MAILLY-MAILLET COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.08581, Longitude: 2.59639
Location Information
Mailly-Maillet is a village about 9 kilometres north of Albert.
At the traffic lights in Mailly Maillet take the D120 in the direction of Colincamps following the CWGC sign. About 600 metres further on there is a small lane towards the Communal Cemetery and the Extension is on the east side of the Communal Cemetery.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this site is possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
Mailly-Maillet was comparatively quiet until the German advance at the end of March 1918. It remained in Allied hands, but was severely shelled and the catacombs under the village were prepared for use by the troops.
The extension was begun by French units (mainly Engineers) in June 1915. Commonwealth forces relieved the French here in August 1915, and field ambulances and fighting units continued to use the extension until December 1916, then again in March-July, 1918. The 51 French graves and those of two German prisoners have been removed to other cemeteries.
Mailly-Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension contains 126 First World War burials.
Casualty Details: UK 122, Canada 1, New Zealand 3, Total Burials: 126.
The extension was designed by W C Von Berg
Dedications
14729 Rifleman Hedley William Brownrigg Graham, 10th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, 22nd December 1915, aged 22. Son of Wesley Graham, of 66, Melrose St., Belfast.
Remembered by Hedley Graham Millington his nephew
October 1922 - ©CWGC
15/12542 Private
Thomas Bradshaw
15th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
23rd December 1915, aged 18.
Row C. 5.
Son of Thomas and Sarah Bradshaw, of 48, Upper Townsend St., Belfast.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sleep On Beloved Sleep On And Take Thy Rest."
Thomas Bradshaw
15th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
23rd December 1915, aged 18.
Row C. 5.
Son of Thomas and Sarah Bradshaw, of 48, Upper Townsend St., Belfast.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sleep On Beloved Sleep On And Take Thy Rest."
M2/182693 Private
J. W. Gatrill
Army Service Corps, attd. 4th Heavy Artillery Group Royal Garrison Artillery
30th August 1918, aged 24.
Row C. 26.
Son of James and Sarah Josephine Gatrill, of 84. Wood St., Grimsby.
J. W. Gatrill
Army Service Corps, attd. 4th Heavy Artillery Group Royal Garrison Artillery
30th August 1918, aged 24.
Row C. 26.
Son of James and Sarah Josephine Gatrill, of 84. Wood St., Grimsby.
52415 Private
Sidney Thomas James Groves
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
Died Between 26-27 March, 1918, aged 35.
Row D. 50.
Son of John and Elizabeth Groves, of Auckland, New Zealand.
Sidney Thomas James Groves
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
Died Between 26-27 March, 1918, aged 35.
Row D. 50.
Son of John and Elizabeth Groves, of Auckland, New Zealand.
63863 Private
James Herbert Gwynne
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
4th April 1918, aged 24.
Row D. 51.
Son of George and Helen Gwynne, of Highland Rd., Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand.
James Herbert Gwynne
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
4th April 1918, aged 24.
Row D. 51.
Son of George and Helen Gwynne, of Highland Rd., Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand.
49070 Private
Jim Littler
7th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
28th April 1918, aged 18.
Row A. 50.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Littler, of 31, High St., Northwich. Cheshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Duty Done."
Jim Littler
7th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
28th April 1918, aged 18.
Row A. 50.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Littler, of 31, High St., Northwich. Cheshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Duty Done."
Captain
Keith Peploe
"B" Coy. 2nd Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
9th November 1916, aged 23.
Row D. 47.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Peploe, of 22, Sloane Gardens, London. Born at Sevenoaks, Kent. Educated at Marlborough, Sandhurst, and Trinity College, Cambridge.
His headstone bears the inscription: "God Proved Them And Found Them Worthy For Himself."
Keith Peploe
"B" Coy. 2nd Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
9th November 1916, aged 23.
Row D. 47.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Peploe, of 22, Sloane Gardens, London. Born at Sevenoaks, Kent. Educated at Marlborough, Sandhurst, and Trinity College, Cambridge.
His headstone bears the inscription: "God Proved Them And Found Them Worthy For Himself."
10565 Private
Richard Lewis Pickles
1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers
17th April 1916, aged 25.
Row C. 23.
