LONDON CEMETERY AND EXTENSION
High Wood
Longueval
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.03875, Longitude: 2.78223
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
Location Information
Longueval is a village 40 kilometres north-east of Amiens and 12 kilometres east-north-east of Albert, a town on the D929 road from Amiens to Bapaume and Cambrai.
From the D929 direction Bapaume-Albert take the 2nd turning for Martinpuich and continue along the D6 direction Longueval, for 2 kilometres. London Cemetery and Extension will be found on the right hand side of the road.
Historical Information
High Wood was fiercely fought over during the Battle of the Somme until cleared by 47th (London) Division on 15 September 1916. It was lost during the German advance of April 1918, but retaken the following August.
The original London Cemetery at High Wood was begun when 47 men of the 47th Division were buried in a large shell hole on 18 and 21 September 1916. Other burials were added later, mainly of officers and men of the 47th Division who died on 15 September 1916, and at the Armistice the cemetery contained 101 graves. The cemetery was then greatly enlarged when remains were brought in from the surrounding battlefields, but the original battlefield cemetery is preserved intact within the larger cemetery, now known as the London Cemetery and Extension.
The cemetery, one of five in the immediate vicinity of Longueval which together contain more than 15,000 graves, is the third largest cemetery on the Somme with 3,877 First World War burials, 3,114 of them unidentified.
London Cemetery and Extension was used again in 1946 by the Army Graves Service for the reburial of Second World War casualties recovered from various temporary burial grounds, French military cemeteries, small communal cemeteries, churchyards and isolated graves, where permanent maintenance was not possible. These graves are in one central plot at the extreme end of the cemetery, behind the Cross of Sacrifice. Second World War burials number 165.
The original London Cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton but the site was completely re-modelled after the Second World War by Austin Blomfield.
Total Burials: 4,042.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 568, Australia 104, Canada 55, New Zealand 20, South Africa 12, Germany 2, India 2. Total 763.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 3,114.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 146, Canada 3. Total 149.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 16.
Longueval is a village 40 kilometres north-east of Amiens and 12 kilometres east-north-east of Albert, a town on the D929 road from Amiens to Bapaume and Cambrai.
From the D929 direction Bapaume-Albert take the 2nd turning for Martinpuich and continue along the D6 direction Longueval, for 2 kilometres. London Cemetery and Extension will be found on the right hand side of the road.
Historical Information
High Wood was fiercely fought over during the Battle of the Somme until cleared by 47th (London) Division on 15 September 1916. It was lost during the German advance of April 1918, but retaken the following August.
The original London Cemetery at High Wood was begun when 47 men of the 47th Division were buried in a large shell hole on 18 and 21 September 1916. Other burials were added later, mainly of officers and men of the 47th Division who died on 15 September 1916, and at the Armistice the cemetery contained 101 graves. The cemetery was then greatly enlarged when remains were brought in from the surrounding battlefields, but the original battlefield cemetery is preserved intact within the larger cemetery, now known as the London Cemetery and Extension.
The cemetery, one of five in the immediate vicinity of Longueval which together contain more than 15,000 graves, is the third largest cemetery on the Somme with 3,877 First World War burials, 3,114 of them unidentified.
London Cemetery and Extension was used again in 1946 by the Army Graves Service for the reburial of Second World War casualties recovered from various temporary burial grounds, French military cemeteries, small communal cemeteries, churchyards and isolated graves, where permanent maintenance was not possible. These graves are in one central plot at the extreme end of the cemetery, behind the Cross of Sacrifice. Second World War burials number 165.
The original London Cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton but the site was completely re-modelled after the Second World War by Austin Blomfield.
Total Burials: 4,042.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 568, Australia 104, Canada 55, New Zealand 20, South Africa 12, Germany 2, India 2. Total 763.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 3,114.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 146, Canada 3. Total 149.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 16.
11602 Private
James Baker
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
21st September 1916, aged 25.
Plot 1. E. 14.
