NEUVE-CHAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.58612, Longitude: 2.778
Location Information
From La Bassée take the Estaires road, D947, for approximately 5 kilometres, then turn right along the D171 for 1 kilometre until entering Neuve-Chapelle. Turn left after the church and then right after 200 metres onto a rough track where the Cemetery will be found on the left hand side.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
The village has given its name to the battle which began on the 10th March, 1915, and in which it was captured, not for the first time, by the IV and Indian Corps. It was later "adopted" by the County Borough of Blackpool.
Neuve-Chapelle British Cemetery was begun during the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle and used until the following November. The Cemetery was known at one time as Moggs Hole Cemetery.
There are 55, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 8 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to six soldiers from the United Kingdom known to be buried in these graves. Other special memorials record the names of five soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard, whose graves were destroyed by shell-fire.
The Cemetery covers an area of 452 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
The cemetery was designed by Noel Ackroyd Rew
Total Burials: 55.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 47.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 8.
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
Captain
Thomas Rupert Aldworth, Mentioned in Despatches
Adjt. 2nd Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
11th March 1915, aged 32.
Special Memorial 1.
Son of Philip and Martha Edith Aldworth, of Frilford, Abingdon, Berks.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
Thomas Rupert Aldworth, Mentioned in Despatches
Adjt. 2nd Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
11th March 1915, aged 32.
Special Memorial 1.
Son of Philip and Martha Edith Aldworth, of Frilford, Abingdon, Berks.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
12131 Private
Henry Connell
2nd Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
12th March 1915, aged 26.
Row E. 4.
Son of John and Eleanor Connell; husband of Ellen Connell, of 14, Hutchinson St., Blackburn.
His headstone bears the inscription "Worthy Of Everlasting Love"
Henry Connell
2nd Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
12th March 1915, aged 26.
Row E. 4.
Son of John and Eleanor Connell; husband of Ellen Connell, of 14, Hutchinson St., Blackburn.
His headstone bears the inscription "Worthy Of Everlasting Love"
Lieutenant
Eric Gilbey
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
12th March 1915, aged 27.
Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard Memorial 3.
Eric Gilbey, born in London on the 26th December 1888 was the younger son of Sir Henry Walter Gilbey, 2nd Baronet, Elsenham Hall, Essex, and 22 Down Street, Piccadilly, and his wife Isabella Mary (née Fowlie). His father was a wine merchant in London, as was his older brother Wallis Ewart.
On the 10th March in the attack on Neuve-Chapelle, he led the leading platoon of the 2nd Battalion through the village and on the 12th he was killed in action.
His Commanding Officer wrote:
"He was killed trying to get a wounded man into our trenches on the afternoon of the 12th. He had been wounded before on the same day but stuck to his duty and returned to his Company after the wound in his arm had been dressed. I cannot speak too highly of his courage and devotion to duty. I have sent his name in as specially deserving of notice. . . . He is buried with three of our officers in the Church at Neuve-Chapelle."
Eric Gilbey
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
12th March 1915, aged 27.
Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard Memorial 3.
Eric Gilbey, born in London on the 26th December 1888 was the younger son of Sir Henry Walter Gilbey, 2nd Baronet, Elsenham Hall, Essex, and 22 Down Street, Piccadilly, and his wife Isabella Mary (née Fowlie). His father was a wine merchant in London, as was his older brother Wallis Ewart.
On the 10th March in the attack on Neuve-Chapelle, he led the leading platoon of the 2nd Battalion through the village and on the 12th he was killed in action.
His Commanding Officer wrote:
"He was killed trying to get a wounded man into our trenches on the afternoon of the 12th. He had been wounded before on the same day but stuck to his duty and returned to his Company after the wound in his arm had been dressed. I cannot speak too highly of his courage and devotion to duty. I have sent his name in as specially deserving of notice. . . . He is buried with three of our officers in the Church at Neuve-Chapelle."
2785 Private
Cornelius Gorman
1st Bn. Manchester Regiment
25th July 1915.
Row C. 3.
Cornelius Gorman
1st Bn. Manchester Regiment
25th July 1915.
Row C. 3.
Major
Cecil Eustace Harrison, Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
12th March 1915, aged 37.
Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard Memorial 1.
Son of Helen Mary Harrison, of Wargrave House, Wargrave, Berks.
His headstone bears the inscription "May He Rest In Peace"
Cecil Eustace Harrison, Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
12th March 1915, aged 37.
Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard Memorial 1.
