MONT-BERNANCHON BRITISH CEMETERY
Gonnehem
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.57915, Longitude: 2.58493
Location Information
Mont-Bernanchon is a village 8 kilometres north-north-west of Bethune.
From Bethune follow the D937 road in the direction of Hazebrouck. About 6 kilometres along this road is the village of Mont Bernanchon. Just before you enter the village Mont-Bernanchon British Cemetery lies on the left hand side of the road, set back along a chemin d'access, approximately 100 metres from the roadside.
Historical Information
In April 1918, the German advance on the Lys was checked and stopped a little to the east of the village. The cemetery was begun by the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers in April 1918 and used by fighting units and the XIII Corps Burial Officer until August 1918.
Mont-Bernanchon saw fighting again during the Second World War. In late May 1940 units of the British Expeditionary Force fought a fierce and stubborn rearguard action in defence of the canal banks (the Aire-La Bassee canal is just north of the village) in order to hold up the German advance and aid the withdrawal to Dunkirk for evacuation.
Mont-Bernanchon British Cemetery contains 168 First World War burials and two from the Second World War.
Total Burials: 170.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 166.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: France 2.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 2.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
Mont-Bernanchon is a village 8 kilometres north-north-west of Bethune.
From Bethune follow the D937 road in the direction of Hazebrouck. About 6 kilometres along this road is the village of Mont Bernanchon. Just before you enter the village Mont-Bernanchon British Cemetery lies on the left hand side of the road, set back along a chemin d'access, approximately 100 metres from the roadside.
Historical Information
In April 1918, the German advance on the Lys was checked and stopped a little to the east of the village. The cemetery was begun by the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers in April 1918 and used by fighting units and the XIII Corps Burial Officer until August 1918.
Mont-Bernanchon saw fighting again during the Second World War. In late May 1940 units of the British Expeditionary Force fought a fierce and stubborn rearguard action in defence of the canal banks (the Aire-La Bassee canal is just north of the village) in order to hold up the German advance and aid the withdrawal to Dunkirk for evacuation.
Mont-Bernanchon British Cemetery contains 168 First World War burials and two from the Second World War.
Total Burials: 170.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 166.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: France 2.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 2.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
267165 Private
George Herbert Alton
2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
14th August 1918.
Plot II. C. 7.
George Herbert Alton
2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
14th August 1918.
Plot II. C. 7.
S/22149 Private
Charles Herbert Fitzjohn
2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
15th July 1918, aged 24.
Plot I. K. 9.
Son of James and Clara Fitzjohn, of 35, Shireoaks Row, Worksop, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved In Life Remembered In Death Grant Him O Lord Eternal Rest."
Charles Herbert Fitzjohn
2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
15th July 1918, aged 24.
Plot I. K. 9.
Son of James and Clara Fitzjohn, of 35, Shireoaks Row, Worksop, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved In Life Remembered In Death Grant Him O Lord Eternal Rest."
Lieutenant
Edmund Hartley
2nd Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
18th May 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. F. 6.
Younger son of W. H. and Gertrude Hartley, of Hoarstones, Burnley, Lancs; husband of Barbara Hartley. His brother Christopher Hartley also fell and is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved Younger Son Of W. H. Hartley Of Hoarstones, Burnley."
Major Martin wrote the following on behalf of his fellow officers to Edmund's wife, Barbara;
"On behalf of the officers of the battalion who have known your husband out here since the early days of the war, I wish to express our great sorrow and sympathy at your great loss. Edmund was the officer in charge of the Brigade working party, and whilst inspecting the work done, a shell must have landed very close to him, killing him instantaneously. He was a stout-hearted and most conscientious officer and his loss will be deeply felt by all who really knew him."
Edmund Hartley
2nd Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
18th May 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. F. 6.
Younger son of W. H. and Gertrude Hartley, of Hoarstones, Burnley, Lancs; husband of Barbara Hartley. His brother Christopher Hartley also fell and is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved Younger Son Of W. H. Hartley Of Hoarstones, Burnley."
Major Martin wrote the following on behalf of his fellow officers to Edmund's wife, Barbara;
"On behalf of the officers of the battalion who have known your husband out here since the early days of the war, I wish to express our great sorrow and sympathy at your great loss. Edmund was the officer in charge of the Brigade working party, and whilst inspecting the work done, a shell must have landed very close to him, killing him instantaneously. He was a stout-hearted and most conscientious officer and his loss will be deeply felt by all who really knew him."
26979 Private
James A. Heywood
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
1st May 1918, aged 28.
Plot I. D. 1.
Son of the late Jonathan and Margaret Heywood; husband of Ethel Heywood, of 61, Bishop St., Beswick, Manchester. Born at Manchester.
James A. Heywood
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
1st May 1918, aged 28.
Plot I. D. 1.
Son of the late Jonathan and Margaret Heywood; husband of Ethel Heywood, of 61, Bishop St., Beswick, Manchester. Born at Manchester.
