MEERUT MILITARY CEMETERY
St. Martin-les-Boulogne
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.73205, Longitude: 1.62412
Location Information
St.Martin-Boulogne is a commune in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais adjoining the north-east side of the town of Boulogne.
From the Mairie in St Martin head north on the rue Colonne. Where the road becomes a one-way system (after 500 metres) turn left onto Rue Pasteur. At the end of this road turn right onto Rue Molière. Continue to the end of this road and then turn left onto the cemetery access road.
Visiting Information
ARRIVAL
The cemetery is signposted.
PARKING
Parking is at the side of the road on a residential street near the cemetery. There is space for up to 5 vehicles to park (Rue Molière).
The ground is flat and firm with a tarmac surface.
Parking is approximately 50 metres from the main entrance to the site.
ACCESS LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE
The cemetery is rectangular in shape with entrance to the site in the bottom left corner of the cemetery.
Access into the cemetery is at the end of a T Junction – part of Rue Jean de la Fontaine. Turn right where the T-Junction sign is located where Rue-Jean de la Fontaine becomes Rue Moliere.
The entrance gate is located just past a yellow bollard in the centre of a narrow dead-end road. There are gaps of over 1.50 metres either side of the bollard.
The main gate is tall (over 1.90 metres), black, metal with geometric designs in the gate panelling.
The opening handles are in the centre of the gate. There are 2 sides of the gate, each section 750 mm wide, and open inwards into the cemetery. The left side of the gate is opened with a vertical handle at the bottom of the gate. There is a metal gate stop located in the paving at the centre of the entrance gate. A slotted metal drainage channel is located in front of the entrance gate. Paving under the gate extends into the cemetery and is level with the grass.
The Register Box is on the right-hand side of the main gate, inside the cemetery, built into the wall.
The Stone of Remembrance and Cremation Memorial are located on a raised platform at the midpoint of the cemetery. There are two stone steps leading up to the platform in front of the Stone of Remembrance when approaching from the entrance. The platform is up to 400 mm higher than the surrounding cemetery and drops straight down on three sides.
There is a stone bench against the perimeter wall at the far end of the cemetery.
All internal paths are grass; the ground is flat and firm.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS
There is no alternative access into the cemetery.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The cemetery is permanently open.
Historical Information
The Meerut Stationary Hospital was established at Boulogne from October 1914, when the Indian Corps arrived in France, to November 1915, when they left; the Cemetery is named after the hospital. The majority of the Egyptian labourers buried here were killed in the air raid over Boulogne on the night of 4-5 September 1917.
The cemetery contains 339 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including a memorial to 32 officers and men of the Indian Army, whose bodies were cremated in the cemetery in 1915.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton
Total Burials: 339.
Identified Casualties: India 312, United Kingdom (Egyptian Labour Corps) 25. Total 337.
Unidentified Casualties: India 1, United Kingdom (Egyptian Labour Corps) 1. Total. 2.
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
The Meerut Cavalry Brigade passing through a village to a forward area; August 1915. © IWM (Q 28832, Q28829, Q28830)
A memorial to 32 officers and men of the Indian Army, whose bodies were cremated in the cemetery in 1915.
All images © Werner Van Caneghem
Headquarter staff Meerut Cavalry Brigade, August 1915. © IWM (Q 28844)
Some of the Individual Headstones in the Cemetery
Image above © Werner Van Caneghem
