LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY
Sangatte
Pas De Calais
France
Location Information
Les Baraques Military Cemetery will be found on the western side of Calais. It is just off the D940, the road to Sangatte, and CWGC signposts are in place directing visitors to the cemetery.
Historical Information
In April 1915, No.6 Base Supply Depot was started at Calais to help relieve the pressure on Boulogne and to provide a base nearer to the front than Havre or Rouen. The base remained open until the last Commonwealth forces left France in March 1921.
The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital and No.10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were also stationed in the town providing about 2,500 beds. For three years, Commonwealth burials were made in Calais Southern Cemetery, but it later became necessary to start a new site and in September 1917, the first burials took place at Les Baraques. The cemetery continued in use until 1921.
The cemetery now contains 1,303 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, together with 259 war graves of other nationalities, all but 2 of them German. The cemetery also contains seven Second World War burials.
Total Burials: 1,569.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,224, Germany 237, Australia 27, Canada 26, South Africa 16, India 7, New Zealand 4, Belgium 1. Total 1,542.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 4. Total 4.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Dedications
302442 Private John Downie, 5th Bn. Tank Corps, 18th February 1919. Plot VIII. D. 13
Remembered with Pride,Love, and honour by your Granddaughter Lorna Hobbs (nee Downie) and Great Granddaughter Lynette Taylor.
Les Baraques Military Cemetery will be found on the western side of Calais. It is just off the D940, the road to Sangatte, and CWGC signposts are in place directing visitors to the cemetery.
Historical Information
In April 1915, No.6 Base Supply Depot was started at Calais to help relieve the pressure on Boulogne and to provide a base nearer to the front than Havre or Rouen. The base remained open until the last Commonwealth forces left France in March 1921.
The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital and No.10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were also stationed in the town providing about 2,500 beds. For three years, Commonwealth burials were made in Calais Southern Cemetery, but it later became necessary to start a new site and in September 1917, the first burials took place at Les Baraques. The cemetery continued in use until 1921.
The cemetery now contains 1,303 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, together with 259 war graves of other nationalities, all but 2 of them German. The cemetery also contains seven Second World War burials.
Total Burials: 1,569.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,224, Germany 237, Australia 27, Canada 26, South Africa 16, India 7, New Zealand 4, Belgium 1. Total 1,542.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 4. Total 4.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Dedications
302442 Private John Downie, 5th Bn. Tank Corps, 18th February 1919. Plot VIII. D. 13
Remembered with Pride,Love, and honour by your Granddaughter Lorna Hobbs (nee Downie) and Great Granddaughter Lynette Taylor.
Pictures in gallery below © Geerhard Joos
3361 Private
Harry Cook
45th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
28th April 1918, aged 34.
Plot III. F. 3.
Click on image to enlarge
Studio portrait of 3361 Private (Pte) Harry Cook, 9th Reinforcements, 45th Battalion, of Paddington, Sydney, NSW. A butcher prior to enlisted on 3 January 1917, Cook embarked on HMAT Anchises from Sydney on 24 January 1917 for service overseas. He died on 28 April 1918, aged 34 years, of wounds received at Dernancourt, France, on 5 April 1918.
Harry Cook
45th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
28th April 1918, aged 34.
Plot III. F. 3.
Click on image to enlarge
Studio portrait of 3361 Private (Pte) Harry Cook, 9th Reinforcements, 45th Battalion, of Paddington, Sydney, NSW. A butcher prior to enlisted on 3 January 1917, Cook embarked on HMAT Anchises from Sydney on 24 January 1917 for service overseas. He died on 28 April 1918, aged 34 years, of wounds received at Dernancourt, France, on 5 April 1918.
M/18560 Writer 3rd
Sydney George Day
H.M.S. "President II." Royal Navy
24th November 1918, aged 22.
Plot VI. H. 13.
Son of William and E. A. Day, of 51, Gladys Avenue, Portsmouth.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved Only Son Of W. & E. A. Day 51 Gladys Avenue Portsmouth, England."
Sydney George Day
H.M.S. "President II." Royal Navy
24th November 1918, aged 22.
Plot VI. H. 13.
Son of William and E. A. Day, of 51, Gladys Avenue, Portsmouth.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved Only Son Of W. & E. A. Day 51 Gladys Avenue Portsmouth, England."
