MORCHIES AUSTRALIAN CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.13352 Longitude: 2.95472
Location Information
From Bapaume take the N30 towards Cambrai. After leaving the village of Beugny, continue for approximately 1 kilometre and then turn left onto the D18 and continue for 1.1 kilometres. Morchies Australian Cemetery will be found on the right hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site make wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Morchies was occupied by British troops on the 20th March 1917; lost on the 21st March 1918; and retaken in September 1918. It was later "adopted" by the Urban District of Barking.
Morchies Australian Cemetery was begun by Australian units at the end of March 1917, and used until the end of April. Four burials in Row D were made by the Germans in March 1918; and the remainder of the burials were made in September 1918.
This cemetery contains the graves of 61 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War, one of which is unidentified and two burials of other nationalities.
Total Burials: 63.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 40, Australia 20, Germany 1. Total 63
Unidentified Casualties: Commonwealth 1, Germany 1. Total 2.
June 1954 - ©CWGC
Major
Thomas Francis Pennefather Breen
142nd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
18th September 1918, aged 28.
Row C. 10.
Son of Inspector General Breen, R.N., and Mrs. Breen, of 19, St. George's Court, Gloucester Rd., Kensington, London. Native of Dublin.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Lived Nobly And Died Gloriously R. I. P."
Thomas Francis Pennefather Breen
142nd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
18th September 1918, aged 28.
Row C. 10.
Son of Inspector General Breen, R.N., and Mrs. Breen, of 19, St. George's Court, Gloucester Rd., Kensington, London. Native of Dublin.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Lived Nobly And Died Gloriously R. I. P."
3280 Private
Ernest Richard Brimson
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th April 1917.
Row B. 14.
Ernest Richard Brimson
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th April 1917.
Row B. 14.
3103/A Private
Thomas Ernest Haynes
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th April 1917, aged 35.
Row B. 13.
Son of Mrs. Topsy Haynes. Native of St. George, Queensland.
Thomas Ernest Haynes
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th April 1917, aged 35.
Row B. 13.
Son of Mrs. Topsy Haynes. Native of St. George, Queensland.
1664 Private
Charles Hobbs
54th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
29th March 1917, aged 36.
Row A. 2.
Son of Robert and Fanny Hobbs, of Fern Hill, Mendooran, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "As Long As Life And Memory Last We Will Remember Thee."
1649, H. V. Ferrier saw the incident in which Charles Hobbs was mortally wounded;
"I saw this man killed instantly on March 29th 1917. At Morchies, to the left of Lagnicourt. He was on the intelligence staff at Headquarters (Battn.) and was on duty at his post, when a fragment of shell penetrated his heart. I saw his grave at Morchies, a cross with his name and number was placed there by his comrades."
Charles Hobbs
54th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
29th March 1917, aged 36.
Row A. 2.
Son of Robert and Fanny Hobbs, of Fern Hill, Mendooran, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "As Long As Life And Memory Last We Will Remember Thee."
1649, H. V. Ferrier saw the incident in which Charles Hobbs was mortally wounded;
"I saw this man killed instantly on March 29th 1917. At Morchies, to the left of Lagnicourt. He was on the intelligence staff at Headquarters (Battn.) and was on duty at his post, when a fragment of shell penetrated his heart. I saw his grave at Morchies, a cross with his name and number was placed there by his comrades."
6040 Private
A. H. Jackson
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st April 1917.
Row C. 1.
A. H. Jackson
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st April 1917.
Row C. 1.
1051 Private
William Joseph Leahy
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
Killed in action at Beugny, France on 9th April 1917, aged 27.
Row B. 12.
Son of Timothy and Margaret Leahy. Native of Kilkenny, Ireland.
William Joseph LEAHY was born on the 13 January 1885 in Johnstown, Urlingford, Ireland to Timothy and Margaret (nee Minton) Leahy. In 1906 at the age of 21 he immigrated to Western Australia where he was employed in Toodyay as a farm labourer before becoming a sheep and wheat farmer in Dalwallinu, Western Australia along with three of his Irish brothers.
In 1914 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 11th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade, Regimental Number 1051. William departed on the troop transport ship "Ascanius" in November 1914. This 3rd brigade was the first Australian unit to land at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli on the 25th April, 1915. The 11th Battalion remained on the Turkish peninsula until December 1915; in Poziers, France in July 1916; France where he was killed on the 9 April 1917.
