LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.45154, Longitude: 2.79742
Location Information
Loos (Loos-en-Gohelle) is a village to the north of the road from Lens to Bethune. From Lens, take the N43 towards Bethune. Arriving at Loos, turn right at CWGC sign post. The cemetery is about 1 kilometre from Loos Church in the southern part of the village.
Historical Information
The village has given its name to the battle of the 25th September - 8th October 1915, in which it was captured from the Germans by the 15th (Scottish) and 47th (London) Divisions, and defended by French troops on the 8th October.
The cemetery was begun by the Canadian Corps in July 1917, and the graves then made are contained in Rows A and B of Plot I and Row A of Plot II. The remainder of the cemetery was formed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries over a wide area North and East of the village, including:-
BARTS ALLEY CEMETERY, VERMELLES, about 1 kilometre North-East of the village, named from a communication trench in which a Dressing Station was established. It contained the graves of 38 soldiers from the United Kingdom, who fell, for the most part, in the Battle of Loos.
CALDRON MILITARY CEMETERY (RED MILL), in the Southern part of the town of LIEVIN, in which were buried 85 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly of the 46th (North Midland) Division), 38 from Canada and one German.
CITE CALONNE MILITARY CEMETERY, LIEVIN, in the middle of a mining village between Grenay and Lievin. The cemetery was begun by French troops and used by the British from March, 1916, onwards. It contained the graves of 207 soldiers from the United Kingdom, five from Canada, 130 French and six German.
CORKSCREW CEMETERY, LOOS, which was close to the mine known as Fosse II. It contained the graves of 168 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 38 from Canada.
COURCELLES-LES-LENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY, in which 19 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, mainly of the 12th (Eastern) Division, were buried in October, 1918.
LIEVIN STATION CEMETERY, on the North-West side of the railway station, used in 1917 and containing the graves of 48 soldiers from the United Kingdom (almost all of the 46th (North Midland) Division) and 12 from Canada.
LOOS (FORT GLATZ) GERMAN CEMETERY, named from a German strong point at the North-West corner of the village, and containing the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the summer of 1915.
There are 51 Servicemen buried here who fought in the Battle of Loos.
There are nearly 3,000, 1914-18 and a small number of 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, two-thirds from the 1914-18 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to two soldiers from the United Kingdom and four from Canada who are known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 44 soldiers from Canada and 12 from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
The cemetery covers an area of 11,364 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Casualty Details: UK 2403, Canada 446, France 1, Total Burials: 2850
Loos (Loos-en-Gohelle) is a village to the north of the road from Lens to Bethune. From Lens, take the N43 towards Bethune. Arriving at Loos, turn right at CWGC sign post. The cemetery is about 1 kilometre from Loos Church in the southern part of the village.
Historical Information
The village has given its name to the battle of the 25th September - 8th October 1915, in which it was captured from the Germans by the 15th (Scottish) and 47th (London) Divisions, and defended by French troops on the 8th October.
The cemetery was begun by the Canadian Corps in July 1917, and the graves then made are contained in Rows A and B of Plot I and Row A of Plot II. The remainder of the cemetery was formed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries over a wide area North and East of the village, including:-
BARTS ALLEY CEMETERY, VERMELLES, about 1 kilometre North-East of the village, named from a communication trench in which a Dressing Station was established. It contained the graves of 38 soldiers from the United Kingdom, who fell, for the most part, in the Battle of Loos.
CALDRON MILITARY CEMETERY (RED MILL), in the Southern part of the town of LIEVIN, in which were buried 85 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly of the 46th (North Midland) Division), 38 from Canada and one German.
CITE CALONNE MILITARY CEMETERY, LIEVIN, in the middle of a mining village between Grenay and Lievin. The cemetery was begun by French troops and used by the British from March, 1916, onwards. It contained the graves of 207 soldiers from the United Kingdom, five from Canada, 130 French and six German.
CORKSCREW CEMETERY, LOOS, which was close to the mine known as Fosse II. It contained the graves of 168 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 38 from Canada.
COURCELLES-LES-LENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY, in which 19 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, mainly of the 12th (Eastern) Division, were buried in October, 1918.
LIEVIN STATION CEMETERY, on the North-West side of the railway station, used in 1917 and containing the graves of 48 soldiers from the United Kingdom (almost all of the 46th (North Midland) Division) and 12 from Canada.
LOOS (FORT GLATZ) GERMAN CEMETERY, named from a German strong point at the North-West corner of the village, and containing the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the summer of 1915.
There are 51 Servicemen buried here who fought in the Battle of Loos.
