NEUVILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Nord
France
Location Information
Neuvilly is a small village 6 kilometres north-north-west of Le Cateau on the road (D955) to Valenciennes.
The Communal Cemetery and extension are on the north side of the village outskirts and on the north side of the main road (D955).
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
Neuvilly was captured by the 17th Division temporarily on 10 October 1918, and taken finally on 17 October. Burials in two of the three cemeteries made after the fighting were later removed to other burial grounds; buried in the third, the extension to the communal cemetery, are casualties from the period 10 October to 2 November 1918, most of them belonging to the 17th Division, and many to the 12th Manchesters.
NEUVILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION contains 101 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 6 of them unidentified. There are also two burials of the Second World War.
The extension was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
The adjoining COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains one First World War burial.
Casualty Details: UK 101, Total Burials: 101.
Neuvilly is a small village 6 kilometres north-north-west of Le Cateau on the road (D955) to Valenciennes.
The Communal Cemetery and extension are on the north side of the village outskirts and on the north side of the main road (D955).
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
Neuvilly was captured by the 17th Division temporarily on 10 October 1918, and taken finally on 17 October. Burials in two of the three cemeteries made after the fighting were later removed to other burial grounds; buried in the third, the extension to the communal cemetery, are casualties from the period 10 October to 2 November 1918, most of them belonging to the 17th Division, and many to the 12th Manchesters.
NEUVILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION contains 101 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 6 of them unidentified. There are also two burials of the Second World War.
The extension was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
The adjoining COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains one First World War burial.
Casualty Details: UK 101, Total Burials: 101.
51674 Private Frank Lester, V. C.
10th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action 12th October 1918 aged 22, Row B. 15.
Son of John and Ellen Lester, of Miller's Hay, Irby, Birkenhead. Born at Huyton, Liverpool.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31067, dated 13th Dec., 1918, records the following:- " For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice during the clearing of the village of Neuvilly, on 12th October, 1918, when, with a party of about seven men under an officer, he was the first to enter a house from the back door, and shot 2 Germans as they attempted to get out by the front door. A minute later a fall of masonry blocked the door by which the party had entered. The only exit into the street was under fire at point-blank range. The street was also swept by fire of machine guns at close range. Observing that an enemy sniper was causing heavy casualties to a party in a house across the street, Pte. Lester exclaimed, " I'll settle him," and, dashing out into the street, shot the sniper at close quarters, falling mortally wounded at the same instant. This gallant man well knew it was certain death to go into the street, and the party opposite was faced with the alternative of crossing the fire-swept street or staying where it was and being shot one by one. To save their lives he sacrificed his own."
10th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action 12th October 1918 aged 22, Row B. 15.
Son of John and Ellen Lester, of Miller's Hay, Irby, Birkenhead. Born at Huyton, Liverpool.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31067, dated 13th Dec., 1918, records the following:- " For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice during the clearing of the village of Neuvilly, on 12th October, 1918, when, with a party of about seven men under an officer, he was the first to enter a house from the back door, and shot 2 Germans as they attempted to get out by the front door. A minute later a fall of masonry blocked the door by which the party had entered. The only exit into the street was under fire at point-blank range. The street was also swept by fire of machine guns at close range. Observing that an enemy sniper was causing heavy casualties to a party in a house across the street, Pte. Lester exclaimed, " I'll settle him," and, dashing out into the street, shot the sniper at close quarters, falling mortally wounded at the same instant. This gallant man well knew it was certain death to go into the street, and the party opposite was faced with the alternative of crossing the fire-swept street or staying where it was and being shot one by one. To save their lives he sacrificed his own."
Picture © Johan Pauwels
61395 Private
Frederick Bradburn
"D" Coy. 12th Bn. Manchester Regiment
12th October 1918, aged 22.
Row B. 10.
Son of Joseph and Susan Bradburn, of 57, Edgeworth St., Sutton Oak, St. Helens, Lancs.
Frederick Bradburn
"D" Coy. 12th Bn. Manchester Regiment
12th October 1918, aged 22.
Row B. 10.
Son of Joseph and Susan Bradburn, of 57, Edgeworth St., Sutton Oak, St. Helens, Lancs.
Lieutenant
Frank Hudson
12th Bn. Manchester Regiment
12th October 1918, aged 34.
Row B. 1.
Husband of Evelyn Hudson, 156 Coal Clough Lane, Burnley. Father of a son.
Frank Hudson was a solicitor with Messrs. Roberts, Riley, Creeke and Hudson of St James' Row, Burnley. He attended Burnley Grammar School, followed by Victoria University, Manchester, where he took his degree of Bachelor of Law.
He joined the army in May 1916 and was posted to the Border Regiment before transferring to the Manchester regiment. He had returned to the front after leave on 6th September 1918.
Lieutenant Colonel Danby wrote the following letter to Frank Hudson's wife;
"I am writing to express my deep sympathy and the deep sympathy of all ranks of my battalion with you in your great loss. he was killed whilst most gallantly leading a company to the attack on a very strong position, and I can only say he died the death of a very brave and noble gentleman, such as he had been in his life. His memory is honoured by all who knew him."
Frank Hudson
12th Bn. Manchester Regiment
12th October 1918, aged 34.
Row B. 1.
Husband of Evelyn Hudson, 156 Coal Clough Lane, Burnley. Father of a son.
Frank Hudson was a solicitor with Messrs. Roberts, Riley, Creeke and Hudson of St James' Row, Burnley. He attended Burnley Grammar School, followed by Victoria University, Manchester, where he took his degree of Bachelor of Law.
He joined the army in May 1916 and was posted to the Border Regiment before transferring to the Manchester regiment. He had returned to the front after leave on 6th September 1918.
Lieutenant Colonel Danby wrote the following letter to Frank Hudson's wife;
"I am writing to express my deep sympathy and the deep sympathy of all ranks of my battalion with you in your great loss. he was killed whilst most gallantly leading a company to the attack on a very strong position, and I can only say he died the death of a very brave and noble gentleman, such as he had been in his life. His memory is honoured by all who knew him."
Captain
Malcolm Colquhoun MacLaren, M.C.
7th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
23rd October 1918, aged 27.
Row B. 37.
Son of John MacLaren, of Westcroft, Aberfeldy, Perthshire.
Malcolm Colquhoun MacLaren, M.C.
7th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
23rd October 1918, aged 27.
Row B. 37.
Son of John MacLaren, of Westcroft, Aberfeldy, Perthshire.
15th November 1918; Australian transport passing through Le Cateau. Note the shell damaged buildings. Two of the relatively unscathed buildings have the words, 'Chaussures' and 'Charcuterie' still showing.
British troops resting on a felled tree near Le Cateau, 25 October 1918. © IWM (Q 3317)
