MAUBEUGE (SOUS-LE-BOIS) CEMETERY
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.27322, Longitude: 3.9374
Location Information
Maubeuge is a town in the Nord region of France, close to the Belgian border. It lies east of Valenciennes and south of Mons. Maubeuge (Sous-le-Bois) Cemetery lies about 4 kilometres west of the town centre.
Follow the N49 west towards Bavay. About 4 kilometres out of town turn left at Rue Victor Hugo and follow it to Rue de la Couturelle which takes you to the cemetery. Access to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission plot is gained through the civil cemetery.
Historical Information
Maubeuge was in German hands for practically the whole of the war and was taken by Commonwealth troops only a few days before the Armistice. The 5th Casualty Clearing Station was posted in the town from the end of November 1918 until 22 March 1919.
The cemetery at Sous-le-Bois is one of three belonging to the town of Maubeuge. One Commonwealth soldier who died in September 1914 is buried behind the fossoyeur's lodge, but the main Commonwealth plot is in the south-east part of the cemetery.
The cemetery contains 114 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
The Commonwealth plot was designed by George Hartley Goldsmith
World War One Casualties: United Kingdom 65, Australia 45, New Zealand 3, Canada 1. Total 114.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
1913 Private
Watson Percy Herbert Black
4th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th December 1918, aged 24.
Row D. 19.
Son of Francis James and Sarah Ann Black, of Bonnie Doon, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
Watson Percy Herbert Black
4th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th December 1918, aged 24.
Row D. 19.
Son of Francis James and Sarah Ann Black, of Bonnie Doon, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
5052 Private
John Edmonds Brien
58th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th February 1919, aged 29.
Row B. 18.
Son of John William and Margaret Brien, of Kingower, Victoria, Australia.
Studio portrait of 5052 Private (Pte) John Edmond Brien, 58th Battalion, of Kingower, Vic. A wood carter prior to enlistment, Pte Brien embarked on HMAT Suffolk (A23) on 1 April 1916. He served on the Western Front and was twice wounded in action. He died of illness in France on 18 February 1919.
Click on image to enlarge
John Edmonds Brien
58th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th February 1919, aged 29.
Row B. 18.
Son of John William and Margaret Brien, of Kingower, Victoria, Australia.
Studio portrait of 5052 Private (Pte) John Edmond Brien, 58th Battalion, of Kingower, Vic. A wood carter prior to enlistment, Pte Brien embarked on HMAT Suffolk (A23) on 1 April 1916. He served on the Western Front and was twice wounded in action. He died of illness in France on 18 February 1919.
Click on image to enlarge
6739 Private
John Dowling
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th December 1918.
Row C. 29.
Acting Corporal John Dowling, 22nd Reinforcements, 9th Battalion, of Brisbane, Qld, wearing a British South African Company Medal 1893-1897. Cpl Dowling enlisted on 11 September 1916 and embarked aboard HMAT Marathon on 27 October 1916. On 13 December 1918 he was accidentally wounded and died of wounds at Maubeuge in France.
John Dowling
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th December 1918.
Row C. 29.
Acting Corporal John Dowling, 22nd Reinforcements, 9th Battalion, of Brisbane, Qld, wearing a British South African Company Medal 1893-1897. Cpl Dowling enlisted on 11 September 1916 and embarked aboard HMAT Marathon on 27 October 1916. On 13 December 1918 he was accidentally wounded and died of wounds at Maubeuge in France.
1530 Driver
David Edgar Griffiths
13th Brigade, Australian Field Artillery
23rd January 1919, aged 24.
Row C. 14.
Son of Benjamin and Ellen Griffiths, of High Plains, Deloraine, Tasmania. Native of Waratah, Tasmania. His younger brothers Ralph Arnold Griffiths and Frank Gordon Griffiths also fell.