Click on image to enlarge
Picture and information courtesy of Lorraine Langer (Great niece)
William Joseph Leahy
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
Killed in action at Beugny, France on 9th April 1917, aged 27.
Row B. 12.
Son of Timothy and Margaret Leahy. Native of Kilkenny, Ireland.
William Joseph LEAHY was born on the 13 January 1885 in Johnstown, Urlingford, Ireland to Timothy and Margaret (nee Minton) Leahy. In 1906 at the age of 21 he immigrated to Western Australia where he was employed in Toodyay as a farm labourer before becoming a sheep and wheat farmer in Dalwallinu, Western Australia along with three of his Irish brothers.
In 1914 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 11th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade, Regimental Number 1051. William departed on the troop transport ship "Ascanius" in November 1914. This 3rd brigade was the first Australian unit to land at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli on the 25th April, 1915. The 11th Battalion remained on the Turkish peninsula until December 1915; in Poziers, France in July 1916; France where he was killed on the 9 April 1917.
Click on image to enlarge
Picture and information courtesy of Lorraine Langer (Great niece)
Images in this gallery © Johan Pauwels
26734 Gunner
William Alfred Ernest Pryor
14th Brigade, Australian Field Artillery
8th April 1917, aged 30.
Row B. 10.
Son of Richard and Christiana Pryor. Native of Mysia, Victoria, Australia.
His headstones bears the inscription "He Left His All To Answer His Country's Call"
All images courtesy of Heather Cook (Great Granddaughter)
William Alfred Ernest Pryor
14th Brigade, Australian Field Artillery
8th April 1917, aged 30.
Row B. 10.
Son of Richard and Christiana Pryor. Native of Mysia, Victoria, Australia.
His headstones bears the inscription "He Left His All To Answer His Country's Call"
All images courtesy of Heather Cook (Great Granddaughter)
5187 Private
Patrick Louis James Rebbechi
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th April 1917, aged 19.
Row B. 2.
Son of Richard and Julia M. Rebbechi, of Day Dawn, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
Patrick Louis James Rebbechi
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th April 1917, aged 19.
Row B. 2.
Son of Richard and Julia M. Rebbechi, of Day Dawn, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
5480 Private
George Allan Sweet
12th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th April 1917, aged 30.
Row B. 16.
Son of Alfred and Ellen Sweet; husband of Annie Elsie Sweet, of Ralston St., West End, Townsville, Queensland. Native of Yeovil.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Think Of Him Still As The Same. I Say He Is Not Dead Only Away."
George Allan Sweet
12th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th April 1917, aged 30.
Row B. 16.
Son of Alfred and Ellen Sweet; husband of Annie Elsie Sweet, of Ralston St., West End, Townsville, Queensland. Native of Yeovil.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Think Of Him Still As The Same. I Say He Is Not Dead Only Away."
311 Private
Arthur James Tilley
12th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
Died between 6th April 1917 and 10th April 1917.
Row B. 9.
Son of William and Ann Abigail Tilley. Native of Hobart, Tasmania.
Arthur James Tilley
12th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
Died between 6th April 1917 and 10th April 1917.
Row B. 9.
Son of William and Ann Abigail Tilley. Native of Hobart, Tasmania.
202263 Private
Alexander Waugh, M. M.
2nd Bn. Royal Scots
27th September 1918, aged 30.
Row D. 11.
Son of Agnes and the late William Waugh, of Bathgate; husband of Jean Waugh, of 26, Marjoribank St., Bathgate.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Duty Done, He Lies At Rest."
Pictures courtesy of his grandson, Alexander Hooton
Alexander Waugh, M. M.
2nd Bn. Royal Scots
27th September 1918, aged 30.
Row D. 11.
Son of Agnes and the late William Waugh, of Bathgate; husband of Jean Waugh, of 26, Marjoribank St., Bathgate.
His headstone bears the inscription; "His Duty Done, He Lies At Rest."
Pictures courtesy of his grandson, Alexander Hooton
2246 Private
Albert Wragg
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th April 1917.
Row B. 7.
Albert Wragg
11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th April 1917.
Row B. 7.
Men of the Black Watch regiment outside the postal dug-out receiving mail, Morchies, 12 February 1918. © IWM (Q 8508)
Picture © Johan Pauwels
