LILLERS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.56784, Longitude: 2.47932
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Lillers is a small town about 15 kilometres west-north-west of Bethune and the Communal Cemetery and Extension lie to the north of the town. From the Mairie in the centre of the town, head north on the D182, after 500 metres turn right onto Rue St Venant. The cemetery is a further 200 metres on the left hand side.
Within the Communal Cemetery the Commonwealth war graves are situated on the right hand side half way up the cemetery central path, and the Extension is at the far right end of the Communal Cemetery. Both cemeteries are signposted.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible, but may be by alternative entrance.
Historical Information
Lillers was used for billets and headquarter offices from the autumn of 1914 to April 1918. At that time it was a hospital centre with the 6th, 9th, 18th, 32nd, 49th and 58th Casualty Clearing Stations in the town at one time or another. These units buried their dead on the right of the central path of the communal cemetery, working back from Plot I. In April 1918, the Germans advanced as far as Robecq; Lillers came under shell-fire, and the units holding this front continued to bury beyond the cemetery boundary, in the extension.
The COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains 894 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 67 of which are unidentified. There are also 15 German graves in the Commonwealth plots.
Total Burials: 909.
Commonwealth Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 689, India 97, Canada 42, Australia 1, South Africa 1. Total 830.
The EXTENSION contains 71 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, six of them unidentified.
Commonwealth Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 59, Australia 3, Canada 2, India 1. Total 65.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens & Arthur James Scott Hutton
406264 Serjeant
George Stirling Bain
51st Div. Signal Coy. Royal Engineers
13th April 1918, aged 25.
Row B. 28.
Son of Thomas and Euphemia Bain, of Ford, Edinburgh; husband of Constance Bain, of 2, Bedford Rd., Kempston, Bedford.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Blessed Are The Pure In Heart For They Shall See God."
George Stirling Bain
51st Div. Signal Coy. Royal Engineers
13th April 1918, aged 25.
Row B. 28.
Son of Thomas and Euphemia Bain, of Ford, Edinburgh; husband of Constance Bain, of 2, Bedford Rd., Kempston, Bedford.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Blessed Are The Pure In Heart For They Shall See God."
Captain
Auguste Raoul Darche
4th Bn. Canadian Infantry
28th May 1915, aged 33.
Row C. 1.
Son of Dr. R. E. Darche; husband of Leontine Athala Darche, of 1693, Clarke St., Montreal. Native of Danville, P.Q., Canada.
Auguste Raoul Darche
4th Bn. Canadian Infantry
28th May 1915, aged 33.
Row C. 1.
Son of Dr. R. E. Darche; husband of Leontine Athala Darche, of 1693, Clarke St., Montreal. Native of Danville, P.Q., Canada.
1102126 Corporal
Franklin Palmer Jackes
7th Bn. Canadian Railway Troops
18th April 1918, aged 30.
Row B. 33.
Son of Frederick William and Ethel Palmer Jackes, of Richmond Hill, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That He Lay Down His Life For His Friends."
Franklin Palmer Jackes
7th Bn. Canadian Railway Troops
18th April 1918, aged 30.
Row B. 33.
Son of Frederick William and Ethel Palmer Jackes, of Richmond Hill, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That He Lay Down His Life For His Friends."
Captain
Ronald Charters MacPherson, Mentioned in Despatches
18th April 1918, aged 21.
Row B. 34.
Son of Sir J. Molesworth and Lady Macpherson.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Blessed Are The Pure In Heart For They Shall See God."
Ronald Charters MacPherson, Mentioned in Despatches
18th April 1918, aged 21.
Row B. 34.
Son of Sir J. Molesworth and Lady Macpherson.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Blessed Are The Pure In Heart For They Shall See God."
Second Lieutenant
William Ebenezer Maitland
3rd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders attd. 2nd Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
24th December 1914, aged 25.
Row A. 26.
Son of George and Jane Paton Maclay Maitland, of Duncrag, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire. M.B., Ch.B., Glasgow University. Native of Glasgow.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved Son Of George Maitland Duncrag, Kilmacolm Renfrewshire."
William Ebenezer Maitland
3rd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders attd. 2nd Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
24th December 1914, aged 25.
Row A. 26.
Son of George and Jane Paton Maclay Maitland, of Duncrag, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire. M.B., Ch.B., Glasgow University. Native of Glasgow.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved Son Of George Maitland Duncrag, Kilmacolm Renfrewshire."
Soldiers helping refugees leaving Lillers, 11 April 1918. © IWM (Q 10892)
Second Lieutenant
Joseph Edward Rodgers
No. 1 Coy. 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
25th January 1915, aged 34.
Row C. 3.
Son of William and Ellen Rodgers, of Whissendine, Oakland, Rutland; husband of Mary Rodgers, of 5, Longfield Terrace, Mutley, Plymouth. Late Serjt. (766) Military Foot Police; Commissioned in his old regiment.
Joseph Edward Rodgers
No. 1 Coy. 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
25th January 1915, aged 34.
Row C. 3.
Son of William and Ellen Rodgers, of Whissendine, Oakland, Rutland; husband of Mary Rodgers, of 5, Longfield Terrace, Mutley, Plymouth. Late Serjt. (766) Military Foot Police; Commissioned in his old regiment.
44698 Private
George William Sturdey
1st Bn. South Wales Borderers
12th April 1918, aged 24.
Row B. 19.
Son of Rhoda Sturdey, of 14, Tower Rd., St. Leonards-on-Sea, and the late George Sturdey.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Duty Nobly Done."
George William Sturdey
1st Bn. South Wales Borderers
12th April 1918, aged 24.
Row B. 19.
Son of Rhoda Sturdey, of 14, Tower Rd., St. Leonards-on-Sea, and the late George Sturdey.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Duty Nobly Done."
Lieutenant
John Endell Wanklyn, M. C.
128th Bty. 29th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
29th May 1918, aged 22.
Row A. 17.
Son of William Henry Endell Wanklyn and Rose Eliza Wanklyn, of 28, Fendalton Rd., Christchurch, New Zealand.
John Endell Wanklyn, M. C.
128th Bty. 29th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
29th May 1918, aged 22.
Row A. 17.
Son of William Henry Endell Wanklyn and Rose Eliza Wanklyn, of 28, Fendalton Rd., Christchurch, New Zealand.
Major
Arthur Young
1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
14th December 1914, aged 38.
Row A. 24.
Son of Colonel G. Young.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done."
Arthur Young
1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
14th December 1914, aged 38.
Row A. 24.
Son of Colonel G. Young.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done."
Group No. 1. Signal construction Company, Lillers. © IWM (Q 27101)