Son of Arthur and Mary Baker, of Ashley Bank, Canterbury, New Zealand.
James Baker
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
21st September 1916, aged 25.
Plot 1. E. 14.
Son of Arthur and Mary Baker, of Ashley Bank, Canterbury, New Zealand.
3084 Private
William Henry Banks
16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th August 1916, aged 20.
Plot 1. F. 25.
Son of William Henry and Alice Banks, of North Perth. Western Australia.
2797 Private, H. Gottleib described the circumstances of William Banks's death;
"Banks was a signaller. In the first stunt at Pozieres he was killed by a shell in the front line close to Mouquet. Farm. I was about 40 yards away and went to the spot, he was nearly buried by earth, an arm and leg projecting. we pulled him out - He was dead. being a runner, I had to get on with my job."
William Henry Banks
16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th August 1916, aged 20.
Plot 1. F. 25.
Son of William Henry and Alice Banks, of North Perth. Western Australia.
2797 Private, H. Gottleib described the circumstances of William Banks's death;
"Banks was a signaller. In the first stunt at Pozieres he was killed by a shell in the front line close to Mouquet. Farm. I was about 40 yards away and went to the spot, he was nearly buried by earth, an arm and leg projecting. we pulled him out - He was dead. being a runner, I had to get on with my job."
Lieutenant
Robert De Hougham Mark Bell, Mentioned in Despatches
10th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
3rd September 1916, aged 20.
Plot 9. A. 25.
Son of Col. Mark Bell, V.C., C.B., A.D.C., R.E. and Margaret Bell, of Earlywood Lodge, Ascot, Berkshire.
Robert De Hougham Mark Bell, Mentioned in Despatches
10th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
3rd September 1916, aged 20.
Plot 9. A. 25.
Son of Col. Mark Bell, V.C., C.B., A.D.C., R.E. and Margaret Bell, of Earlywood Lodge, Ascot, Berkshire.
3775 Private
William Benton
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th August 1916, aged 26.
Plot 1. L. 7.
Son of Joseph and Susan Benton; husband of Eunice Edna Benton, of 36, Park Rd., Middle Park, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That He Lay Down His Life."
William Benton was in the support line at Pozieres Ridge when a piece of shell cracked his helmet and wounded him in the head. The Dressing Station was 2 miles away and he walked out of the line with a number of other wounded men, at the time there was very heavy shelling of the area. He was never seen alive again.
Pte Benton enlisted on 13 December 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Warilda on 8 February 1916. On 5 August 1916 he was killed in action at Pozieres in France. His death was originally commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial for servicemen without a known grave, but in 1956 his body was located in an isolated grave just north of the village of Pozieres on the Somme. His remains were identified from his effects including his aluminium ID tag. His body was exhumed and reburied in the London Cemetery Extension, Highwood Longueval, France on 3rd January 1957.
William Benton
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th August 1916, aged 26.
Plot 1. L. 7.
Son of Joseph and Susan Benton; husband of Eunice Edna Benton, of 36, Park Rd., Middle Park, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That He Lay Down His Life."
William Benton was in the support line at Pozieres Ridge when a piece of shell cracked his helmet and wounded him in the head. The Dressing Station was 2 miles away and he walked out of the line with a number of other wounded men, at the time there was very heavy shelling of the area. He was never seen alive again.
Pte Benton enlisted on 13 December 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Warilda on 8 February 1916. On 5 August 1916 he was killed in action at Pozieres in France. His death was originally commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial for servicemen without a known grave, but in 1956 his body was located in an isolated grave just north of the village of Pozieres on the Somme. His remains were identified from his effects including his aluminium ID tag. His body was exhumed and reburied in the London Cemetery Extension, Highwood Longueval, France on 3rd January 1957.
Collection of personal effects found on the body of 3775 Private William Benton in 1956. They include: Damaged aluminium identity disc, Armentieres souvenir brooch, silver vesta match case, brass equipment buckle, a coin, a section of leather and a brooch he had purchased for his daughter. These were returned to his widow who had remarried.