Captain
William James Enright
Canadian Army Medical Corps
27th June 1918, aged 45.
Plot V. G. 8.
(Recovered from sea 14th Oct., 1918.) Son of Thomas Enright and Isabel McPherson (his wife), of Port Daniel; husband of Margaret D. Enright, of Port Daniel East, Bonaventure Co. P.Q., Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Gave His Life For His Fellow Men."
William James Enright
Canadian Army Medical Corps
27th June 1918, aged 45.
Plot V. G. 8.
(Recovered from sea 14th Oct., 1918.) Son of Thomas Enright and Isabel McPherson (his wife), of Port Daniel; husband of Margaret D. Enright, of Port Daniel East, Bonaventure Co. P.Q., Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Gave His Life For His Fellow Men."
Picture © Nicholas Philpot
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Picture © Nicholas Philpot
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1836 Private
Richard Fuzzard
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th November 1917.
Plot II. A. 9.
Son of Francis Henry and Margaret Jane Fuzzard, of Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia. Native of Tatura, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "For Ever With The Lord."
Richard Fuzzard
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th November 1917.
Plot II. A. 9.
Son of Francis Henry and Margaret Jane Fuzzard, of Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia. Native of Tatura, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "For Ever With The Lord."
112617 Private
George Henry Jewsbury
30th General Hospital. Royal Medical Corps
7th February 1919, aged 28.
Plot VIII. B. 8A.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Jewsbury, of Measham, Leicestershire; husband of Mabel Jewsbury, of 27, Upper Gungate, Tamworth, Staffs. Laboratory Attendant.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning I Will Remember."
George Henry Jewsbury
30th General Hospital. Royal Medical Corps
7th February 1919, aged 28.
Plot VIII. B. 8A.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Jewsbury, of Measham, Leicestershire; husband of Mabel Jewsbury, of 27, Upper Gungate, Tamworth, Staffs. Laboratory Attendant.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning I Will Remember."
62173 Private
Edgar Nelson Jones
2nd Australian Field Butchery, Australian Army Service Corps
Died of an illness on 23rd February 1919.
Plot VIII. E. 8A.
Click on image to enlarge
Edgar Nelson Jones
2nd Australian Field Butchery, Australian Army Service Corps
Died of an illness on 23rd February 1919.
Plot VIII. E. 8A.
Click on image to enlarge
3835 Sergeant
George Kayess
1st Bn. Australian infantry, A. I. F.
28th September 1917, aged 22.
Plot I. B. 8.
Son of William Henry Tucker Kayess and Anna Kayess. Native of Enmore, Sydney, New South Wales.
A station hand prior to enlisting, he embarked aboard the Transylvania on 29 March 1916. He was wounded action, at Polygon Wood, Belgium on 26 September 1917. George died of his wounds in the 35th General Hospital, Calais, France on 28 September 1917.
George Kayess
1st Bn. Australian infantry, A. I. F.
28th September 1917, aged 22.
Plot I. B. 8.
Son of William Henry Tucker Kayess and Anna Kayess. Native of Enmore, Sydney, New South Wales.
A station hand prior to enlisting, he embarked aboard the Transylvania on 29 March 1916. He was wounded action, at Polygon Wood, Belgium on 26 September 1917. George died of his wounds in the 35th General Hospital, Calais, France on 28 September 1917.
WR/125307 Serjeant
R. E. G. Perks
38th Miscellaneous Trades Coy. Royal Engineers
21st October 1918, aged 29.
Plot V. H. 3.
Son of William and Sarah Jane Perks, of 6, Seymour St., Bath.
R. E. G. Perks
38th Miscellaneous Trades Coy. Royal Engineers
21st October 1918, aged 29.
Plot V. H. 3.
Son of William and Sarah Jane Perks, of 6, Seymour St., Bath.
122318 Gunner
Henry Birkett Shimelds
"D" Bty. 165th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
10th November 1918, aged 24.
Plot VI. E. 1A.
Son of Newbold and Betsy Shimelds, of 121, Urban Rd., Doncaster, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Safe Home At Rest."
Harry was my great, great uncle, I have just recently found him while researching my family tree, turns out I only live around the corner from where they used to live.
Picture courtesy of Nicola Pollard
Henry Birkett Shimelds
"D" Bty. 165th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
10th November 1918, aged 24.