Son of Helen Mary Harrison, of Wargrave House, Wargrave, Berks.
His headstone bears the inscription "May He Rest In Peace"
Images in gallery below © Thierry Grier
9267 Private
Bartlett William Heath
2nd Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
10th March 1915, aged 27.
Row D. 1.
Son of John and Sarah Heath, of Ashby Villa. Bracknell, Berks. His brother Charles Frederick was also killed in the war on 15th November 1914 and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
His headstone bears the inscription "Rest In The Lord"
Bartlett William Heath
2nd Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
10th March 1915, aged 27.
Row D. 1.
Son of John and Sarah Heath, of Ashby Villa. Bracknell, Berks. His brother Charles Frederick was also killed in the war on 15th November 1914 and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
His headstone bears the inscription "Rest In The Lord"
Second Lieutenant
Randall Stewart Mason
6th Bn. Rifle Brigade
12th March 1915, aged 20.
Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard Memorial 2.
Son of George Stewart Mason and Edith Mason, of Hayway, Rushden, Northamptonshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Only Son Of George Stewart And Edith Mason Of Rushden, Northamptonshire.
Randall Stewart Mason
6th Bn. Rifle Brigade
12th March 1915, aged 20.
Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard Memorial 2.
Son of George Stewart Mason and Edith Mason, of Hayway, Rushden, Northamptonshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Only Son Of George Stewart And Edith Mason Of Rushden, Northamptonshire.
Lieutenant
Thomas Percy Pilcher, Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
12th March 1915, aged 21.
Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard Memorial 4.
Son of Maj. Gen. Thomas David Pilcher, C.B., and Kathleen Pilcher, of 94, Piccadilly, London.
Thomas Percy Pilcher, Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
12th March 1915, aged 21.
Neuve-Chapelle Churchyard Memorial 4.
Son of Maj. Gen. Thomas David Pilcher, C.B., and Kathleen Pilcher, of 94, Piccadilly, London.
9776 Private
Frederick George Webb
1st Bn. Manchester Regiment
25th September 1915.
Row F. 5.
Son of Mrs Webb, 1 Tennyson Street, Burnley.
Fred's mother received the following letter from one of Fred's comrades;.
"I am very sorry to relate to you the new that your son, Fred, was killed in action on Saturday morning, September 25th. Death was instantaneous, he was next to me when he got hit. We were at the time making an attack on the German trenches which proved successful for us. I am proud to tell you that Fred died bravely fighting for his King and country. I got help from another fellow and carried him to our trenches and made the arrangements for his burial. Our commanding officer, Major Crawford, was present and read a short service, though at the time the German shells were dropping about us. But we stuck to our painful duty and buried him with as much ceremony as circumstances would allow.
The news of Fred's death will be a great blow to all of you at home, I am sure. He was a good and honest soldier, and was always ready when duty had to be done. Being my chum, I was very much upset to lose him. I have not got over it yet. I hope you will try and bear the painful news as lightly as you can, though I know it will be very hard for you. I took from his pocket, his playbook etc., and gave them to his company officer, there was also a postcard photo of two young ladies...."
Frederick George Webb
1st Bn. Manchester Regiment
25th September 1915.
Row F. 5.
Son of Mrs Webb, 1 Tennyson Street, Burnley.
Fred's mother received the following letter from one of Fred's comrades;.
"I am very sorry to relate to you the new that your son, Fred, was killed in action on Saturday morning, September 25th. Death was instantaneous, he was next to me when he got hit. We were at the time making an attack on the German trenches which proved successful for us. I am proud to tell you that Fred died bravely fighting for his King and country. I got help from another fellow and carried him to our trenches and made the arrangements for his burial. Our commanding officer, Major Crawford, was present and read a short service, though at the time the German shells were dropping about us. But we stuck to our painful duty and buried him with as much ceremony as circumstances would allow.
The news of Fred's death will be a great blow to all of you at home, I am sure. He was a good and honest soldier, and was always ready when duty had to be done. Being my chum, I was very much upset to lose him. I have not got over it yet. I hope you will try and bear the painful news as lightly as you can, though I know it will be very hard for you. I took from his pocket, his playbook etc., and gave them to his company officer, there was also a postcard photo of two young ladies...."
Air Photo. Sheet 36. M. 35. 36. Neuve Chapelle (Map attached) No. 5535. © IWM (Q 45960)
2nd East Lancs. December 1914. Machine Gun Section with Maxims. Trenches near Neuve Chapelle, 8th Division, 24th Brigade. © IWM (Q 51751)
