MILL ROAD CEMETERY
Thiepval
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.06119, Longitude: 2.68315
Location Information
Thiepval is a village on the D151 road about 8 kilometres north of the town of Albert.
The Cemetery (signposted at Thiepval) is about 1kilometre north-west of the village on the north side of the D73 road to Hamel. Access to the cemetery, 500 metres from the road, is by a track (suitable for cars).
Historical Information
The German Army took the area around Thiepval at the end of September 1914. It then established a line through the area with troops from its 26th Reserve Division. Men from this Division were still in occupation when Commonwealth forces launched their assault on the 1 July 1916. During this attack, the 36th (Ulster) Division were detailed to attack the German positions north of Thiepval, known as the Hansa Line and the Schwaben Redoubt. Launched from Thiepval Wood, initially their assault was successful and some leading elements even reached as far as the German's second line of defence (Stuff Redoubt). However, by the end of the day, as a result of the units on either side of it failing to take their objectives (in particular the 32nd Division's failure to take Thiepval), it had been forced back to the original German front line. It would take until the 26 September 1916, before Thiepval finally fell to the 18th Division. Thiepval then remained under Allied occupation until 25 March 1918, when it was lost during the great German offensive, but it was retaken on the following 24 August by the 17th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions.
Mill Road Cemetery (called at one time Mill Road Cemetery No.2) was made during the spring of 1917, when the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg line allowed the battlefield to be cleared. At the Armistice, it contained 260 burials, but was then greatly enlarged when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Beaumont-Hamel and Thiepval and from the following smaller cemeteries:-
DIVION ROAD CEMETERY, No.1, 400 metres south of St. Pierre-Divion, contained the graves of 29 soldiers who fell in July and September 1916.
DIVION ROAD CEMETERY, No.3 (No.2 was concentrated to Connaught Cemetery), close to No.1, contained the graves of 44 soldiers who fell in September and October 1916.
MILL ROAD CEMETERY, No.1, close to the present Mill Road Cemetery. It contained the graves of 39 soldiers who fell in September 1916.
ST. PIERRE-DIVION CEMETERY, No.2 (No.1 was concentrated to Connaught Cemetery), on the more northerly road from St. Pierre-Divion to Thiepval, contained the graves of 28 soldiers who fell in September-November 1916.
There are now 1,305 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 916 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to three casualties believed to be buried among them and three others buried in Divion Road Cemetery No.1, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
Total Burials: 1,305.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 489. Total 489.
Unidentified Casualties: 916.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Thiepval is a village on the D151 road about 8 kilometres north of the town of Albert.
The Cemetery (signposted at Thiepval) is about 1kilometre north-west of the village on the north side of the D73 road to Hamel. Access to the cemetery, 500 metres from the road, is by a track (suitable for cars).
Historical Information
The German Army took the area around Thiepval at the end of September 1914. It then established a line through the area with troops from its 26th Reserve Division. Men from this Division were still in occupation when Commonwealth forces launched their assault on the 1 July 1916. During this attack, the 36th (Ulster) Division were detailed to attack the German positions north of Thiepval, known as the Hansa Line and the Schwaben Redoubt. Launched from Thiepval Wood, initially their assault was successful and some leading elements even reached as far as the German's second line of defence (Stuff Redoubt). However, by the end of the day, as a result of the units on either side of it failing to take their objectives (in particular the 32nd Division's failure to take Thiepval), it had been forced back to the original German front line. It would take until the 26 September 1916, before Thiepval finally fell to the 18th Division. Thiepval then remained under Allied occupation until 25 March 1918, when it was lost during the great German offensive, but it was retaken on the following 24 August by the 17th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions.
Mill Road Cemetery (called at one time Mill Road Cemetery No.2) was made during the spring of 1917, when the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg line allowed the battlefield to be cleared. At the Armistice, it contained 260 burials, but was then greatly enlarged when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Beaumont-Hamel and Thiepval and from the following smaller cemeteries:-
DIVION ROAD CEMETERY, No.1, 400 metres south of St. Pierre-Divion, contained the graves of 29 soldiers who fell in July and September 1916.
DIVION ROAD CEMETERY, No.3 (No.2 was concentrated to Connaught Cemetery), close to No.1, contained the graves of 44 soldiers who fell in September and October 1916.
MILL ROAD CEMETERY, No.1, close to the present Mill Road Cemetery. It contained the graves of 39 soldiers who fell in September 1916.
ST. PIERRE-DIVION CEMETERY, No.2 (No.1 was concentrated to Connaught Cemetery), on the more northerly road from St. Pierre-Divion to Thiepval, contained the graves of 28 soldiers who fell in September-November 1916.
