MORCHIES MILITARY CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.14256, Longitude: 2.95498
Location Information
Morchies is a village 8 kilometres north-east of Bapaume and 2 kilometres north of the RN30 road from Bapaume to Cambrai. Leave the RN30 on the RD18 signposted Morchies, pass through the village and Morchies Military Cemetery can be seen clearly on the left. The signpost indicates an access path.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
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 Military Cemetery was begun in April 1917, and used until January 1918. Seventy-six British and 15 German burials in Rows B, C and D were made by the Germans in March 1918; and certain burials in Rows in A, D and E were made by the British in 1918.
This cemetery contains the graves of 163 casualties of the First World War, 74 of which are unidentified and special memorials are erected to eight soldiers from the United Kingdom who are known to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of nine soldiers from the United Kingdom and one sailor of the Royal Naval Division, buried by the enemy at Morchies, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. This cemetery also contains the graves of 13 German casualties of the First World War.
Total Burials: 176.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 72, Australia 17, Germany 10 Total 99.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 74, Germany 3. Total 77.
This cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
2264 Lance Corporal
William Henry Ashcroft
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 15.
Son of Alfred and Mary Ashcroft, of 50, Kent Rd., Blackpool, England.
His headstone bears the inscription "Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Dear Son Sleeping"
Click on image to enlarge
William Henry Ashcroft
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 15.
Son of Alfred and Mary Ashcroft, of 50, Kent Rd., Blackpool, England.
His headstone bears the inscription "Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Dear Son Sleeping"
Click on image to enlarge
31824 Private
Clifford Ashworth
11th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
28th January 1918, aged 20.
Row B. 30.
Son of John Schofield Ashworth and Hannah Ashworth, 163 Ramsey Street, Rochdale.
Brother of Emily, Samuel (also served - with the RAMC) and Norman.
Previously employed as a cotton doffer at Brights Mills, Fieldhouse Road, Rochdale.
Enlisted at Rochdale, December 1915.
Clifford Ashworth
11th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
28th January 1918, aged 20.
Row B. 30.
Son of John Schofield Ashworth and Hannah Ashworth, 163 Ramsey Street, Rochdale.
Brother of Emily, Samuel (also served - with the RAMC) and Norman.
Previously employed as a cotton doffer at Brights Mills, Fieldhouse Road, Rochdale.
Enlisted at Rochdale, December 1915.
6733 Private
Charles Dadswell
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd April 1917, aged 24.
Row C. 10.
Son of Charles Thomas and Susan Dadswell, of Green Park, Horsham, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Dearly Loved Son Of C.T. & S. Dadswell Of Horsham, Victoria."
A contractor prior to enlistment, Pte Dadswell embarked with the 22nd Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 25th October 1916. He was killed in action on 22nd April 1917 at Lagnicourt.
Charles Dadswell
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd April 1917, aged 24.
Row C. 10.
Son of Charles Thomas and Susan Dadswell, of Green Park, Horsham, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Dearly Loved Son Of C.T. & S. Dadswell Of Horsham, Victoria."
A contractor prior to enlistment, Pte Dadswell embarked with the 22nd Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 25th October 1916. He was killed in action on 22nd April 1917 at Lagnicourt.
6479 Private
Walter Ditchfield
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
29th April 1917, aged 19.
Row B. 12.
A 19 year old storekeeper's assistant prior to enlisting on 24 July 1916, he embarked of overseas with the 21st Reinforcements from Melbourne on 2 October 1916 aboard HMAT Nestor (A71). Following further training in England, he proceeded to France where he joined the 5th Battalion on 4 March 1917. Pte Ditchfield died on 29 April 1917 of wounds received in action.
Click on image to enlarge
Walter Ditchfield
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
29th April 1917, aged 19.
Row B. 12.
A 19 year old storekeeper's assistant prior to enlisting on 24 July 1916, he embarked of overseas with the 21st Reinforcements from Melbourne on 2 October 1916 aboard HMAT Nestor (A71). Following further training in England, he proceeded to France where he joined the 5th Battalion on 4 March 1917. Pte Ditchfield died on 29 April 1917 of wounds received in action.
Click on image to enlarge
3647 Private
Arthur Enman
26th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th March 1917, aged 30.
Row B. 26.
Son of James Francis and Matilda Enman; husband of Mirmie Enman, of 254, Harrington St., Hobart, Tasmania.
His headstone bears the inscription "Thy World Is True Thy Will Is Just To Thee We Leave Him Lord In Trust"
Click on image to enlarge
Arthur Enman
26th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th March 1917, aged 30.
Row B. 26.
Son of James Francis and Matilda Enman; husband of Mirmie Enman, of 254, Harrington St., Hobart, Tasmania.