Plot VI. E. 1A.
Son of Newbold and Betsy Shimelds, of 121, Urban Rd., Doncaster, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Safe Home At Rest."
Harry was my great, great uncle, I have just recently found him while researching my family tree, turns out I only live around the corner from where they used to live.
Picture courtesy of Nicola Pollard
271017 Private
George John Thatcher
1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd November 1918, aged 32.
Plot VI. C. 4A.
Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Thatcher, of Lockeridge, nr. Marlborough, Wilts; husband of G. Thatcher, of Oldown, Lockington, Glos.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest In Peace."
George John Thatcher
1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd November 1918, aged 32.
Plot VI. C. 4A.
Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Thatcher, of Lockeridge, nr. Marlborough, Wilts; husband of G. Thatcher, of Oldown, Lockington, Glos.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest In Peace."
37120 Private
John Topping
1st/4th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
16th April 1918, aged 18.
Plot III. D. 9A.
Son of Alfred and Bridget Topping, of 11, Cow Lane, Burnley, Lancs.
John Topping
1st/4th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
16th April 1918, aged 18.
Plot III. D. 9A.
Son of Alfred and Bridget Topping, of 11, Cow Lane, Burnley, Lancs.
504873 Private
Harold Milton White
54th Bn. Canadian Infantry
29th September 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 11.
Son of the Rev. James H. White, D.D., and Sarah R. White, of Sardis, British Columbia. Born at Vancouver, British Columbia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Gave Himself Willingly."
Harold Milton White
54th Bn. Canadian Infantry
29th September 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 11.
Son of the Rev. James H. White, D.D., and Sarah R. White, of Sardis, British Columbia. Born at Vancouver, British Columbia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Gave Himself Willingly."
Chinese Labour Corps Graves
(Pictures © Nicholas Philpot)
Shot at Dawn
50079 Private, Joseph Chandler, 10th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment, executed for murder 11th August 1919, Plot XIX. A. 1. Husband of Nora Chandler, of 5, Burndon Street, Gateshead-on-Tyne. At some point in 1918, Chandler & 3 other soldiers of his regiment committed several burglaries in Calais. He suspected that another gang member had concealed an additional share of the loot, & killed the man. Chandler was arrested 2 weeks later, seemingly feigning mental illness till June 1919 — to be executed on 11 August. (Putkowski,p.266)
This cemetery has the burials of 5 of the 10 identified Chinese Labour Corps coolies who were executed in the Great War.
Three others are buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension (France), one in Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery (Belgium), and one in St. Étienne-au-Mont Communal Cemetery (France).
10272 Labourer Ch'Ing Shan Yang, 29th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 26th June 1918. Plot IX. C. 12. Executed for Murder.
10299 Labourer En Jung Wang, 29th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 26th June 1918. Plot IX C. 11. Executed for Murder.
Labourers Wang and Yang together murdered a French woman during a robbery at her estaminet — & were executed together. (Babington, p.233)
42476 Labourer Hui I He, 112th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 12th September 1918. Plot IX. C. 20. Executed for murder of a comrade.
46090 Labourer I. Hsing Chao, 161st Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 9th August 1918. Plot IX. C. 15. Executed for murder.
16174 Labourer Ju Chih Chang, 150th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 14th February 1920. Plot IX. E. 27. Executed for murder. He killed a woman & her 3 children in November 1918 near Amiens. Chang was arrested in April 1919, & at court-martial was sentenced to death. But he escaped on 12 May, leaving Marseille in August for China. There (at Shanghai) he was not allowed to land — for absence of papers — & so was returned to Marseille. On 1 Feb 1920, Chang was arrested in Calais, having been trafficking cocaine all over France. Initially he denied being Labourer 16174, but in due course admitted it,& made a full confession before his execution. He died bravely, refusing to be blindfolded,& being allowed to sing a hymn.
The above account comes from notes made by the Deputy Assistant Provost-Marshal who arranged the execution by a police firing squad — & who was obliged to deliver the coup de grâce with his revolver.