734 Sergeant
Joseph Henry Birrell
29th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
24th November 1916.
Plot 9. A. 9.
Son of Richard and Amelia Ann Birrell.
Joseph Henry Birrell
29th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
24th November 1916.
Plot 9. A. 9.
Son of Richard and Amelia Ann Birrell.
258 Private
Martin Joseph Cahill
"B" Coy. Newfoundland Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 25.
Plot 6. C. 26.
Son of the late John Cahill and Mary Sweeney (formerly Cahill), of Bell Island, Newfoundland.
Martin Joseph Cahill
"B" Coy. Newfoundland Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 25.
Plot 6. C. 26.
Son of the late John Cahill and Mary Sweeney (formerly Cahill), of Bell Island, Newfoundland.
2064 Acting Coy. Sergeant Major
Stanley Alistair Creek
20th Bn. London Regiment
15th September 1916, aged 25.
Plot 1A. D. 18.
Son of Joseph Henry Creek and Catherine Ann Creek, of 55, Elgin Rd., Croydon, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription; "A Wall Unto Us By Day And By Night His Memory Liveth Always."
Stanley Alistair Creek
20th Bn. London Regiment
15th September 1916, aged 25.
Plot 1A. D. 18.
Son of Joseph Henry Creek and Catherine Ann Creek, of 55, Elgin Rd., Croydon, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription; "A Wall Unto Us By Day And By Night His Memory Liveth Always."
4175 Corporal
Albert Alexander Currie
59th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th December 1916, aged 23.
Plot 8. G. 19.
Son of Albert Alexander and Elizabeth Currie, of Tocumwal, New South Wales. Australia.
Brothers - 4175 Private (Pte) Albert Alexander Currie, (left); and 3298 Private (Pte) Arthur William Currie. Albert Currie enlisted on 21 July 1915 and embarked for Egypt to join the 7th Battalion. In September 1916, he was transferred to the 59th Battalion in France. Albert Currie was promoted to Corporal on 1 October 1916, but was killed in action on 12 December 1916. He was 23 years old. Pte Arthur Currie also enlisted on 21 July 1915, serving with the 59th Battalion. He was promoted to Sergeant on 6 August 1917, but was killed in action on 26 September 1917, in Belgium. He was 26 years old and is commemorated at Oxford Road Cemetery.
A fellow member of the 59th Bn., witnessed Albert Currie's death;
"On December 12th 1916, Currie and I were on fatigues carrying duck boards to the sunken road between reserve and supports. I was about 30 yards from him when a whiz bang came and killed him instantly. I saw him fall and twice afterwards, as I passed the spot, I saw him lying dead on the ground. I did not see him buried but the next day I saw his grave with a cross on it."
Other witnesses gave similar descriptions of the circumstances of death but with varying locations of the incident such as Zephyr Trench, Barley Trench, Millerson Post or Monsoon Trench, all near Le Transloy.
Albert Alexander Currie
59th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th December 1916, aged 23.
Plot 8. G. 19.
Son of Albert Alexander and Elizabeth Currie, of Tocumwal, New South Wales. Australia.
Brothers - 4175 Private (Pte) Albert Alexander Currie, (left); and 3298 Private (Pte) Arthur William Currie. Albert Currie enlisted on 21 July 1915 and embarked for Egypt to join the 7th Battalion. In September 1916, he was transferred to the 59th Battalion in France. Albert Currie was promoted to Corporal on 1 October 1916, but was killed in action on 12 December 1916. He was 23 years old. Pte Arthur Currie also enlisted on 21 July 1915, serving with the 59th Battalion. He was promoted to Sergeant on 6 August 1917, but was killed in action on 26 September 1917, in Belgium. He was 26 years old and is commemorated at Oxford Road Cemetery.