3621 Private Ralph Arnold Griffiths was killed in action at Hamel on 27th July 1918, aged 20 and is buried in Crucifix Corner Cemetery in France and 3659 Private Frank Gordon Griffiths was killed in action at Pozières and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
His headstone bears the inscription "At Rest His Duty Nobly Done"
Click on image to enlarge
Studio portrait of 1530 Private (Pte) David Edgar Griffiths, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, of Deloraine, Tas. A labourer before enlisting in August 1915, Pte Griffiths left Australia for Egypt with the 11th Reinforcements in October 1915, arriving in France for service on the Western Front in May 1916. After being promoted to Gunner (Gnr) in February 1917, he was wounded in action by German artillery fire at Fouilloy, France, on 27 May 1918 but remained on duty. After furlough in England in January 1919, Gnr Griffiths was admitted to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station with broncho-pneumonia on 17 January 1919 and died six days later, aged 24.
David Edgar Griffiths
13th Brigade, Australian Field Artillery
23rd January 1919, aged 24.
Row C. 14.
Son of Benjamin and Ellen Griffiths, of High Plains, Deloraine, Tasmania. Native of Waratah, Tasmania. His younger brothers Ralph Arnold Griffiths and Frank Gordon Griffiths also fell.
3621 Private Ralph Arnold Griffiths was killed in action at Hamel on 27th July 1918, aged 20 and is buried in Crucifix Corner Cemetery in France and 3659 Private Frank Gordon Griffiths was killed in action at Pozières and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
His headstone bears the inscription "At Rest His Duty Nobly Done"
Click on image to enlarge
Studio portrait of 1530 Private (Pte) David Edgar Griffiths, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, of Deloraine, Tas. A labourer before enlisting in August 1915, Pte Griffiths left Australia for Egypt with the 11th Reinforcements in October 1915, arriving in France for service on the Western Front in May 1916. After being promoted to Gunner (Gnr) in February 1917, he was wounded in action by German artillery fire at Fouilloy, France, on 27 May 1918 but remained on duty. After furlough in England in January 1919, Gnr Griffiths was admitted to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station with broncho-pneumonia on 17 January 1919 and died six days later, aged 24.
3792 Corporal
Charles Elvin Hyland
14th Field Coy. Australian Engineers
10th February 1919, aged 24.
Row C. 10.
Son of John R. and Eva Elizabeth Hyland, of Wallace St., Granville, New South Wales. Native of Rossmore, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved Son Of John And Eva Hyland Till We Meet Again."
A bridge carpenter prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Medic (A7) on 30 December 1915 Cpl Hyland died of pneumonia,on 10 February 1919, at the 5th Casualty Clearing Station in France.
Charles Elvin Hyland
14th Field Coy. Australian Engineers
10th February 1919, aged 24.
Row C. 10.
Son of John R. and Eva Elizabeth Hyland, of Wallace St., Granville, New South Wales. Native of Rossmore, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved Son Of John And Eva Hyland Till We Meet Again."
A bridge carpenter prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Medic (A7) on 30 December 1915 Cpl Hyland died of pneumonia,on 10 February 1919, at the 5th Casualty Clearing Station in France.
Unidentified soldiers, probably of the 57th Battalion carrying the coffin of Lieutenant (Lt) Arthur Davis to the grave at the Sois-le-Bois Cemetery, near Maubegue, France. A jeweller prior to enlisting on 11 December 1917, Second Lieutenant Davis, of Albert Park, Vic, embarked from Melbourne, Vic, aboard HMAT Ulysses on 22 December 1917. He died of broncho pneumonia on 27 February 1919, aged 31.
2647 Driver
William Charles Kent
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I . F.
22nd February 1919, aged 43.
Row B. 13.
Studio portrait of 2647 Private (Pte) William Charles Kent, 32nd Battalion. A shoeing smith from Mount Gambier, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked from Adelaide with the 5th Reinforcements on 25 March 1916 aboard HMAT Shropshire for Egypt. The battalion relocated to the Western Front in late June 1916 and he joined his unit near Armentières in early August. Pte Kent attended the Divisional Bombing School in the latter half of September. He was appointed Driver (Dvr) on 1 January 1917 while attending Lewis Gun School. He continued to serve with the 32nd Battalion until the end of the war and afterwards as part of the occupying forces stationed at Sars-Poteries, France. Dvr Kent was hospitalised due to illness on 16 February 1919 and was moved to No 5 Casualty Clearing Station where he died of pneumonia on 22 February 1919.