His headstone bears the inscription "Thy World Is True Thy Will Is Just To Thee We Leave Him Lord In Trust"
Click on image to enlarge
Informal portrait of Privates Eggington and Sanderson, 6th Battalion, outside their tent at Mena camp. 79 Private Henry Tunstall Eggington was later promoted to Lieutenant; he was invalided back to Australia on 24th November 1916.
134 Private Frederick John Sanderson was later promoted to Second Lieutenant; he was killed in action on 4th May 1917 and buried in this cemetery. Son of John George and Susan Sanderson, of 206, Leicester St., Carlton, Victoria, Australia. Born at Violet Town, Victoria. Buried in Row A. 8. His headstone bears the inscription "Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Loved One Sleeping"
5456 Private
Leonard Charles Thomson
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 13.
Son of the late Edward and Eliza J. Thomson. Born at Abbotsforth, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Father, Mother And Sons United, Sadly Missed."
A printer from Abbotsford, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Thomson embarked with the 18th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Ayrshire on 3 July 1916. On 4 May 1917, aged 21, he was killed in action.
Click on image to enlarge
6229 Private, W. T. Caldwell witnessed the shell burst which killed Leonard Thomson;
"I was about 70 yards away from him when a shell fell close to him and I saw him fall. He did not move again. I was told by Cpl. Fogarty that he went up and examined Thomson and found him dead with the top of his head blown off. This occurred about the 18th or 19th of April near Lagnicourt."
Leonard Charles Thomson
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 13.
Son of the late Edward and Eliza J. Thomson. Born at Abbotsforth, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Father, Mother And Sons United, Sadly Missed."
A printer from Abbotsford, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Thomson embarked with the 18th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Ayrshire on 3 July 1916. On 4 May 1917, aged 21, he was killed in action.
Click on image to enlarge
6229 Private, W. T. Caldwell witnessed the shell burst which killed Leonard Thomson;
"I was about 70 yards away from him when a shell fell close to him and I saw him fall. He did not move again. I was told by Cpl. Fogarty that he went up and examined Thomson and found him dead with the top of his head blown off. This occurred about the 18th or 19th of April near Lagnicourt."
6848 Private
John Yates
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
29th April 1917, aged 31.
Row B. 17.
Son of John and Frances Ann Yates, of 10, Hopetown St., Moonee Ponds, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Lord Gave And The Lord Taketh Away."
A railway fireman prior to enlisting on 1 September 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 22nd Reinforcements from Melbourne on 25 October 1916 aboard HMAT Ulysses. After further training in England, he joined the 5th Battalion in France in March 1917 and died of wounds received in action on 29 April 1917 at Lagnicourt.
Click on image to enlarge
552A Private, Horace Rouse, 5th Battalion was involved in the accidental death of John Yates and six others;
"I saw Jackie Yates killed (I believe instantaneously) one night about April 29th at Lagnicourt, when he was out on patrol.
I was on a post that night, and it had not been reported to me that any patrol had gone out. I enquired and was told "No." Then the Germans sent a barrage over, and as I saw a party coming across, I felt sure that it must be the enemy, and I reported what I had seen to our officer, Lt. G. L. Makin. He have the order to fire, and we fired. I saw Jackie Yates fall and watch him being carried in. He was buried in a cemetery in a little village near Lagnicourt, but I cannot remember the name. I was taking water up and saw the funeral going on. There was a chaplain and others up there, I have seen the grave several times, there is a cross put up."
John Yates
5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
29th April 1917, aged 31.
Row B. 17.
Son of John and Frances Ann Yates, of 10, Hopetown St., Moonee Ponds, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Lord Gave And The Lord Taketh Away."
A railway fireman prior to enlisting on 1 September 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 22nd Reinforcements from Melbourne on 25 October 1916 aboard HMAT Ulysses. After further training in England, he joined the 5th Battalion in France in March 1917 and died of wounds received in action on 29 April 1917 at Lagnicourt.
Click on image to enlarge
552A Private, Horace Rouse, 5th Battalion was involved in the accidental death of John Yates and six others;
"I saw Jackie Yates killed (I believe instantaneously) one night about April 29th at Lagnicourt, when he was out on patrol.
I was on a post that night, and it had not been reported to me that any patrol had gone out. I enquired and was told "No." Then the Germans sent a barrage over, and as I saw a party coming across, I felt sure that it must be the enemy, and I reported what I had seen to our officer, Lt. G. L. Makin. He have the order to fire, and we fired. I saw Jackie Yates fall and watch him being carried in. He was buried in a cemetery in a little village near Lagnicourt, but I cannot remember the name. I was taking water up and saw the funeral going on. There was a chaplain and others up there, I have seen the grave several times, there is a cross put up."
Men of the Black Watch regiment outside the postal dug-out receiving mail, Morchies, 12 February 1918. © IWM (Q 8508)
