MONS (BERGEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
Location Information
Mons (Bergen) Communal Cemetery is located in the north-east of the town of Mons ("Bergen" in Flemish), on the chemin de la Procession a road leading from the N56 connecting Mons to Brussels. 600 metres after the N56 leaves the R50 ring road lies the chemin de la Procession. The cemetery is located 1 Km along the chemin de la Procession on the left hand side of the road.
GPS Co-ordinates: Longitude 03°58'30", Latitude 50°27'33"
Visiting Information
The opening hours of this site are as follows:
Up to 14 November:08.00 to 17.00
From 15 November: 09.00 to 16.00
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Mons remained in German hands from the Battle of Mons (23 August 1914) until the arrival of the Canadian Corps on 11 November 1918.
The communal cemetery was extended by the Germans on its north side and in this extension, now part of the town cemetery, were buried Russian, French, Italian, Romanian and Belgian soldiers, as well as German and Commonwealth. The 4th Canadian and 1st Casualty Clearing Stations, besides field ambulances, were posted in the town after the Armistice. They opened a new cemetery (MONS BRITISH CEMETERY) across the road from the East gate of the communal cemetery, but the graves made there were later removed to the communal cemetery.
There are now 393 Commonwealth burials or commemorations of the First World War in the cemetery. 11 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials commemorate three casualties known to be buried among them. There is also one Commonwealth burial of the Second World War, one non-war burial (a retired member of the Commission's staff) and 110 war graves of other nationalities.
CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 329; Canada 57; Australia 4; New Zealand 2; South Africa 1; Germany 3; France 24; Belgium 2; Russia 74; Romania 9; Total Burials: 505
The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens William Harrison Cowlishaw
Mons (Bergen) Communal Cemetery is located in the north-east of the town of Mons ("Bergen" in Flemish), on the chemin de la Procession a road leading from the N56 connecting Mons to Brussels. 600 metres after the N56 leaves the R50 ring road lies the chemin de la Procession. The cemetery is located 1 Km along the chemin de la Procession on the left hand side of the road.
GPS Co-ordinates: Longitude 03°58'30", Latitude 50°27'33"
Visiting Information
The opening hours of this site are as follows:
Up to 14 November:08.00 to 17.00
From 15 November: 09.00 to 16.00
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Mons remained in German hands from the Battle of Mons (23 August 1914) until the arrival of the Canadian Corps on 11 November 1918.
The communal cemetery was extended by the Germans on its north side and in this extension, now part of the town cemetery, were buried Russian, French, Italian, Romanian and Belgian soldiers, as well as German and Commonwealth. The 4th Canadian and 1st Casualty Clearing Stations, besides field ambulances, were posted in the town after the Armistice. They opened a new cemetery (MONS BRITISH CEMETERY) across the road from the East gate of the communal cemetery, but the graves made there were later removed to the communal cemetery.
There are now 393 Commonwealth burials or commemorations of the First World War in the cemetery. 11 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials commemorate three casualties known to be buried among them. There is also one Commonwealth burial of the Second World War, one non-war burial (a retired member of the Commission's staff) and 110 war graves of other nationalities.
CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 329; Canada 57; Australia 4; New Zealand 2; South Africa 1; Germany 3; France 24; Belgium 2; Russia 74; Romania 9; Total Burials: 505
The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens William Harrison Cowlishaw
303509 Gunner
Harry MacDonald
4th Battery, Canadian Garrison Artillery
9th February 1919, aged 21.
Plot X. B. 36.
Son of Mrs. G. M. MacDonald, of 47, Rock St., Saint John, New Brunswick.
Picture courtesy of Deborah Carr, third cousin of this soldier
Harry MacDonald
4th Battery, Canadian Garrison Artillery
9th February 1919, aged 21.
Plot X. B. 36.
Son of Mrs. G. M. MacDonald, of 47, Rock St., Saint John, New Brunswick.
Picture courtesy of Deborah Carr, third cousin of this soldier
Pictures below © Johan Pauwels