William Charles Kent
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I . F.
22nd February 1919, aged 43.
Row B. 13.
Studio portrait of 2647 Private (Pte) William Charles Kent, 32nd Battalion. A shoeing smith from Mount Gambier, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked from Adelaide with the 5th Reinforcements on 25 March 1916 aboard HMAT Shropshire for Egypt. The battalion relocated to the Western Front in late June 1916 and he joined his unit near Armentières in early August. Pte Kent attended the Divisional Bombing School in the latter half of September. He was appointed Driver (Dvr) on 1 January 1917 while attending Lewis Gun School. He continued to serve with the 32nd Battalion until the end of the war and afterwards as part of the occupying forces stationed at Sars-Poteries, France. Dvr Kent was hospitalised due to illness on 16 February 1919 and was moved to No 5 Casualty Clearing Station where he died of pneumonia on 22 February 1919.
205171 Pioneer
William Ward Martin
Royal Engineers. Railway Transport Depot
3rd March 1918.
Row B. 2.
William Ward Martin born 1890 Sheffield, Yorkshire UK, died 3.3.1919, buried Maubeuge (Sous-Le-Bois) Cemetery. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 12514 Private. Royal Engineers 356139 Private. Royal Engineers WR205171 Pioneer. William was born in Sheffield in 1890 to Harry Martin and Mary Jane Martin nee Ward. He had three sisters Zoe, Jessie and Amy. He married Doris Naylor on 14/2/1915, no children. After being wounded he was moved to the Royal Engineers. He died after the end of WW1 and is buried in Maubeuge.
Picture courtesy of S. J. Jepson
William Ward Martin
Royal Engineers. Railway Transport Depot
3rd March 1918.
Row B. 2.
William Ward Martin born 1890 Sheffield, Yorkshire UK, died 3.3.1919, buried Maubeuge (Sous-Le-Bois) Cemetery. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 12514 Private. Royal Engineers 356139 Private. Royal Engineers WR205171 Pioneer. William was born in Sheffield in 1890 to Harry Martin and Mary Jane Martin nee Ward. He had three sisters Zoe, Jessie and Amy. He married Doris Naylor on 14/2/1915, no children. After being wounded he was moved to the Royal Engineers. He died after the end of WW1 and is buried in Maubeuge.
Picture courtesy of S. J. Jepson
30945 Gunner
Benjamin George Quick
5th Division, Trench Mortar Battery, Australian Field Artillery
16th February 1919.
Row B. 20.
Studio portrait of 30945 Gunner (Gnr) Benjamin George Quick, 5th Division Trench Mortar Battery, Australian Field Artillery. Gnr Quick enlisted on 24 August 1916 in Newtown, NSW, and died in France on 16 February 1919.
Click on image to enlarge
Benjamin George Quick
5th Division, Trench Mortar Battery, Australian Field Artillery
16th February 1919.
Row B. 20.
Studio portrait of 30945 Gunner (Gnr) Benjamin George Quick, 5th Division Trench Mortar Battery, Australian Field Artillery. Gnr Quick enlisted on 24 August 1916 in Newtown, NSW, and died in France on 16 February 1919.
Click on image to enlarge
7308 Private
Harry Ernest Tarran
4th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
2nd December 1918, aged 20.
Row D. 14.
Son of James and Charlotte Harriet Tarran, of 13, Charles St., Enmore, New South Wales. Native of Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved By All."
A railway employee of Enmore, NSW, he enlisted on 3 January 1917 and sailed with the 24th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Suffolk on 24 April 1917. He died of sickness, aged 20, on 2 December 1918 in France.
Click on image to enlarge
Harry Ernest Tarran
4th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
2nd December 1918, aged 20.
Row D. 14.
Son of James and Charlotte Harriet Tarran, of 13, Charles St., Enmore, New South Wales. Native of Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved By All."
A railway employee of Enmore, NSW, he enlisted on 3 January 1917 and sailed with the 24th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Suffolk on 24 April 1917. He died of sickness, aged 20, on 2 December 1918 in France.
Click on image to enlarge
Men of the Irish Guards man a slit trench near Maubeuge, 11 November 1918. © IWM (Q 3344)
