MAILLY WOOD CEMETERY
Mailly-Maillet
Somme
France
Location Information
Mailly Wood Cemetery is 9 kilometres north of Albert on the D919. The Cemetery is situated on the outskirts of the village of Mailly-Maillet on the left hand side of the road to Amiens, where it is signposted from the main road onto a 500 metre mud track.
Visiting Information
Access can be difficult during winter due to the condition of the mud track and a four-wheel drive vehicle would be required. It should however be emphasised that even with this type of vehicle there is a danger of the vehicle slipping as the track is narrow, becomes very muddy and the fields are below the level of the track.
Historical Information
Mailly-Maillet was within the line taken over from the French in the summer of 1915, and several Commonwealth cemeteries were made in the commune. Mailly Wood Cemetery was begun with the burial of thirteen men of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders who died on 25 June 1916, and in November 1916, the 51st (Highland) Division buried in it following the capture of Beaumont Hamel. Thereafter, the cemetery was little used until April-August 1918, when the German attack on Amiens brought the front line very close, and further burials were made by the 12th Division (in May) and the 21st (in August), among others.
After the Armistice graves from the battlefields immediately north-east of the village were brought into the cemetery, and 30 graves from MAILLY MAILLET MILITARY CEMETERY in the village itself.
The cemetery now contains 702 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 60 of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to two casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be found, and to six whose graves in the military cemetery were destroyed by shell fire.
Casualty Details: UK 671, New Zealand 28, South Africa 3, Total Burials: 702.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Dedications
6747 Private William R. Brown, 5th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders, 13th November 1916. Plot I. F. 3. Husband of A. Brown, of 2, Richardland Rd., Kilmarnock.
Remembered with pride by his granddaughters Joanna Jolly and Nanette Whiteford
Mailly Wood Cemetery is 9 kilometres north of Albert on the D919. The Cemetery is situated on the outskirts of the village of Mailly-Maillet on the left hand side of the road to Amiens, where it is signposted from the main road onto a 500 metre mud track.
Visiting Information
Access can be difficult during winter due to the condition of the mud track and a four-wheel drive vehicle would be required. It should however be emphasised that even with this type of vehicle there is a danger of the vehicle slipping as the track is narrow, becomes very muddy and the fields are below the level of the track.
Historical Information
Mailly-Maillet was within the line taken over from the French in the summer of 1915, and several Commonwealth cemeteries were made in the commune. Mailly Wood Cemetery was begun with the burial of thirteen men of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders who died on 25 June 1916, and in November 1916, the 51st (Highland) Division buried in it following the capture of Beaumont Hamel. Thereafter, the cemetery was little used until April-August 1918, when the German attack on Amiens brought the front line very close, and further burials were made by the 12th Division (in May) and the 21st (in August), among others.
After the Armistice graves from the battlefields immediately north-east of the village were brought into the cemetery, and 30 graves from MAILLY MAILLET MILITARY CEMETERY in the village itself.
The cemetery now contains 702 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 60 of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to two casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be found, and to six whose graves in the military cemetery were destroyed by shell fire.
Casualty Details: UK 671, New Zealand 28, South Africa 3, Total Burials: 702.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Dedications
6747 Private William R. Brown, 5th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders, 13th November 1916. Plot I. F. 3. Husband of A. Brown, of 2, Richardland Rd., Kilmarnock.
Remembered with pride by his granddaughters Joanna Jolly and Nanette Whiteford
40684 Serjeant, Harold John, Colley, V. C., M. M.
10th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, died of wounds on 25th August 1918 aged 23. Plot II. Q. 4.
Son of John and Hannah Elizabeth Colley, of 74, Cheshire Rd., Smethwick, Staffs.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 30967, dated the 18th Oct., 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and initiative when in command of a platoon in support of forward platoons which had been ordered to hold on at all costs. When the enemy counter-attacked in force, he rushed forward on his own initiative to help the forward line, rallying and controlling the men holding it. The enemy by this time were advancing quicky, and had already obtained a footing in the trench. Serjt. Colley then formed a defensive flank and held it. Out of the two platoons only three men remained unwounded, and he himself was dangerously wounded. It was entirely due to Serjt. Colley's action that the enemy were prevented from breaking through, and were eventually driven off. His courage and tenacity saved a very critical situation."
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
10208 Corporal
Alfred Reginald Black
1st Bn. Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
30th March 1918, aged 31.
Plot I. N. 14.
Son of William and Mary Black, of Taranaki, New Zealand. Also served in Egypt.
Alfred Reginald Black
1st Bn. Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
30th March 1918, aged 31.
Plot I. N. 14.
Son of William and Mary Black, of Taranaki, New Zealand. Also served in Egypt.
Captain
Robert Kilgour Thom Catto
4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
4th November 1916, aged 43.
Plot I. A. 19.
Son of James and Elizabeth Brand Catto, of Cliff House, Cults, Aberdeenshire. Husband of the late Florence Margaret Bower Catto.
Robert Kilgour Thom Catto
4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
4th November 1916, aged 43.
Plot I. A. 19.
Son of James and Elizabeth Brand Catto, of Cliff House, Cults, Aberdeenshire. Husband of the late Florence Margaret Bower Catto.