There are now 1,305 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 916 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to three casualties believed to be buried among them and three others buried in Divion Road Cemetery No.1, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
Total Burials: 1,305.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 489. Total 489.
Unidentified Casualties: 916.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
The original 1923 plans for the cemetery showing the concrete Dug Out that had to be removed during construction leaving the gap that can be seen in the image below.
View of the cemetery taken from Ulster Tower. July 1964.
22020 Corporal
William John Andrews
7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
28th September 1916, aged 17.
Plot I. D. 4.
Son of John and Beatrice Mary Andrews, of 9, Kenneth Rd., Luton.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Fight The Good Fight Of Faith."
William John Andrews
7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
28th September 1916, aged 17.
Plot I. D. 4.
Son of John and Beatrice Mary Andrews, of 9, Kenneth Rd., Luton.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Fight The Good Fight Of Faith."
3067 Private
George William Beaumont
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 23.
Plot IX. D. 1.
Son of Hirst and Harriet Ann Beaumont, of 3, Hightown, Holmfirth, Huddersfield.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone But Not Forgotten."
George William Beaumont
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 23.
Plot IX. D. 1.
Son of Hirst and Harriet Ann Beaumont, of 3, Hightown, Holmfirth, Huddersfield.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone But Not Forgotten."
17262 Serjeant
Robert Beverland
13th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
1st July 1916, aged 21.
Plot II. E. 10.
Robert Beverland was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, it was his 21st birthday.
Robert Beverland
13th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
1st July 1916, aged 21.
Plot II. E. 10.
Robert Beverland was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, it was his 21st birthday.
5851 Private
Angus Booth
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916.
Plot XIX. B. 7.
Angus Booth
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916.
Plot XIX. B. 7.
Post war view of countryside from the Pozieres Windmill (left) to Thiepval (right), taken from the north looking southward. In the background (centre right) is a grave and barbed wire entanglements.
14174 Private
George Ferris
9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st July 1916, aged 18.
Plot I. E. 8.
Son of George and Annie E. Ferris, of 6, Crosby St., Belfast. Native of Tandragee, Co. Armagh.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Sad And Loving Memory, Peace Perfect Peace."
George Ferris
9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st July 1916, aged 18.
Plot I. E. 8.
Son of George and Annie E. Ferris, of 6, Crosby St., Belfast. Native of Tandragee, Co. Armagh.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Sad And Loving Memory, Peace Perfect Peace."
242158 Private
William George Gallagher
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 23.
Plot XIX. A. 4.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gallagher, of 17, Dirkhill St., Bradford, Yorks.
William George Gallagher
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 23.
Plot XIX. A. 4.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gallagher, of 17, Dirkhill St., Bradford, Yorks.
242157 Private
Mark Greenhough
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916.
Plot XIX. B. 9.
Mark Greenhough
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916.
Plot XIX. B. 9.
The Schwaben Redoubt
Behind the German front line, the ground rose steeply to the west for 1,000 yards to the top of Thiepval Ridge, 250ft higher than the Ancre valley. Construction of a small network of trenches known as Schwaben Schanze began on the ridge in early 1915, roughly 770 yards north of Thiepval at the northern and highest point on the ridge. About 600 yards further back, a second position (the Grandcourt Line), was dug south from Grandcourt to Pozières, with a line of new redoubts, Sodern, Grallsburg, Alte Württemburg, Staufen and Zollern. Schwabenschanze was developed into Schwaben-Feste (Schwaben Redoubt) and connected to Mouquet Farm by Auwärtergraben, Thiepval wood by Teufelsgraben and to Thiepval village by Martinspfad. The redoubt dominated Thiepval, the ground to the south and St. Pierre Divion to the north-west. With Stuff and Pommiers redoubts, the Germans had observation in all directions and garrisons which could reinforce the front line or deliver a counter-attack.
Schwaben Redoubt had deep dugouts for accommodation with several entrances each, a battalion command post, first aid post, signalling station and strong points, with three heavy machine-guns and four light machine-guns. Many of the dug-outs were on the perimeter, at trench junctions (clockwise from north, using the English names), Irwin Trench (strong points 49 and 69), Lucky Way (strong point 27), Stuff Trench, Hessian Trench (strong point 45), Martin's Lane, the Strasbourg Line (strong point 19) and Clay Trench (strong point 99). Inside the redoubt, along an inner trench on the south-west face, were strong points 65, 37 and 39. Beyond the south-west face, in the maze of trenches towards Thiepval to the south and St. Pierre Divion to the north-west, were nine more strong points. The redoubt was triangular, with an extension to the east across the Thiepval–Grandcourt road and had a frontage of around 550 yards.
