MESNIL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Somme
France
Location Information
The village of Mesnil is about 6.5 kilometres north of Albert.
Using the D929 from Bapaume to Albert, continue until you reach La Boisselle where there is a right turning signposted to Aveluy on the D10. Upon entering Aveluy continue straight until you reach the crossroads where you should turn right to Beaumont-Hamel. Continue for 4 kilometres and take the left turning to Mesnil Martinsart. On reaching Mesnil village, carry straight on through and when leaving the village the communal cemetery will be found on your left side.
Historical Information
Mesnil was close to the Allied front line until September 1916, and again from March to August 1918.
The communal cemetery extension was begun in July 1916, and used again as a front-line cemetery in 1918. It was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of 1916 and 1918 north-east of Mesnil, and from MESNIL DRESSING STATION CEMETERY. The latter, which was west of the village, was used from June 1916 to February 1917 and again from March to July 1918, largely by the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. It contained 141 graves.
The extension now contains 333 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 93 of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to ten casualties buried in Mesnil Station Cemetery whose graves could not be found on concentration.
Casualty Details: UK 321, Canada 5, New Zealand 7, Total Burials: 333.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
The village of Mesnil is about 6.5 kilometres north of Albert.
Using the D929 from Bapaume to Albert, continue until you reach La Boisselle where there is a right turning signposted to Aveluy on the D10. Upon entering Aveluy continue straight until you reach the crossroads where you should turn right to Beaumont-Hamel. Continue for 4 kilometres and take the left turning to Mesnil Martinsart. On reaching Mesnil village, carry straight on through and when leaving the village the communal cemetery will be found on your left side.
Historical Information
Mesnil was close to the Allied front line until September 1916, and again from March to August 1918.
The communal cemetery extension was begun in July 1916, and used again as a front-line cemetery in 1918. It was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of 1916 and 1918 north-east of Mesnil, and from MESNIL DRESSING STATION CEMETERY. The latter, which was west of the village, was used from June 1916 to February 1917 and again from March to July 1918, largely by the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. It contained 141 graves.
The extension now contains 333 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 93 of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to ten casualties buried in Mesnil Station Cemetery whose graves could not be found on concentration.
Casualty Details: UK 321, Canada 5, New Zealand 7, Total Burials: 333.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Second Lieutenant
Geoffrey May Allen
11th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps and General List
2nd September 1916.
Plot III. C. 3.
Geoffrey May Allen
11th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps and General List
2nd September 1916.
Plot III. C. 3.
26492 Private
Arthur Ernest Blogg
14th Bn. Hampshire Regiment
6th October 1916.
Plot III. E. 2.
Arthur Ernest Blogg
14th Bn. Hampshire Regiment
6th October 1916.
Plot III. E. 2.
98028 Gunner
Thomas Bucknall
202nd Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
20th January 1917.
Plot III. E. 12.
Thomas Bucknall
202nd Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
20th January 1917.
Plot III. E. 12.
8909 Private
Robert Campbell, M. M.
7th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
25th May 1918, aged 26.
Plot I. B. 29.
Son of Archibald and Margaret Campbell, of 79, Great North Rd., Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand. Volunteered Aug., 1914.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Born At Auckland, New Zealand. Faithful Unto Death."
Robert Campbell, M. M.
7th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
25th May 1918, aged 26.
Plot I. B. 29.
Son of Archibald and Margaret Campbell, of 79, Great North Rd., Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand. Volunteered Aug., 1914.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Born At Auckland, New Zealand. Faithful Unto Death."
Gunners of the Royal Garrison Artillery in Englebelmer Wood moving a 15-inch howitzer shell by rolling it along a pair of rails. © IWM (Q 4515)
Second Lieutenant
Donald Jervis Gordon Gordon
8th Bn. Border Regiment
3rd July 1916, aged 24.
Plot III. D. 21.
Son of Mrs. K. G. Gordon, of Linden Chase, Sevenoaks, Kent, and the late Thomas Gordon.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He That Loseth His Life For My Sake,Shall Find It." (Matthew 10:39)
Donald Jervis Gordon Gordon
8th Bn. Border Regiment
3rd July 1916, aged 24.
Plot III. D. 21.
Son of Mrs. K. G. Gordon, of Linden Chase, Sevenoaks, Kent, and the late Thomas Gordon.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He That Loseth His Life For My Sake,Shall Find It." (Matthew 10:39)
M1/6290 Private
Arthur Wallis Herbert
11th Division, Supply Col. Army Service Corps, attached 11th Division H. Q.
30th November 1916.
Plot III. E. 3.
Arthur was born in Tottenham in 1896. He appears to have been a conscientious objector who, nevertheless, returned home from South America to do what he could as an ambulance driver.
Pictures courtesy of Peter Herbert (Nephew)
Arthur Wallis Herbert
11th Division, Supply Col. Army Service Corps, attached 11th Division H. Q.
30th November 1916.
Plot III. E. 3.
Arthur was born in Tottenham in 1896. He appears to have been a conscientious objector who, nevertheless, returned home from South America to do what he could as an ambulance driver.
Pictures courtesy of Peter Herbert (Nephew)
20342 Private
Frederick Houston
9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st July 1916.
Plot III. A. 6.
Frederick Houston
9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st July 1916.
Plot III. A. 6.
Captain
Charles Moore Johnston
"C" Coy. 9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st July 1916, aged 30.
Plot III. B. 17.
Son of Charles Johnston, D.L., and Marian Johnston, of Portadown; husband of Muriel Florence Johnston, of Carrickblacker Avenue, Portadown.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Earth Changes But Thy Soul And God Stand Sure." (From the poem 'Rabbi Ben Ezra' by Robert Browning)
Charles Moore Johnston
"C" Coy. 9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st July 1916, aged 30.
Plot III. B. 17.
Son of Charles Johnston, D.L., and Marian Johnston, of Portadown; husband of Muriel Florence Johnston, of Carrickblacker Avenue, Portadown.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Earth Changes But Thy Soul And God Stand Sure." (From the poem 'Rabbi Ben Ezra' by Robert Browning)
301676 Driver
Benjamin Johnston McFarlane
2nd Div. Ammunition Col. Canadian Field Artillery
19th October 1916.
Plot III. B. 2.
Benjamin Johnston McFarlane
2nd Div. Ammunition Col. Canadian Field Artillery
19th October 1916.
Plot III. B. 2.
36883 Rifleman
Michael O'Connor
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
20th April 1918.
Plot II. A. 8.
Son of Mrs. C. O'Connor, of John St., Gore, Invercargill, New Zealand.
Michael O'Connor
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
20th April 1918.
Plot II. A. 8.
Son of Mrs. C. O'Connor, of John St., Gore, Invercargill, New Zealand.
353015 Private
Thomas Ormiston
12th Bn. Highland Light Infantry
27th April 1918.
Plot I. A. 25.
Brother of Mrs. Masterton, of Bowling Green Terrace, Kirkliston, Edinburgh.
Thomas Ormiston
12th Bn. Highland Light Infantry
27th April 1918.
Plot I. A. 25.
Brother of Mrs. Masterton, of Bowling Green Terrace, Kirkliston, Edinburgh.
Battle of the Ancre. Counting the prisoners as they came in from Beaumont Hamel, captured by the 51st (Highland) Division. 13 November 1916. © IWM (Q 4500)
Battle of the Ancre. Ruins off a house tumbled over an old trench. Hamel, looking towards Mesnil, November 1916. © IWM (Q 4546)