Son of Richard Lewis Pickles and Elizabeth Jane Pickles, of 108A, Gannow Lane, Burnley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Till The Dawn Breaks & The Shadows Flee Away."
Richard Lewis Pickles
1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers
17th April 1916, aged 25.
Row C. 23.
Son of Richard Lewis Pickles and Elizabeth Jane Pickles, of 108A, Gannow Lane, Burnley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Till The Dawn Breaks & The Shadows Flee Away."
L/18560 Driver
Harry Riddle
"D" Bty. 170th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
1st July 1916.
Row D. 6.
Husband of Mrs. Atkinson (formerly Riddle), of 18. Stock St., Burnley.
Harry Riddle
"D" Bty. 170th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
1st July 1916.
Row D. 6.
Husband of Mrs. Atkinson (formerly Riddle), of 18. Stock St., Burnley.
Lieutenant
Owen William Steele
1st Bn. Newfoundland Regiment
8th July 1916, aged 29.
Row D. 10.
Eldest son of Samuel Owen Steele and Sarah Blanche Steele, of "Avalonia," Kings Kerswell, Newton Abbot, England. Native of St. Johns, Newfoundland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sacrificed."
Owen William Steele
1st Bn. Newfoundland Regiment
8th July 1916, aged 29.
Row D. 10.
Eldest son of Samuel Owen Steele and Sarah Blanche Steele, of "Avalonia," Kings Kerswell, Newton Abbot, England. Native of St. Johns, Newfoundland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sacrificed."
7648 Sapper
Charles William Vale
2nd Siege Company, Royal Anglesey, Royal Engineers
26th October 1916, aged 29.
Row D. 45.
Inscription " Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Charles and Mary Vale, of Wattville Rd., Handsworth; husband of Gertrude Vale, of 175, Wattville Rd., Handsworth, Birmingham.
Pictures courtesy of Craig Hopkins
Charles William Vale
2nd Siege Company, Royal Anglesey, Royal Engineers
26th October 1916, aged 29.
Row D. 45.
Inscription " Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Charles and Mary Vale, of Wattville Rd., Handsworth; husband of Gertrude Vale, of 175, Wattville Rd., Handsworth, Birmingham.
Pictures courtesy of Craig Hopkins
Second Lieutenant
George Hanson Wheatcroft
16th Heavy Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery
11th August 1915, aged 26.
Row C. 1.
Son of George Hanson Wheatcroft and Ada Maria Wheatcroft, of Waltham House, Wirksworth. Derbyshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died The Noblest Death Fighting For God And Right And Liberty."
George Hanson Wheatcroft
16th Heavy Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery
11th August 1915, aged 26.
Row C. 1.
Son of George Hanson Wheatcroft and Ada Maria Wheatcroft, of Waltham House, Wirksworth. Derbyshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died The Noblest Death Fighting For God And Right And Liberty."
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Shot at Dawn
15/13211 Rifleman J. F. McCracken, 15th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, executed for desertion 19th March 1916, aged 19. Row C. 21. Son of John McCracken.
15/890 Rifleman J. Templeton, 15th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, executed for desertion 19th March 1916. Row C. 20. Son of Mr. Templeton, of 12, Enfield St., Belfast.
They had served with the battalion since October 1915, & were tried together on 27 February 1916. Against McCracken, who was unrepresented, were 3 previous convictions, one involving absence. (Putkowski, p.70)
15/13211 Rifleman J. F. McCracken, 15th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, executed for desertion 19th March 1916, aged 19. Row C. 21. Son of John McCracken.
15/890 Rifleman J. Templeton, 15th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, executed for desertion 19th March 1916. Row C. 20. Son of Mr. Templeton, of 12, Enfield St., Belfast.
They had served with the battalion since October 1915, & were tried together on 27 February 1916. Against McCracken, who was unrepresented, were 3 previous convictions, one involving absence. (Putkowski, p.70)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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British infantry moving forward near Mailly-Maillet to meet the German advance, 26 March 1918. © IWM (Q 8619)
Whippet tanks (A 236) preparing to retire near Albert, 28 March 1918. Whippet tanks of the 3rd Battalion were the first ever to come into action at Mailly-Maillet on 26 March 1918. © IWM (Q 9817)
Shelter constructed with elephant iron near Mailly-Maillet, October 1916. © IWM (Q 1593)