Schwaben Redoubt had deep dugouts for accommodation with several entrances each, a battalion command post, first aid post, signalling station and strong points, with three heavy machine-guns and four light machine-guns. Many of the dug-outs were on the perimeter, at trench junctions (clockwise from north, using the English names), Irwin Trench (strong points 49 and 69), Lucky Way (strong point 27), Stuff Trench, Hessian Trench (strong point 45), Martin's Lane, the Strasbourg Line (strong point 19) and Clay Trench (strong point 99). Inside the redoubt, along an inner trench on the south-west face, were strong points 65, 37 and 39. Beyond the south-west face, in the maze of trenches towards Thiepval to the south and St. Pierre Divion to the north-west, were nine more strong points. The redoubt was triangular, with an extension to the east across the Thiepval–Grandcourt road and had a frontage of around 550 yards.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Lieutenant
John Frederick Healy
3rd Bn. attd. 9th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
2nd July 1916, aged 19.
Sp. Mem. 2.
Son of George F. and Dorothea Healy, of Peafield, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Born at Dublin.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Quis Separabit ?"" (Who Shall Separate? Note; the question mark is included on the inscription)
John Frederick Healy
3rd Bn. attd. 9th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
2nd July 1916, aged 19.
Sp. Mem. 2.
Son of George F. and Dorothea Healy, of Peafield, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Born at Dublin.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Quis Separabit ?"" (Who Shall Separate? Note; the question mark is included on the inscription)
Lieutenant
Holt Montgomery Hewitt
109th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
1st July 1916, aged 29.
Plot XIX. D. 9.
Son of James H. and Jeannie D. Hewitt, of 97, Mornington Park, Bangor, Co. Down. His brothers William Arthur Hewitt and Ernest Henry Hewitt also fell. William was killed on the same day as his brother Holt and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Ernest was killed in 1915 and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.
His headstone bear the inscription; "I Am The Resurrection And The Life."
Holt Montgomery Hewitt
109th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
1st July 1916, aged 29.
Plot XIX. D. 9.
Son of James H. and Jeannie D. Hewitt, of 97, Mornington Park, Bangor, Co. Down. His brothers William Arthur Hewitt and Ernest Henry Hewitt also fell. William was killed on the same day as his brother Holt and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Ernest was killed in 1915 and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.
His headstone bear the inscription; "I Am The Resurrection And The Life."
Lieutenant
Arthur Idwal Humphreys
Howe Bn. R.N. Div. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
5th February 1917, aged 24.
Plot XVI. D. 7.
Son of the Rev. William E. and Sara Maurice Humphreys, of Braunston Rectory, Rugby. Native of Wigton, Cumberland. Educated at Edinburgh and Durham Universities. Also served at Gallipoli from Sept., 1915 until the evacuation.
Hisheadstone bears the inscription; "God Will Give You To Me Again With Joy And Gladness For Ever". Baruch IV.23."
Arthur Idwal Humphreys
Howe Bn. R.N. Div. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
5th February 1917, aged 24.
Plot XVI. D. 7.
Son of the Rev. William E. and Sara Maurice Humphreys, of Braunston Rectory, Rugby. Native of Wigton, Cumberland. Educated at Edinburgh and Durham Universities. Also served at Gallipoli from Sept., 1915 until the evacuation.
Hisheadstone bears the inscription; "God Will Give You To Me Again With Joy And Gladness For Ever". Baruch IV.23."
1189 Rifleman
H. Leacock
10th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
1st July 1916.
Plot XIX. G. 2.
From Tobermore, County Derry. Formerly a motorman on the Belfast trams.
H. Leacock
10th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
1st July 1916.
Plot XIX. G. 2.
From Tobermore, County Derry. Formerly a motorman on the Belfast trams.
Captain
Pierce Mandeville
1/5th West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
28th September 1916.
Plot XVI. B. 3.
Eldest son of Montague and Isobel Mandeville, of Mallow, County Cork, Born at Waterford, Ireland. He lived at 4, Merridale Road, Wolverhampton.
Pierce Mandeville
1/5th West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
28th September 1916.
Plot XVI. B. 3.
Eldest son of Montague and Isobel Mandeville, of Mallow, County Cork, Born at Waterford, Ireland. He lived at 4, Merridale Road, Wolverhampton.
13228 Serjeant
William George McCaw
8th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
2nd July 1916.
Plot XVI. C. 10.
Born at Ballymacarrett, County Down and lived at 47 Atlantic Road, Belfast.
