruined village of Fleurbaix, 18th May 1917. © IWM (Q 2107)

Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem

Second Lieutenant
Frederick Banes-Walker
2nd Bn. Devonshire Regiment
9th May 1915, aged 26.
Row F. 1.

Son of Harry and Mary Alexandra Banes Walker, of "Verriers," North Petherton, Bridgwater, Somerset.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Grant Unto Him Eternal Rest O Lord."

Second Lieutenant
Albert William Bourke
Royal Irish Fusiliers attd. 1st Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
9th May 1915, aged 23.
Sp. Mem. 4.

Son of Charles Edward and Sophia Bourke, of Kensington House, Kensington Rd., Knock, Belfast.

His headstone bears the inscription; "This Precious Life Has Been Given For Freedom, Honour And Love Of Country. God Is Love."

7434 Lance Corporal
Francis Bunton
2nd Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
21st October 1914, aged 35.
Row E. 31.

Husband of Martha Bunton, of 350, Victoria Avenue North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done."

22750 Private
Edmund E. Hopey
14th Bn. Canadian Infantry
4th March 1915, aged 21.
Row J. 2.

Son of George and Ida Hopey, of 27, Lonsdale St., Dorchester, Mass., U.S.A.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Killed In Action."

Australian troops of the 2nd Anzac Division parading for the trenches; Fleurbaix, 17th April 1916. © IWM (Q 576)

560 Private
Percival Roy Matthews
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th July 1916.
Row O. 35.

He was originally posted as missing but later confirmed as Killed in Action.

1369 Private
J. Maxwell
5th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
9th May 1915
Row F. 10.

2309 Serjeant
George Eaton Miller
5th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
9th May 1915, aged 26.
Row F. 15.

Son of Alexander and Elizabeth Eaton Miller, of 8, Carnegie St., Arbroath.

Second Lieutenant
Alfred George Norton
2nd Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
9th May 1915, aged 20.
Row A. 2.

Son of Alfred and Emily Louise Norton, of 6, Cloncurry St., Fulham, London.

His headstone bears the inscription; "I Thank My God Upon All My Remembrance Of You."

Lieutenant
Alexander Paterson
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th July 1916.
Row O. 25.

Originally listed as wounded and missing, no trace was found of him in Germany and he was later confirmed as Killed in Action.

25997 Private
John Patrick Rattigan
14th Bn. Canadian Infantry
18th March 1915.
Row J. 1.

25891 Private
George Poole Soady
14th Bn. Canadian Infantry
26th March 1915.
Row K. 12.

1656 Private
Alexander Spiers
5th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
9th May 1915, aged 20.
Row E. 13.

Son of Annie W. Spiers, of 29, John St., Arbroath, and the late Alexander Spiers.

Captain
Hugh Taylor, Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Scots Guards
18th December 1914, aged 33.
Row E. 7.

Son of Thomas and Mona Taylor, of Chipchase Castle, Wark-on-Tyne; husband of Mary Taylor.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Killed In Action."

Second Lieutenant
Charles Alan Ramsey (Bunny) Tennant
3rd Bn. Dorsetshire Regiment, attd. 2nd Bn. Devonshire Regiment
9th May 1915, aged 26.
Row C. 5.

Son of William A. and Agnes Tennant, of Orford House, Ugley, Essex.

His headstone bears the inscription; "Younger Son Of William And Agnes Tennant Orford House Ugley, Essex."

1611 Private
Harry West
1st/5th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
26th May 1915.
Row D. 11.