NEUVILLE-BOURJONVAL BRITISH CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.06894, Longitude: 3.03017
Location Information
Neuville-Bourjonval is a village 14 kilometres east of Bapaume and 4 kilometres south-east of Belincourt.
The Cemetery is near the east side of the village and 173 metres from the east side of the by-road to Hermies.
Visiting Information
The rough access track leading to the cemetery may be difficult under bad weather conditions.
Historical Information
Neuville-Bourjonval village was taken on the 28th-29th March 1917, by the 12th King's Liverpool Regiment, lost on the 22nd March 1918, and retaken on the following 4th and 5th September by the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division.
The British Cemetery was begun by the 11th Rifle Brigade in April, 1917 and used by the 42nd and other Divisions until March 1918; further burials were made in Rows B and C in September 1918.
There are now over 200, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified and four are represented by special memorials.
The British Cemetery covers an area of 829 square metres and is enclosed by a low rubble wall.
Total Burials: 214.
Commonwealth Identified War Casualties: United Kingdom 200, New Zealand 5. Total 205.
Commonwealth Unidentified War Casualties: United Kingdom 9.
Shot at Dawn
12609 Private Private George Hanna, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers, executed for desertion 6th November 1917, aged 26. Row E. 16. Son of Henry and Elizabeth Hanna. He had seen action in the Dardanelles & served in Salonika before transfer to the Western Front. Hanna had twice previously been convicted of desertion, being sentenced to death on the second occasion. But it seems that this last sentence was commuted to 7 years’ Penal Servitude before being suspended. (Putkowski,pp.213-214)
Cemetery mages in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Captain
Alfred Percy Brewis, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, attd. 1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
1st June 1917, aged 22.
Row F. 1.
Son of Alfred Brewis, of 20, Granville Rd., Newcastle-on-Tyne.
His headstone bears the inscription; "One Moment The Noise Of Battle The Next The Peace Of God."
Alfred Percy Brewis, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, attd. 1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
1st June 1917, aged 22.
Row F. 1.
Son of Alfred Brewis, of 20, Granville Rd., Newcastle-on-Tyne.
His headstone bears the inscription; "One Moment The Noise Of Battle The Next The Peace Of God."
250293 Private
Claude Stanley Carhart
1st/6th Bn. Manchester Regiment
1st June 1917, aged 21
Row F. 21.
Son of Robert and Maria Carhart, of 5, Albert St., Lower Broughton. Manchester.
Claude Stanley Carhart
1st/6th Bn. Manchester Regiment
1st June 1917, aged 21
Row F. 21.
Son of Robert and Maria Carhart, of 5, Albert St., Lower Broughton. Manchester.
250755 Private
Percy Courtman
"D" Coy. 1st/6th Bn. Manchester Regiment
2nd June 1917, aged 29.
Row F. 20.
Son of James and Percy Ann Courtman, of 261, Stretford Rd., Manchester. International (Breast Stroke) Record Champion Swimmer. Native of Old Trafford.
His headstone bears the inscription; "International (Breast Stroke) Record Champion Swimmer."
Percy Courtman
"D" Coy. 1st/6th Bn. Manchester Regiment
2nd June 1917, aged 29.
Row F. 20.
Son of James and Percy Ann Courtman, of 261, Stretford Rd., Manchester. International (Breast Stroke) Record Champion Swimmer. Native of Old Trafford.
His headstone bears the inscription; "International (Breast Stroke) Record Champion Swimmer."
241647 Private
Harry Emmett
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
3rd June 1917.
Row F. 4.
Harry Emmett
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
3rd June 1917.
Row F. 4.
242157 Private
R. W. G. Gatfield
2nd/6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
13th June 1917, aged 19.
Row E. 9.
Son of John and Charlotte Phillis Gatfield, of 205, Evelyn St., Deptford, London. Native of Swanscombe, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription 'Thy Will Be Done"
R. W. G. Gatfield
2nd/6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
13th June 1917, aged 19.
Row E. 9.
Son of John and Charlotte Phillis Gatfield, of 205, Evelyn St., Deptford, London. Native of Swanscombe, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription 'Thy Will Be Done"
Image © André de Smet
Lieutenant
Philip Sidney Marsden
9th Bn. Manchester Regiment
30th May 1917, aged 23.
Row F. 25.
Youngest son of Joshua and Ellen Marsden, of Oakenrod, Rochdale. and c/o Petrie & McNaught Ltd, Rochdale. Brother of Joseph Forbes, Eva Ranicar, Edith Maud and Arthur Vincent.
