NESLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.75728, Longitude: 2.91334
Location Information
Nesle is a village 20 kilometres south of Péronne.
On entering the village from the north along the D35, the Cemetery is signposted and can be easily found on the eastern side.
Historical Information
Nesle was held by the Germans during the early part of the War, and occupied by French and British cavalry on 18 March 1917. On 25 March 1918 it was taken by the Germans, after severe fighting with French and British troops; but it was recaptured by the French on the following 28th August.
From April to June 1917, No.21 Casualty Clearing Station was at Nesle, and the dead from it were buried in a plot near the West corner of the Communal Cemetery, between two German plots. In May 1918, four British soldiers were buried among these graves.
There are now 135, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 1 is unidentified.
Total Burials: 135.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 134.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 1.
Cemetery images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
29390 Private
Novello Bancroft
2nd Bn. Manchester Regiment
2nd April 1917, aged 28.
Row C. 20.
Son of Bethany and Sarah Bancroft; husband of Ada Bancroft, of 31, New Earth St., Oldham.
Novello Bancroft
2nd Bn. Manchester Regiment
2nd April 1917, aged 28.
Row C. 20.
Son of Bethany and Sarah Bancroft; husband of Ada Bancroft, of 31, New Earth St., Oldham.
203128 Private
Frederick Cox
2nd/4th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
2nd April 1917, aged 27.
Row C. 18.
Son of Mrs. Emily Cox, of 15 Court, 24, Ock St., Abingdon.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Gone But Not Forgotten"
Frederick Cox
2nd/4th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
2nd April 1917, aged 27.
Row C. 18.
Son of Mrs. Emily Cox, of 15 Court, 24, Ock St., Abingdon.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Gone But Not Forgotten"
14619 Lance Corporal
James Edmondson
17th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
13th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 32.
Son of James and Sarah Jane Edmondson, of 26, Hornby St., Burnley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved By All."
James enlisted in January 1915 aged 19, he was wounded in July 1916. Prior to enlisting he was a clothlooker at Thornber's shed, Plumbe Street, Burnley. He attended Fulledge Wesleyan School where as an ardent footballer, he was a member of the school team.
On October 14th 1918, his brother William Henry Edmondson of the same battalion was also killed and is buried at Dadizeele New British Cemetery. He was 21years of age.
James Edmondson
17th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
13th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 32.
Son of James and Sarah Jane Edmondson, of 26, Hornby St., Burnley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loved By All."
James enlisted in January 1915 aged 19, he was wounded in July 1916. Prior to enlisting he was a clothlooker at Thornber's shed, Plumbe Street, Burnley. He attended Fulledge Wesleyan School where as an ardent footballer, he was a member of the school team.
On October 14th 1918, his brother William Henry Edmondson of the same battalion was also killed and is buried at Dadizeele New British Cemetery. He was 21years of age.
Second Lieutenant
George Frederick Golightly
19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
7th May 1917, aged 19.
Row A. 6.
Son of Matthew and Annie Golightly, of 66, Wingrove Rd., Newcastle-on-Tyne.
George Frederick Golightly
19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
7th May 1917, aged 19.
Row A. 6.
Son of Matthew and Annie Golightly, of 66, Wingrove Rd., Newcastle-on-Tyne.
32571 Private
Mark Kearns
15th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
4th April 1917, aged 26.
Row C. 35.
Son of Mark and Bridget Kearns, of Manchester.
His headstone bears the inscription "On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy"
Mark Kearns
15th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
4th April 1917, aged 26.
Row C. 35.
Son of Mark and Bridget Kearns, of Manchester.
His headstone bears the inscription "On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy"
15750 Private
John Logan
18th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
16th April 1917.
Row C. 1.
John Logan
18th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
16th April 1917.
Row C. 1.
|
Click to enlarge
|
7155 Serjeant
Charles McKay
16th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
11th May 1917.
Row A. 1.
Charles McKay
16th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
11th May 1917.
Row A. 1.
54098 Lance Serjeant
Thomas Sawyer
19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
23rd April 1917, aged 21.
Row A. 26.
Son of Benjamin Grantham Sawyer, of 29, Longman Rd., Barnsley, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died For His Country"
Thomas Sawyer
19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
23rd April 1917, aged 21.
Row A. 26.
Son of Benjamin Grantham Sawyer, of 29, Longman Rd., Barnsley, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died For His Country"
Second Lieutenant
Morris Villiers Godwin Tanner
3rd Bn., attached to 2nd/8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
7th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 19.
Son of Herbert William Godwin Tanner and Lillie Flossie Pellew Tanner, of 18, Hestercombe Avenue, Fulham, London. Enlisted Royal Engineers Aug.,.
His headstone bears the inscription "All You Had Hoped For All You Had You Gave To Save Mankind"
Morris Villiers Godwin Tanner
3rd Bn., attached to 2nd/8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
7th April 1917, aged 21.
Row B. 19.
Son of Herbert William Godwin Tanner and Lillie Flossie Pellew Tanner, of 18, Hestercombe Avenue, Fulham, London. Enlisted Royal Engineers Aug.,.
His headstone bears the inscription "All You Had Hoped For All You Had You Gave To Save Mankind"
42237 Private
William Townsley
16th Bn. Highland Light Infantry
18th April 1917, aged 32.
Row A. 35.
Husband of Christina Townsley, of 36, Duke St., Coldstream.
William Townsley
16th Bn. Highland Light Infantry
18th April 1917, aged 32.
Row A. 35.
Husband of Christina Townsley, of 36, Duke St., Coldstream.
This sign was originally located on a German soldiers' canteen at Nesle and was removed and placed on a Prisoner of War cage
(Literal translation "Soldiers Home")
© IWM (FEQ 388)
Actions of the Somme Crossings. Gordon Highlanders in support watching the fighting. They are halted in the open lining a low ridge, Nesle, 24th March 1918 (Stragglers on 20th Division Front). One soldier is watching from a tree. © IWM (Q 10785)
British soldiers and French refugee children by a field kitchen on a street in Nesle, 22 March 1917. The town was reached in Allied advance of March 1917. © IWM (Q 5806)
