MASNIÈRES BRITISH CEMETERY
Marcoing
Nord
France
Location Information
Marcoing is a village 7 kilometres south-west of Cambrai and the village of Masnières is 5 kilometres south-east of Marcoing. Masnières British Cemetery is 3 kilometres due east of Marcoing in the middle of fields with access by a small track.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Masnières was captured by the 29th Division on the 20th November 1917, the first day of the Battle of Cambrai. On the 30th November and the 1st December, Masnières was held by the same Division against repeated attacks, but it was evacuated, under orders, on the night of the 1st-2nd. It was retaken on the 29th September 1918, by the 62nd (West Riding) Division.
Masnières British Cemetery was made by the 3rd Division Burial Officer in October 1918.
There are now 226 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 56 are unidentified. All fell in September-October, 1918.
Masnieres British Cemetery covers an area of 995 square metres and is enclosed by a stone rubble wall.
On the main road, East of Masnières British Cemetery, is the Masnières Newfoundland Memorial, recalling the share of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment (then part of the 29th Division) in the Battle of Cambrai 1917.
Total Burials: 226.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 133, Germany 20, New Zealand 17. Total 170.
Marcoing is a village 7 kilometres south-west of Cambrai and the village of Masnières is 5 kilometres south-east of Marcoing. Masnières British Cemetery is 3 kilometres due east of Marcoing in the middle of fields with access by a small track.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Masnières was captured by the 29th Division on the 20th November 1917, the first day of the Battle of Cambrai. On the 30th November and the 1st December, Masnières was held by the same Division against repeated attacks, but it was evacuated, under orders, on the night of the 1st-2nd. It was retaken on the 29th September 1918, by the 62nd (West Riding) Division.
Masnières British Cemetery was made by the 3rd Division Burial Officer in October 1918.
There are now 226 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 56 are unidentified. All fell in September-October, 1918.
Masnieres British Cemetery covers an area of 995 square metres and is enclosed by a stone rubble wall.
On the main road, East of Masnières British Cemetery, is the Masnières Newfoundland Memorial, recalling the share of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment (then part of the 29th Division) in the Battle of Cambrai 1917.
Total Burials: 226.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 133, Germany 20, New Zealand 17. Total 170.
32827 Lance Serjeant, Thomas Neely, V. C., M. M.
8th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, he died on 1st October 1918 aged 21 and is buried in plot II.B.21.
Son of James H. and Agness Neely, of 91, Claudia St., City Rd., Walton, Liverpool.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31067, dated 13th Dec., 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery during operations at Flesquieres on 27th September, 1918. His company was held up during the advance by heavy machine-gun fire from a flank. Cpl. Neely, realising the seriousness of the situation, at once, under point-blank fire, dashed out with two men and rushed the positions, disposing of the garrisons and capturing three machine guns. Subsequently, on two successive occasions, he rushed concrete strong points, killing or capturing the occupants."
28313 Lance Corporal
David Burnett Annand, M. C.
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
1st October 1918.
Plot II. A. 2.
David Burnett Annand, M. C.
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
1st October 1918.
Plot II. A. 2.
Second Lieutenant
Stanley Ross Honeywill
4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
8th October 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. C. 25.
Son of William Ross Honeywill, of Nassim Lodge, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent. Native of Chislehurst, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This. R.I.P."
Stanley Ross Honeywill
4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
8th October 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. C. 25.
Son of William Ross Honeywill, of Nassim Lodge, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent. Native of Chislehurst, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This. R.I.P."
1824 Private
William Howlett
1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regiment
8th October 1918, aged 28.
Plot II. D. 10.
Son of Robert Walter and Susannah Howlett, of 89, Becke Rd., Abbey Estate, Cambridge.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died For Us" 1.Cor.13"
William Howlett
1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regiment
8th October 1918, aged 28.
Plot II. D. 10.
Son of Robert Walter and Susannah Howlett, of 89, Becke Rd., Abbey Estate, Cambridge.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died For Us" 1.Cor.13"
34429 Lance Corporal
Alfred Edwin Reynolds
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
1st October 1918, aged 26.
Plot II. D. 6.
Son of John and Catherine Reynolds, of Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand.
Alfred Edwin Reynolds
1st Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
1st October 1918, aged 26.
Plot II. D. 6.
Son of John and Catherine Reynolds, of Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand.
Second Lieutenant
Edward Nightingale Winch
8th Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
9th October 1918, aged 39.
Plot I. B. 17.
Son of Charles and Sarah Winch, of Rochester, Kent; husband of Florence C. Winch, of "Ivydene," Forest Hill Rd., Forest Hill, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Life For His Country, His Soul To God."
Edward Nightingale Winch
8th Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
9th October 1918, aged 39.
Plot I. B. 17.
Son of Charles and Sarah Winch, of Rochester, Kent; husband of Florence C. Winch, of "Ivydene," Forest Hill Rd., Forest Hill, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Life For His Country, His Soul To God."
A British soldier holding a little French girl found by the 29th Division at the capture of Masnieres. Marcoing, 23 November 1917. © IWM (Q 3195)
A group of men of the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) in Marcoing, 23 November 1917. © IWM (Q 3198)
Men of the the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment) salvaging German rifles near Marcoing, 22 November 1917. © IWM (Q 6312)