A fellow member of the 59th Bn., witnessed Albert Currie's death;
"On December 12th 1916, Currie and I were on fatigues carrying duck boards to the sunken road between reserve and supports. I was about 30 yards from him when a whiz bang came and killed him instantly. I saw him fall and twice afterwards, as I passed the spot, I saw him lying dead on the ground. I did not see him buried but the next day I saw his grave with a cross on it."
Other witnesses gave similar descriptions of the circumstances of death but with varying locations of the incident such as Zephyr Trench, Barley Trench, Millerson Post or Monsoon Trench, all near Le Transloy.
G/12369 Private
Bertie Frith Dinelli
8th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
6th September 1916, aged 38.
Plot 9. C. 5.
Son of Paul and Ellen Dinelli, of 2, Marlborough Rd., Colliers Wood, Merton, Surrey.
Bertie Frith Dinelli
8th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
6th September 1916, aged 38.
Plot 9. C. 5.
Son of Paul and Ellen Dinelli, of 2, Marlborough Rd., Colliers Wood, Merton, Surrey.
13438 Private
Charles Samuel Goldspink
8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
19th July 1916.
Plot 9. F. 34.
Charles Samuel Goldspink
8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
19th July 1916.
Plot 9. F. 34.
10/2967 Lance Corporal
Malcolm Robert Henry
1st Bn. Wellington Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
16th September 1916, aged 30.
Plot 2. C. 28.
Son of Thomas and Jane Henry of Petone, Wellington, New Zealand.
Malcolm Robert Henry
1st Bn. Wellington Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
16th September 1916, aged 30.
Plot 2. C. 28.
Son of Thomas and Jane Henry of Petone, Wellington, New Zealand.
8/2502 Captain
Lancelot Shadwell Jennings, Mentioned in Despatches
Otago Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
15th September 1916, aged 28.
Plot II. C. 2.
Son of the late Charles William Jennings and Agnes Lavinia Jennings and husband of Bella Dytes MacIntosh MacCallum (nee Cross, formerly Jennings) of Edinburgh.
Lancelot Shadwell Jennings, Mentioned in Despatches
Otago Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
15th September 1916, aged 28.
Plot II. C. 2.
Son of the late Charles William Jennings and Agnes Lavinia Jennings and husband of Bella Dytes MacIntosh MacCallum (nee Cross, formerly Jennings) of Edinburgh.
Major
Lewis Farewell Jones, Mentioned in Despatches
1st/12th London Regiment (The Rangers)
1st July 1916, aged 31.
Plot 9. J. 12-13.
Son of the late George Farewell Jones and Anna Louisa Jones, of Brenley, Mitcham, Surrey.
Lewis Farewell Jones, Mentioned in Despatches
1st/12th London Regiment (The Rangers)
1st July 1916, aged 31.
Plot 9. J. 12-13.
Son of the late George Farewell Jones and Anna Louisa Jones, of Brenley, Mitcham, Surrey.
An ammunition wagon drawn by a 10 horse team gets into difficulties in the mud. Track leading to High Wood. October 1916. © IWM (Q 4369)
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
1917: The bodies of German dead at High Wood.
Second Lieutenant
Frederick Owen Kemp
2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment
23rd October 1916.
Plot 9. A. 10.
Frederick Owen Kemp
2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment
23rd October 1916.
Plot 9. A. 10.
2729A Private
Bernard Frank Knight
4th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th September 1916, aged 20.
Plot 2. J. 21.
Son of the late Frank Knight and Lucie Knight, of 16, Rose St., Wokingham Berkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In The Eternal Light."
Lieutenant W. Divine of 49th Bn. A. I. F., was asked whether he believed that Frank Knight had been taken prisoner, he said;
"On September 5th at Mouquet Farm, we made an attack at 6.a.m., it was successful but we had a hard time. The Germans bombarded so heavily that any of our wounded left out must have been killed. It was too hot for our stretcher bearers to go out to the wounded; but as soon as possible they made a complete search of the ground but found all killed. I many places the bombardment had been so heavy they were either blown to pieces or blown in. It was not possible for Knight to have been taken prisoner."