There are nearly 3,000, 1914-18 and a small number of 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, two-thirds from the 1914-18 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to two soldiers from the United Kingdom and four from Canada who are known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 44 soldiers from Canada and 12 from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
The cemetery covers an area of 11,364 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Casualty Details: UK 2403, Canada 446, France 1, Total Burials: 2850
Pictures in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
World War Two Burials
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
(Click on individual Headstone for Details)
Second Lieutenant
Robert Grigor Allan
2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
9th April 1917.
Plot XVI. F. 14.
Son of William Gregor Allan and Constance Allan, of Elgin, Morayshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "There Is Sprung Up Joyful Gladness For Such As Are True Hearted." (Variation on Psalm 97.)
Robert Grigor Allan
2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
9th April 1917.
Plot XVI. F. 14.
Son of William Gregor Allan and Constance Allan, of Elgin, Morayshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "There Is Sprung Up Joyful Gladness For Such As Are True Hearted." (Variation on Psalm 97.)
22259 Private
Harold William Arnold
137th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
27th June 1917, aged 22.
Plot XIX. D. 17.
Son of Thomas Samuel and Ruth Arnold, of 219, Anglesey Rd., Burton-on-Trent.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man He Gave His Life For His Friends."
Harold William Arnold
137th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
27th June 1917, aged 22.
Plot XIX. D. 17.
Son of Thomas Samuel and Ruth Arnold, of 219, Anglesey Rd., Burton-on-Trent.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man He Gave His Life For His Friends."
71613 Private
Fredrick Ball 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 1st July 1917, aged 22. Plot VI. A. 13. Fredrick Ball the adopted son of Hannah and Frederick Cuckson was born in Selston in 1895. Prior to enlisting in February 1914 he worked as a hosiery hand. He landed in France on 2nd March 1915 and was killed in action of 1st July 1917, aged 22 years. Picture and Information courtesy of Lynne Weston |
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712481 Private
Alfred Bernard
26th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917, aged 21. (CWGC give age as 19)
Lens Canadian Cem. No. 3. Mem. 45.
Son of Antoine and Adeline Bernard, of Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Enlisted - March 17, 1916, Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Picture courtesy of Kelly St-Denis
Alfred Bernard
26th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917, aged 21. (CWGC give age as 19)
Lens Canadian Cem. No. 3. Mem. 45.
Son of Antoine and Adeline Bernard, of Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Enlisted - March 17, 1916, Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Picture courtesy of Kelly St-Denis
Second Lieutenant
Norman George Cook
4th Bn. attd. 6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
28th June 1917, aged 20.
Plot XIX. G. 17.
Son of Matilda Cook, of Bailey's Hotel, Gloucester Rd., South Kensington, London, and the late Samuel Cook. Born at Hove, Sussex.
Norman George Cook
4th Bn. attd. 6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
28th June 1917, aged 20.
Plot XIX. G. 17.
Son of Matilda Cook, of Bailey's Hotel, Gloucester Rd., South Kensington, London, and the late Samuel Cook. Born at Hove, Sussex.
1054314 Private
Reginald Hubert Hamilton Daniel
24th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917, aged 27.
Plot V. B. 6.
Son of the Rev. Canon A. W. Daniel and F. B. Daniel, of Rothesay, New Brunswick; husband of Emma J. Daniel (nee Lyster), of Montreal.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Faithful Unto Death."
Reginald Hubert Hamilton Daniel
24th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917, aged 27.
Plot V. B. 6.
Son of the Rev. Canon A. W. Daniel and F. B. Daniel, of Rothesay, New Brunswick; husband of Emma J. Daniel (nee Lyster), of Montreal.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Faithful Unto Death."
235007 Private
Ernest Dove 1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 28th May 1917. Plot XIX. G. 4. Ernest Dove was the son of John and Eliza and lived at 48 Alfred Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield until he was called up on 23rd September 1916. Prior to joining the army he worked in the hosiery trade. He was killed on 28th May 1917 near Bullay Grenay. Picture and information courtesy of Lynne Weston |
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216201 Corporal
Joseph Julien Gaston Goguillot
107th Bn. Canadian Pioneers
15th August 1917, aged 28.
Plot III. B. 12.
Son of Stanilas and Lucie Goguillot, of Rochester, Alberta. Born at Domblans, Jura, France.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Regrette De Sa Famille Mort Pour La Patrie."
Joseph Julien Gaston Goguillot
107th Bn. Canadian Pioneers
15th August 1917, aged 28.
Plot III. B. 12.
Son of Stanilas and Lucie Goguillot, of Rochester, Alberta. Born at Domblans, Jura, France.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Regrette De Sa Famille Mort Pour La Patrie."
721929 Private
Fred Halldorson
16th Bn. Canadian Infantry
Died Between 15th and 16th August 1917, aged 22.