37587 Private
William Asterlyn Lloyd
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
17th June 1918, aged 19.
Plot I. J. 3.
Son of Jonah and Jane Lloyd, of 4, Victoria Terrace, Mold, Flints.
His headstone bears the inscription "Thy Will Be Done"
William Asterlyn Lloyd
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
17th June 1918, aged 19.
Plot I. J. 3.
Son of Jonah and Jane Lloyd, of 4, Victoria Terrace, Mold, Flints.
His headstone bears the inscription "Thy Will Be Done"
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
29212 Private
William Morrison
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
7th August 1918, aged 18.
Plot II. B. 7.
Son of Mrs. Henrietta Morrison, of 454, Whitworth Rd., Rochdale, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription "Ever In Our Thoughts"
William Morrison
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
7th August 1918, aged 18.
Plot II. B. 7.
Son of Mrs. Henrietta Morrison, of 454, Whitworth Rd., Rochdale, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription "Ever In Our Thoughts"
Second Lieutenant
Christopher Bentley Meadows, M. C.
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
19th May 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. E. 12.
Son of Christopher and Ada Meadows, of Abbotsford, Waverley Place, Saltcoats, Ayrshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved By All."
Christopher Bentley Meadows, M. C.
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
19th May 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. E. 12.
Son of Christopher and Ada Meadows, of Abbotsford, Waverley Place, Saltcoats, Ayrshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved By All."
Second Lieutenant
George Thomas Robinson
2ns Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
3rd June 1918, aged 22.
Plot II. B. 7.
Son of James and Mary Robinson, of 84, St. John's Rd., Red Hill, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "Grant Him O Lord Eternal Rest"
George was overseeing trench repairs when, after nearly 4 years on the front, he was killed by a sniper. War diary entry "2nd Lt G.T.Robinson killed N.E of Hinges".
Text courtesy of Stephen Morse
George Thomas Robinson
2ns Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
3rd June 1918, aged 22.
Plot II. B. 7.
Son of James and Mary Robinson, of 84, St. John's Rd., Red Hill, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "Grant Him O Lord Eternal Rest"
George was overseeing trench repairs when, after nearly 4 years on the front, he was killed by a sniper. War diary entry "2nd Lt G.T.Robinson killed N.E of Hinges".
Text courtesy of Stephen Morse
Second Lieutenant
Christopher John Claud Schuster
No. 1 Coy. 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade
10th August 1918, aged 19.
Plot II. B. 13.
Son of Sir Claud Schuster, G.C.B., C.V.O., K.C., and Lady Schuster, of 16, Phillimore Gardens, London. Native of London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Lord Bless You And Keep You."
Christopher John Claud Schuster
No. 1 Coy. 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade
10th August 1918, aged 19.
Plot II. B. 13.
Son of Sir Claud Schuster, G.C.B., C.V.O., K.C., and Lady Schuster, of 16, Phillimore Gardens, London. Native of London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Lord Bless You And Keep You."
238034 Private
Albert Storey
2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
18th July 1918, aged 30.
Plot I. K. 13.
Husband of Mrs. Storey, 16 Victoria Street, Skipton, father of 1 son.
21942, Pte. C. Kirk wrote the following letter to Albert's wife;
Dear Madam, It is with the deepest regret and sympathy that I write to tell you that your dear husband was killed in action. He was a good lad and was liked and respect by all the boys, who, I can tell you, are all very sorry. But I hope and pray that Almighty God will give you the health and strength to bear up in your sad bereavement. I hope you are getting over your illness for the sake of your dear little son, as Albert was looking forward to the time when he would be able to see you and him again. I can tell you I feel very sorry. But there is one thing – you can hold your head up, as he died fighting for his King and country. He was always cheery and looked on the bright side of things. May Almighty God bless and watch over you and your little son for your dear husband’s sake. – Yours respectfully."
Albert Storey
2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
18th July 1918, aged 30.
Plot I. K. 13.
Husband of Mrs. Storey, 16 Victoria Street, Skipton, father of 1 son.
21942, Pte. C. Kirk wrote the following letter to Albert's wife;
Dear Madam, It is with the deepest regret and sympathy that I write to tell you that your dear husband was killed in action. He was a good lad and was liked and respect by all the boys, who, I can tell you, are all very sorry. But I hope and pray that Almighty God will give you the health and strength to bear up in your sad bereavement. I hope you are getting over your illness for the sake of your dear little son, as Albert was looking forward to the time when he would be able to see you and him again. I can tell you I feel very sorry. But there is one thing – you can hold your head up, as he died fighting for his King and country. He was always cheery and looked on the bright side of things. May Almighty God bless and watch over you and your little son for your dear husband’s sake. – Yours respectfully."
Soldiers helping refugees leaving Lillers, 11 April 1918. © IWM (Q 10892)
The Two World War Two Graves