Bernard Frank Knight
4th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th September 1916, aged 20.
Plot 2. J. 21.
Son of the late Frank Knight and Lucie Knight, of 16, Rose St., Wokingham Berkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In The Eternal Light."
Lieutenant W. Divine of 49th Bn. A. I. F., was asked whether he believed that Frank Knight had been taken prisoner, he said;
"On September 5th at Mouquet Farm, we made an attack at 6.a.m., it was successful but we had a hard time. The Germans bombarded so heavily that any of our wounded left out must have been killed. It was too hot for our stretcher bearers to go out to the wounded; but as soon as possible they made a complete search of the ground but found all killed. I many places the bombardment had been so heavy they were either blown to pieces or blown in. It was not possible for Knight to have been taken prisoner."
Second Lieutenant
William Fairlie Lambert
23rd March 1916, aged 20.3rd Bn. attd. 9th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Plot 5. K. 9.
Son of the Rev. John C. Lambert, D.D. and Catherille S. Lambert. of Fenwick, Ayrshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Lord Shall Preserve Thy Going Out And Thy Coming In" PS. CXXI. 8."
William Fairlie Lambert
23rd March 1916, aged 20.3rd Bn. attd. 9th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Plot 5. K. 9.
Son of the Rev. John C. Lambert, D.D. and Catherille S. Lambert. of Fenwick, Ayrshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Lord Shall Preserve Thy Going Out And Thy Coming In" PS. CXXI. 8."
R/14521 Rifleman
William Alfred Ambrose Morris
1st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
27th July 1916, aged 37.
Plot 9. F. 48.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris, of Freshford, Somerset.
William Alfred Ambrose Morris
1st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
27th July 1916, aged 37.
Plot 9. F. 48.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris, of Freshford, Somerset.
11788 Private
William Tite
6th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
17th July 1916, aged 35.
Plot 8. J. 17.
Husband of Ada Lewin Tite, of 110, Bull's Head St., Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest In Peace, Ada."
William Tite
6th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
17th July 1916, aged 35.
Plot 8. J. 17.
Husband of Ada Lewin Tite, of 110, Bull's Head St., Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest In Peace, Ada."
3954 Private
Leonard Fitzroy Wilkinson (Roy)
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th August 1916, aged 20.
Plot 6. A. 22.
Son of Henry James Wilkinson and Emma Wilkinson, of Kardella, Victoria, Australia.
A labourer prior to enlisting on 12 August 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 9th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 8 February 1916 aboard HMAT Warilda. Following further training in Egypt, he arrived in France in May 1916 and joined the 21st Battalion. He was killed in action on 26 August 1916 and buried in the vicinity of Mouquet Farm, France. In 1937 his grave was discovered and he was re-interred in the London Cemetery Extension, High Wood, Longueval, France.
Leonard Fitzroy Wilkinson (Roy)
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th August 1916, aged 20.
Plot 6. A. 22.
Son of Henry James Wilkinson and Emma Wilkinson, of Kardella, Victoria, Australia.
A labourer prior to enlisting on 12 August 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 9th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 8 February 1916 aboard HMAT Warilda. Following further training in Egypt, he arrived in France in May 1916 and joined the 21st Battalion. He was killed in action on 26 August 1916 and buried in the vicinity of Mouquet Farm, France. In 1937 his grave was discovered and he was re-interred in the London Cemetery Extension, High Wood, Longueval, France.
April 1917; British Mark I Male tank lies abandoned after being destroyed and burnt out by enemy fire. One of the rear steering wheels has become detached and is lying at the back of the tank. This tank is believed to be 'Clan Ruthven' commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Henderson and it was destroyed on the edge of High Wood near Picardy. Note the shattered trees in the background.
Images in gallery below © Andrew Mackay
Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 15-22 September. British soldier with a German field gun captured at High Wood. September 15th. (October 1916). © IWM (Q 4368)