Plot III. A. 18.
Son of Halldor J. and Cecilia Halldorson, of Wynyard, Saskatchewan.
Fred Halldorson
16th Bn. Canadian Infantry
Died Between 15th and 16th August 1917, aged 22.
Plot III. A. 18.
Son of Halldor J. and Cecilia Halldorson, of Wynyard, Saskatchewan.
G/27262 Private
Samuel Hyman
9th Bn. East Surrey Regiment
3rd September 1918.
Plot IV. C. 18.
Son of Harris and Zetta Hyman, of 142, Globe Rd., London, E.2. N.
Samuel Hyman
9th Bn. East Surrey Regiment
3rd September 1918.
Plot IV. C. 18.
Son of Harris and Zetta Hyman, of 142, Globe Rd., London, E.2. N.
S/6531 Private
Magnus Mackay
11th Bn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
19th March 1916, aged 18.
Plot IX. G. 20.
Son of Alexander and Isabella Mackay, of Scullomie, Tongue, Lairg, Sutherland. His brothers Donald Mackay and Angus Mackay also fell in the war.
Magnus Mackay is referenced in the book "Somewhere in Blood Soaked France" by Alasdair Sutherland.
Six Mackay brothers fought in WW1. The family came from Scullomie, Scotland. My Grandfather George Mackay was awarded a DCM for valour. Sadly his brothers Angus (21 years), Donald (32 years) and Magnus Mackay (18 years) all died in WW1. Magnus Mackay lied about his age to enlist in the Army in Tongue in November 1914 aged sixteen, Magnus was transferred to the 13 Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Dorking in Surrey where he served with 'C' Company. In March 1916, the Argyll & Sutherland Battalion were in reserve trenches, near Loos. Enemy shellfire fell on the Argyll's positions. Private Magnus Mackay was one of the six sentries killed in a bomb store, he was buried in Loos village by his comrades. He was the first of Alex ‘Bolt’ Mackay's sons to be killed .
Lest We Forget.
Picture courtesy of Linda Brown, great niece of this soldier.
Magnus Mackay
11th Bn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
19th March 1916, aged 18.
Plot IX. G. 20.
Son of Alexander and Isabella Mackay, of Scullomie, Tongue, Lairg, Sutherland. His brothers Donald Mackay and Angus Mackay also fell in the war.
Magnus Mackay is referenced in the book "Somewhere in Blood Soaked France" by Alasdair Sutherland.
Six Mackay brothers fought in WW1. The family came from Scullomie, Scotland. My Grandfather George Mackay was awarded a DCM for valour. Sadly his brothers Angus (21 years), Donald (32 years) and Magnus Mackay (18 years) all died in WW1. Magnus Mackay lied about his age to enlist in the Army in Tongue in November 1914 aged sixteen, Magnus was transferred to the 13 Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Dorking in Surrey where he served with 'C' Company. In March 1916, the Argyll & Sutherland Battalion were in reserve trenches, near Loos. Enemy shellfire fell on the Argyll's positions. Private Magnus Mackay was one of the six sentries killed in a bomb store, he was buried in Loos village by his comrades. He was the first of Alex ‘Bolt’ Mackay's sons to be killed .
Lest We Forget.
Picture courtesy of Linda Brown, great niece of this soldier.
Captain
Claude Boyle May, M. C.
6th Bn. Border Regiment
19th November 1917.
Plot XX. B. 2.
Son of James and Elizabeth G. B. May, of 47, Johnstone Drive, Rutherglen, Glasgow.
His headstone beards the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done."
Claude Boyle May, M. C.
6th Bn. Border Regiment
19th November 1917.
Plot XX. B. 2.
Son of James and Elizabeth G. B. May, of 47, Johnstone Drive, Rutherglen, Glasgow.
His headstone beards the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done."
736667 Private
William McGartland
24th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917, aged 17.
Lens Canadian Cem. No. 3. Mem. 34.
Son of William and Daisy Jakeman McGartland, of Willow Grove Ranch, Lloyds Hill, Consort, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Ever Remembered By His Loving Mother."
William McGartland
24th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917, aged 17.
Lens Canadian Cem. No. 3. Mem. 34.
Son of William and Daisy Jakeman McGartland, of Willow Grove Ranch, Lloyds Hill, Consort, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Ever Remembered By His Loving Mother."
730723 Private
William John Parker
10th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917, aged 23.
Plot III. B. 17.
Son of Thomas J. and Margaret A. Parker, of Preston, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Though Far Away But Not Forgotten."
William John Parker
10th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917, aged 23.
Plot III. B. 17.
Son of Thomas J. and Margaret A. Parker, of Preston, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Though Far Away But Not Forgotten."