(Putkowski, pp.269-270, with a photo from Military Police records)
Pictures © Geerhard Joos
50079 Private, Joseph Chandler, 10th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment, executed for murder 11th August 1919, Plot XIX. A. 1. Husband of Nora Chandler, of 5, Burndon Street, Gateshead-on-Tyne. At some point in 1918, Chandler & 3 other soldiers of his regiment committed several burglaries in Calais. He suspected that another gang member had concealed an additional share of the loot, & killed the man. Chandler was arrested 2 weeks later, seemingly feigning mental illness till June 1919 — to be executed on 11 August. (Putkowski,p.266)
This cemetery has the burials of 5 of the 10 identified Chinese Labour Corps coolies who were executed in the Great War.
Three others are buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension (France), one in Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery (Belgium), and one in St. Étienne-au-Mont Communal Cemetery (France).
10272 Labourer Ch'Ing Shan Yang, 29th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 26th June 1918. Plot IX. C. 12. Executed for Murder.
10299 Labourer En Jung Wang, 29th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 26th June 1918. Plot IX C. 11. Executed for Murder.
Labourers Wang and Yang together murdered a French woman during a robbery at her estaminet — & were executed together. (Babington, p.233)
42476 Labourer Hui I He, 112th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 12th September 1918. Plot IX. C. 20. Executed for murder of a comrade.
46090 Labourer I. Hsing Chao, 161st Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 9th August 1918. Plot IX. C. 15. Executed for murder.
16174 Labourer Ju Chih Chang, 150th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, died 14th February 1920. Plot IX. E. 27. Executed for murder. He killed a woman & her 3 children in November 1918 near Amiens. Chang was arrested in April 1919, & at court-martial was sentenced to death. But he escaped on 12 May, leaving Marseille in August for China. There (at Shanghai) he was not allowed to land — for absence of papers — & so was returned to Marseille. On 1 Feb 1920, Chang was arrested in Calais, having been trafficking cocaine all over France. Initially he denied being Labourer 16174, but in due course admitted it,& made a full confession before his execution. He died bravely, refusing to be blindfolded,& being allowed to sing a hymn.
The above account comes from notes made by the Deputy Assistant Provost-Marshal who arranged the execution by a police firing squad — & who was obliged to deliver the coup de grâce with his revolver.
(Putkowski, pp.269-270, with a photo from Military Police records)
Pictures © Geerhard Joos
Five ambulance drivers of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) at Calais in January 1917. © IWM (Q 4669)
Concert party organised by women carpenters at the Tarrant Hut Works near Calais, 3 December 1918, to give performances to wounded soldiers. © IWM (Q 3407)
Serjeant P/3479 Harold A. COLLISON was killed by Second-Lieutenant John PATERSON
Paterson had originally enlisted into the Middlesex Regiment, he went to France with the 17th Bn. Middlesex in November 1915. He was wounded twice on the Somme.
He returned home for officer training in March 1917 and was commissioned in September 1917 into the Essex Regiment, before going back to France at the end of the year.
Second-Lieutenant PATERSON had deserted from the 1st Bn. Essex Regiment at the end of March 1918. They were then in reserve trenches near Ypres. As a result of a number of forged cheques passed by an officer of PATERSON's description, the Military Police were detailed to try and arrest the offender. They were no ordinary M.P.'s but detectives from the G.H.Q. Detective Staff.
On the 3th of July, Serjeant Harold COLLISON D C M was on duty with a corporal near Calais. In the evening, the two policemen saw Paterson walking down the road with a French girl. They stopped Paterson, but he gave a false name. Both men decided to follow the couple. On the outskirts of the village Paterson admitted his true identity to the policemen. He asked to be able to speak to the French girl whilst having something to drink in a nearby house. He promised to surrender to their custody afterwards. Serjeant COLLISON agreed, but as a precaution the corporal kept watch at the front whilst Collison watched the back.
In failing light, Second-Lieutenant PATERSON tried to flee from the rear. After an alarmed shout from Collison that summoned his colleague, the officer shot the serjeant three times. Inadvertently he wounded himself in the groin. Paterson and the woman escaped in the confusion, as the corporal went to fetch assistance. Collison had not been killed outright, but was mortally wounded. Serjeant Harold COLLISON died of his wounds the next day 4 July 1918, he is buried at Les Baraques Military Cemetery on the western side of Calais near the road to Sangatte, Plot IV. C. 13.
PATERSON remained at liberty for over two weeks until arrested by the French police at St. Omer. He was executed at Boulogne on 24 September 1918 and is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille near Boulogne. His grave is located in Plot IV. B. 48.
Information above © Geerhard Joos