William George McCaw
8th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
2nd July 1916.
Plot XVI. C. 10.
Born at Ballymacarrett, County Down and lived at 47 Atlantic Road, Belfast.
14405 Private
James Hubert Mimms
7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
28th September 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. A. 33.
Son of William and Sarah Ann Mimms, of 11, Peach St., Luton.
James Hubert Mimms
7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
28th September 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. A. 33.
Son of William and Sarah Ann Mimms, of 11, Peach St., Luton.
240971 Private
David Spence Mundin
4th/5th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
14th October 1916.
Plot XIV. B. 6.
Husband of Williamina Barnet Mundin, of 18, Helen St., Arbroath.
David Spence Mundin
4th/5th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
14th October 1916.
Plot XIV. B. 6.
Husband of Williamina Barnet Mundin, of 18, Helen St., Arbroath.
Aerial photograph of Mouquet Farm, a German strongpoint on the Somme near Thiepval, taken prior to 1 July 1916. © IWM (Q 27637)
Aerial photograph of Mouquet Farm a German strongpoint near Thiepval, taken during September 1916, showing the effects of artillery fire during the Battle of the Somme. © IWM (Q 27639)
202185 Private
George Rutherford
1st/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. E. 20.
Son of the late Thomas and Jane Rutherford, of Greetland, Halifax.
George Rutherford
1st/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. E. 20.
Son of the late Thomas and Jane Rutherford, of Greetland, Halifax.
Second Lieutenant
Kenneth William Lairg Scott
11th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
21st October 1916, aged 20.
Sp. Mem. 3. (Believed to be Buried)
Son of Jessie Lairg Scott, of 1, St. George's Park, Wallasey, Cheshire, and the late R. Lairg Scott.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
Kenneth William Lairg Scott
11th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
21st October 1916, aged 20.
Sp. Mem. 3. (Believed to be Buried)
Son of Jessie Lairg Scott, of 1, St. George's Park, Wallasey, Cheshire, and the late R. Lairg Scott.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
|
|
Lieutenant
Arthur Noel Sharpe
5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 27.
Plot I. H. 17.
Arthur Noel Sharpe
5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 27.
Plot I. H. 17.
200642 Private
John Shelley
1st/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 40.
Plot XIX. A. 6.
Son of Philip and Margaret Shelley, of Halifax; husband of Susannah Shelley, of 87, Stanley Rd., Halifax.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At Rest."
John Shelley
1st/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 40.
Plot XIX. A. 6.
Son of Philip and Margaret Shelley, of Halifax; husband of Susannah Shelley, of 87, Stanley Rd., Halifax.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At Rest."
241293 Private
Arthur Smith
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 27.
Plot I. F. 9.
Son of George and Ellen Smith, of Almondbury Bank, Moldgreen, Huddersfield; husband of Clarice Lois Smith, of 14, Town Wall, Hartlepool, Co. Durham.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At Rest."
Arthur Smith
1st/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 27.
Plot I. F. 9.
Son of George and Ellen Smith, of Almondbury Bank, Moldgreen, Huddersfield; husband of Clarice Lois Smith, of 14, Town Wall, Hartlepool, Co. Durham.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At Rest."
The Chateau at Thiepval pre-war and as it looked on 28th September 1916
The village of Thiepval pre-war and as it looked on 30th June 1917
200662 Serjeant
Herbert Edward Thompson
1st/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. G. 13.
Son of Samuel Shaw Thompson, and Mary Ellen Thompson, of 45, King Cross St., Halifax.
His headstone bears the inscription; "For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee." (Psalm 91:11 -12.)
Herbert Edward Thompson
1st/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3rd September 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. G. 13.
Son of Samuel Shaw Thompson, and Mary Ellen Thompson, of 45, King Cross St., Halifax.
His headstone bears the inscription; "For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee." (Psalm 91:11 -12.)
Major
Henry Albert Uprichard
13th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
1st July 1916, aged 36.
Plot X. C. 8.
Son of Henry Albert and Emily Green Uprichard.
Henry Albert Uprichard
13th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
1st July 1916, aged 36.
Plot X. C. 8.
Son of Henry Albert and Emily Green Uprichard.
Second Lieutenant
Thomas Percy Wilson
7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
28th September 1916, aged 23.
Plot I. C. 2.
Thomas Percy Wilson
7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
28th September 1916, aged 23.
Plot I. C. 2.
Images in this gallery © Johan Pauwels
A view across to Schwaben Redoubt, with shattered trees and wide craters pocking the chalky soil. - By William Orpen, 1917.
© IWM (Art.IWM ART 3000)