Lieutenant
Frederick William Paton
5th Bn. Canadian Infantry
16th August 1917, aged 30.
Plot V. F. 5.
Son of Agnes Paton, of 3, Holmbank Avenue, Shawlands, Glasgow, Scotland, and the late James Paton. An Officer in Canadian Bank of Commerce, Edmonton, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sadly Missed By His Sorrowing Mother."
Frederick William Paton
5th Bn. Canadian Infantry
16th August 1917, aged 30.
Plot V. F. 5.
Son of Agnes Paton, of 3, Holmbank Avenue, Shawlands, Glasgow, Scotland, and the late James Paton. An Officer in Canadian Bank of Commerce, Edmonton, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sadly Missed By His Sorrowing Mother."
818258 Private
Simon Porter
26th Bn. Canadian Infantry
17th August 1917.
Lens Canadian Cem. No. 3. Mem. 42.
Husband of Grace M. Porter, of South Devon, York Co., New Brunswick.
Simon Porter
26th Bn. Canadian Infantry
17th August 1917.
Lens Canadian Cem. No. 3. Mem. 42.
Husband of Grace M. Porter, of South Devon, York Co., New Brunswick.
902508 Corporal
Andrew M. Wilson
25th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917.
Lens Canadian Cem. No. 2. Mem. 24
.
Son of Andrew and Flora Wilson, of St. John's, Newfoundland.
Andrew M. Wilson
25th Bn. Canadian Infantry
15th August 1917.
Lens Canadian Cem. No. 2. Mem. 24
.
Son of Andrew and Flora Wilson, of St. John's, Newfoundland.
552772 Private
Archibald Charles Wittet
8th Bn. Canadian Infantry
21st July 1917, aged 28.
Plot II. A. 1.
Son of William and Mary Wittet, of Bridge of Earn, Scotland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loving Remembrance."
Archibald Charles Wittet
8th Bn. Canadian Infantry
21st July 1917, aged 28.
Plot II. A. 1.
Son of William and Mary Wittet, of Bridge of Earn, Scotland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loving Remembrance."
February 1918: A panorama of Loos, showing on the left the road leading to Crucifix Dump. In the centre of the picture is Loos Crassier with Hill 70 in the background is Fosse 121, Cite St. Pierre.
Although many observers view the British successes at the Battle of Loos with cynicism, Major-General Richard Hilton, at that time a Forward Observation Officer, said of the battle in Philip Warner's 1976 book, The Battle of Loos (Wordsworth):
"A great deal of nonsense has been written about Loos. The real tragedy of that battle was its nearness to complete success. Most of us who reached the crest of Hill 70, and survived, were firmly convinced that we had broken through on that Sunday, 25th September 1915. There seemed to be nothing ahead of us, but an unoccupied and incomplete trench system. The only two things that prevented our advancing into the suburbs of Lens were, firstly, the exhaustion of the "Jocks" themselves (for they had undergone a bellyfull of marching and fighting that day) and, secondly, the flanking fire of numerous German machine-guns, which swept that bare hill from some factory buildings in Cite St. Auguste to the south of us. All that we needed was more artillery ammunition to blast those clearly-located machine-guns, plus some fresh infantry to take over from the weary and depleted "Jocks." But, alas, neither ammunition nor reinforcements were immediately available, and the great opportunity passed."
"A great deal of nonsense has been written about Loos. The real tragedy of that battle was its nearness to complete success. Most of us who reached the crest of Hill 70, and survived, were firmly convinced that we had broken through on that Sunday, 25th September 1915. There seemed to be nothing ahead of us, but an unoccupied and incomplete trench system. The only two things that prevented our advancing into the suburbs of Lens were, firstly, the exhaustion of the "Jocks" themselves (for they had undergone a bellyfull of marching and fighting that day) and, secondly, the flanking fire of numerous German machine-guns, which swept that bare hill from some factory buildings in Cite St. Auguste to the south of us. All that we needed was more artillery ammunition to blast those clearly-located machine-guns, plus some fresh infantry to take over from the weary and depleted "Jocks." But, alas, neither ammunition nor reinforcements were immediately available, and the great opportunity passed."
February 1918: A view of the ruins of Loos showing the extent of the destruction wrought by the years of bombardment to which the town was subjected. Beyond the coal mine to the right is the famous Hill 70, in the capture of which the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company was associated with the Canadians.
A view across to the distinctive mining village of Loos, dominated in the centre middle ground by the looming metal pit-head, known colloquially as 'Tower Bridge'. There are further mining structures to the right, all surrounded by houses and with a windmill in the centre left. The flat landscape in the immediate foreground is criss-crossed by a network of trenches. Drawn by Geoffrey K. Rose. © IWM (Art.IWM ART 4801)
