MONTREUIL-AUX-LIONS BRITISH CEMETERY
Aisne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.02489, Longitude: 3.20271
Location Information
Montreuil-aux-Lions is a commune 17 Kms west of Chateau Thierry.
Montreuil-aux-Lions British Cemetery is a small cemetery set on the side of a main road. It is situated to the east of the village of Montreuil-aux-Lions.
The cemetery can be reached from the direction of Chateau Thierry, following the D1003 Chateau Thierry to La Ferte-sous-Jouarre road. On leaving Chateau Thierry via the D1003, the road continues through several hamlets. After about 17 Kms the road starts to descend into the village of Montreuil-aux-Lions, and at this point the cemetery is visible on the left side of the road.
Alternatively, the cemetery can be reached from the A4 motorway at the junction For Montreuil aux Lions. After leaving the motorway, turn right, direction Montreuil aux Lions. After about 600 metres turn left at a cross road onto D603, direction Montreuil aux Lions, after about 5 kms, you will pass the village of Montreuil aux Lions and coming out of the village - the cemetery is visible on the right hand side of the road
Historical Information
The cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Aisne. In addition, a number of graves were brought in during the 1930s from the following surrounding smaller sites:-
BRANGES CHURCHYARD, CHACRISE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, CHATEAU-THIERRY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, COULONGES-EN-TARDENOIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY, COYOLLES COMMUNAL CEMETERY, DHUISY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, LARGNY CHURCHYARD, LATILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, LOUATRE CHURCHYARD, PUISEUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, ROZOY-EN-BRIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, SOMMELANS CHURCHYARD and VEUILLY-LA-POTERIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY.
It contains 171 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 102 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 16 casualties known or believed to be buried among them; in the case of eight men of the 1st Dorset, the special memorial is a panel behind the Cross of Sacrifice.
The cemetery also contains the graves of six Second World War airmen.
Total Burials: 177.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 69.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: 102.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 5, Australia 1. Total 6.
Dedications
L/8356 Private Frank Edward Heasman, 2nd Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment, 10th September 1914. Special Memorial 4.
Remembered by Jim Type
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
World War One Roll of Honour
Second Lieutenant
Arthur Grant Bourne Chittenden
2nd Bn. Manchester Regiment
9th September 1914, aged 20.
Sp. Mem. 2.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. G. T. F. Chittenden, of High Croft, Steyning, Sussex.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Do Thy Duty That Is Best, Leave Unto Thy Lord The Rest, The Legend Beautiful." (Taken from the poem; 'The Legend Beautiful' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.)
Arthur Grant Bourne Chittenden
2nd Bn. Manchester Regiment
9th September 1914, aged 20.
Sp. Mem. 2.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. G. T. F. Chittenden, of High Croft, Steyning, Sussex.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Do Thy Duty That Is Best, Leave Unto Thy Lord The Rest, The Legend Beautiful." (Taken from the poem; 'The Legend Beautiful' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.)
Major
Hubert Francis Crichton, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. Irish Guards
1st September 1914, aged 39.
Plot III. E. 7.
Son of Lieut.-Col. the Hon. Charles Crichton and Lady Madeline Crichton; husband of Esther Crichton.
Hubert Francis Crichton, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. Irish Guards
1st September 1914, aged 39.
Plot III. E. 7.
Son of Lieut.-Col. the Hon. Charles Crichton and Lady Madeline Crichton; husband of Esther Crichton.
Captain
Antony Edward Jemmett-Browne
2nd Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
10th September 1914, aged 32.
Plot I. C. 6.
His headstone bears the inscription "Killed In Action"
Antony Edward Jemmett-Browne
2nd Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
10th September 1914, aged 32.
Plot I. C. 6.
His headstone bears the inscription "Killed In Action"
10641 Rifleman
Harry Thomas Naylor
"D" Company, 1st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
10th September 1914, aged 19.
Plot II. C. 1.
Son of Lt. Col. H. W. and Elizabeth Harriet Naylor, of "Queensway,'' Gerrards Cross, Bucks.
Harry Thomas Naylor
"D" Company, 1st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
10th September 1914, aged 19.
Plot II. C. 1.
Son of Lt. Col. H. W. and Elizabeth Harriet Naylor, of "Queensway,'' Gerrards Cross, Bucks.
Second Lieutenant
John Herbert Michael Smith
2nd Bn. Manchester Regiment
10th September 1914, aged 25.
Sp. Mem. 3.
Son of J. H. and Mrs. Smith, of Cobthorne, Oundle, Peterborough, Northants.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
John Herbert Michael Smith
2nd Bn. Manchester Regiment
10th September 1914, aged 25.
Sp. Mem. 3.
Son of J. H. and Mrs. Smith, of Cobthorne, Oundle, Peterborough, Northants.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
Captain
Arthur Winn
2nd Bn. Suffolk Regiment
9th September 1914.
Sp. Mem. 1.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
Arthur Winn
2nd Bn. Suffolk Regiment
9th September 1914.
Sp. Mem. 1.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
French civilians gather around the grave of a soldier of the Seaforth Highlanders, who was killed in action at La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, 28 September 1914. Note the children who are also present at the grave. The soldier buried is possibly 973 Private, Ellis Walker of the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders who died on 27 September 1914. © IWM (Q 53263)
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) with French and Belgian troops at La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, 10th September 1914. © IWM (Q 51494)
Six Airmen From World War Two
Images © Johan Pauwels
World War Two Roll of Honour
425454 Flying Officer
Frank (Francisco) Francis Molinas, D F C
Royal Australian Air Force
19th July 1944, aged 23.
Plot 2. D. Coll. Grave 4-5.
Son of Charles and Mary Jose Molinas, of Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Always Remembered."
Frank Molinas was born in Spain, his family moving to Queensland when he was two years of age. A qualified pilot before the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted on 28 February 1942 and was trained as a Lancaster bomber pilot in Canada, shortly after training he joined 619 Squadron at Lincoln, England, where on 26 June 1944 he was promoted to Flying Officer. At 11:00pm on 18 July 1944 he piloted an Avro Lancaster from RAF Dunholme Lodge to a railway junction at Revigny, France, but on the return journey, at approximately 1:15 am on 19 July 1944, the Lancaster was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Montreuil-aux-Lions (Aisne) killing six crew members, including FO Molinas. Only the Flight Engineer, Sergeant J A Nealey, survived the crash having bailed out of the aircraft before impact. FO Molinas was buried at Montreuil-aux-Lions British Cemetery and received the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously for his actions on the night of his death.
Frank (Francisco) Francis Molinas, D F C
Royal Australian Air Force
19th July 1944, aged 23.
Plot 2. D. Coll. Grave 4-5.
Son of Charles and Mary Jose Molinas, of Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Always Remembered."
Frank Molinas was born in Spain, his family moving to Queensland when he was two years of age. A qualified pilot before the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted on 28 February 1942 and was trained as a Lancaster bomber pilot in Canada, shortly after training he joined 619 Squadron at Lincoln, England, where on 26 June 1944 he was promoted to Flying Officer. At 11:00pm on 18 July 1944 he piloted an Avro Lancaster from RAF Dunholme Lodge to a railway junction at Revigny, France, but on the return journey, at approximately 1:15 am on 19 July 1944, the Lancaster was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Montreuil-aux-Lions (Aisne) killing six crew members, including FO Molinas. Only the Flight Engineer, Sergeant J A Nealey, survived the crash having bailed out of the aircraft before impact. FO Molinas was buried at Montreuil-aux-Lions British Cemetery and received the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously for his actions on the night of his death.