22159 Private
Alfred Ezra George Currall
6th Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
20th May 1918.
Plot II. M. 8.
Alfred Ezra George Currall
6th Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
20th May 1918.
Plot II. M. 8.
31125 Private
Ivan Roy Hansen
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
Died Between 26/03/1918 and 27/03/1918, aged 22.
Plot I. N. 15.
Son of Jim and Laura Hansen. Born at Tepuna, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
Ivan Roy Hansen
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
Died Between 26/03/1918 and 27/03/1918, aged 22.
Plot I. N. 15.
Son of Jim and Laura Hansen. Born at Tepuna, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
British infantry moving forward near Mailly-Maillet to meet the German advance, 26 March 1918. © IWM (Q 8619)
32955 Lance Corporal
Alfred Henry Johnston
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
5th April 1918, aged 26.
Plot I. O. 15.
Husband of Ivy I. Johnston, of Murchison, New Zealand.
Alfred Henry Johnston
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
5th April 1918, aged 26.
Plot I. O. 15.
Husband of Ivy I. Johnston, of Murchison, New Zealand.
63542 Private
Joseph Kane
91st Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
4th April 1917, aged 24.
Plot II. E. 10.
Youngest son of Edward and Catherine Kane, of Bootle, Liverpool.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sacred Heart Of Jesus Have Mercy On Him Our Lady And St. Joseph Pray For Him."
Joseph Kane
91st Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
4th April 1917, aged 24.
Plot II. E. 10.
Youngest son of Edward and Catherine Kane, of Bootle, Liverpool.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sacred Heart Of Jesus Have Mercy On Him Our Lady And St. Joseph Pray For Him."
3488 Private
Kenneth Campbell MacDonald
1st/8th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
13th November 1916.
Plot I. J. 10.
Kenneth Campbell MacDonald
1st/8th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
13th November 1916.
Plot I. J. 10.
23/1434 Rifleman
Alexander Barber Marchant
1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
27th March 1918, aged 32.
Plot I. N. 2.
Son of Francis Septimus and Elizabeth Marchant, of Hastings, New Zealand. Served also in Egypt.
Alexander Barber Marchant
1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
27th March 1918, aged 32.
Plot I. N. 2.
Son of Francis Septimus and Elizabeth Marchant, of Hastings, New Zealand. Served also in Egypt.
27337 Private
John William Martin
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
26th March 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. N. 4.
Son of Elizabeth Evans, of Ely, England.
John William Martin
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
26th March 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. N. 4.
Son of Elizabeth Evans, of Ely, England.
40227 Rifleman
William James Matthews
1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
2nd May 1918.
Plot I. N. 18.
William James Matthews
1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
2nd May 1918.
Plot I. N. 18.
10186 Lance Corporal
William McCulloch
2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
25th June 1916.
Plot I. A. 8.
Son of Mrs. M. McCulloch, of 61, King St., Inverness.
William McCulloch
2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
25th June 1916.
Plot I. A. 8.
Son of Mrs. M. McCulloch, of 61, King St., Inverness.
Second Lieutenant
Robert James Smith
6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 27.
Plot I. F. 29.
Son of Mary Smith, of East Mains, Knockando, Morayshire, and the late John Smith, Land Valuer (Inland Revenue).
Robert James Smith
6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 27.
Plot I. F. 29.
Son of Mary Smith, of East Mains, Knockando, Morayshire, and the late John Smith, Land Valuer (Inland Revenue).
47606 Private
Alfred Littledyke Stanton
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
26th March 1918, aged 37.
Plot I. N. 9.
Son of George Lyttledyke Stanton and Caroline Madeline Stanton.
Alfred Littledyke Stanton
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
26th March 1918, aged 37.
Plot I. N. 9.
Son of George Lyttledyke Stanton and Caroline Madeline Stanton.
41681 Private
Peter Watt
1st Bn. Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
2nd April 1918, aged 26.
Plot I. K. 33.
Son of Jessie Watt, of Hangingshaw Farm, Heriot, Midlothian; husband of J. G. Brown (formerly Watt).
Peter Watt
1st Bn. Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
2nd April 1918, aged 26.
Plot I. K. 33.
Son of Jessie Watt, of Hangingshaw Farm, Heriot, Midlothian; husband of J. G. Brown (formerly Watt).
267012 Private
Joseph Henry Bowers Whitehead
9th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
7th June 1918, aged 30.
Plot II. O. 8.
Husband of Edith Maud Whitehead, of 9, Dawson Street, Skipton.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Breaks."
Joseph Henry Bowers Whitehead
9th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
7th June 1918, aged 30.
Plot II. O. 8.
Husband of Edith Maud Whitehead, of 9, Dawson Street, Skipton.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Breaks."
Second Lieutenant
Robert Forsyth Wilson
6th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 28.
Plot I. D. 30.
Son of Robert Henderson Wilson and Katharine Georgina Wilson, of 30, Mill St. Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died That We Might Live."
Robert Forsyth Wilson
6th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 28.
Plot I. D. 30.
Son of Robert Henderson Wilson and Katharine Georgina Wilson, of 30, Mill St. Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died That We Might Live."
Shelter constructed with elephant iron near Mailly Maillet, October 1916. © IWM (Q 1593)
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)