Educated at Mill Hill public school, Hendon. Commissioned in August 1914. Member of Rochdale golf club.
Previously an articled chartered accountant at Messrs. Halliday & Pearson & Co, Manchester.
Philip Sidney Marsden
9th Bn. Manchester Regiment
30th May 1917, aged 23.
Row F. 25.
Youngest son of Joshua and Ellen Marsden, of Oakenrod, Rochdale. and c/o Petrie & McNaught Ltd, Rochdale. Brother of Joseph Forbes, Eva Ranicar, Edith Maud and Arthur Vincent.
Educated at Mill Hill public school, Hendon. Commissioned in August 1914. Member of Rochdale golf club.
Previously an articled chartered accountant at Messrs. Halliday & Pearson & Co, Manchester.
241141 Private
William Riley
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
3rd June 1917, aged 26.
Row F. 3.
Son of Mrs Riley, 8 Barracks Road, Burnley.
Billy, as he was known, joined the army in December 1914, he served in the Dardanelles and Egypt and arrived in France in March 1917. Prior to enlisting he worked at Pickles' Cairo Mills in the Whittlefield district of Burnley. Billy had not been home on leave for over 2 years and was expecting to go "any day," when he was shot through the head, a friend said in a letter that he didn't suffer much and died shortly afterwards.
William Riley
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
3rd June 1917, aged 26.
Row F. 3.
Son of Mrs Riley, 8 Barracks Road, Burnley.
Billy, as he was known, joined the army in December 1914, he served in the Dardanelles and Egypt and arrived in France in March 1917. Prior to enlisting he worked at Pickles' Cairo Mills in the Whittlefield district of Burnley. Billy had not been home on leave for over 2 years and was expecting to go "any day," when he was shot through the head, a friend said in a letter that he didn't suffer much and died shortly afterwards.
240778 Lance Corporal
John Robinson
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
4th June 1917, aged 25.
Row E. 3.
Son of William and Elizabeth Ellen Robinson; husband of Annie Houseman (formerly Robinson), of 9, Wellhouse St., Burnley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone But Not Forgotten."
John enlisted on 8th October,1914 and served in the Dardanelles and Egypt before being transferred to France. Prior to enlisting he was foreman bottler at Messrs. Grimshaw's wine and spirit department, Burnley. He left a widow, Annie and his little girl who was just 15 months old when he last saw her. His wife, Annie, received a letter telling her that John was killed, along with others, by a shell.
John Robinson
1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
4th June 1917, aged 25.
Row E. 3.
Son of William and Elizabeth Ellen Robinson; husband of Annie Houseman (formerly Robinson), of 9, Wellhouse St., Burnley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone But Not Forgotten."
John enlisted on 8th October,1914 and served in the Dardanelles and Egypt before being transferred to France. Prior to enlisting he was foreman bottler at Messrs. Grimshaw's wine and spirit department, Burnley. He left a widow, Annie and his little girl who was just 15 months old when he last saw her. His wife, Annie, received a letter telling her that John was killed, along with others, by a shell.
Image above © Johan Pauwels
Lieutenant Colonel
George Herbert St. Hill, T. D. & Mentioned in Despatches
Royal North Devon Hussars
8th July 1917, aged 52.
Row E. 28.
Son of the Rev. Canon Woodford St. Hill; husband of Annabel St. Hill (nee Maryon-Wilson), of 10, Wilbraham Place, London, S.W.1. Served in the Royal North Devon Hussars for eighteen years and fought in the Matabele, Angoni, and South African Campaigns. Also served at Gallipoli, where he commanded the 6th Bn. Lincolnshire Regt. at the evacuation of Suvla Bay.
His headstone bears the inscription "Bend The Knee, Bow The Head Honouring Our Glorious Dead"
240972 Private
Walter Tillotson
"C" Company, 1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
4th June 1917, aged 21.
Row E. 2.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Tillotson, of 105, Stockbridge Rd Padiham, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Day Of Remembrance Sad To Recall"
Walter Tillotson
"C" Company, 1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
4th June 1917, aged 21.
Row E. 2.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Tillotson, of 105, Stockbridge Rd Padiham, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Day Of Remembrance Sad To Recall"
91146 Bombardier
Charles Whitehouse
"Y" 36th Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery
26th October 1917.
Row E. 11.
Charles Whitehouse
"Y" 36th Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery
26th October 1917.
Row E. 11.
Troops of 3/7th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment marching through the ruined village of Metz-en-Couture, 2 January 1918. © IWM (Q 8384)
Image above © André de Smet
A working party laying a cable through old German line at Metz-en-Couture, 8 March, 1918. © IWM (Q 8550)
