NORFOLK CEMETERY
Bécordel-Bécourt
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.99833, Longitude: 2.6928
Location Information
Becordel-Bécourt is a village 2.5 kilometres east of Albert on the D938 (Albert-Peronne) road. Follow the C1 north to Becourt, pass under a bridge and Norfolk Cemetery will be found 700 metres along on the east side of the road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this site is possible, but maybe by alternative entrance.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun by the 1st Norfolks in August 1915 and used by other units (including the 8th Norfolks) until August 1916. After the Armistice it was nearly doubled in size when graves were brought in from the battlefields near by.
Norfolk Cemetery contains 549 First World War burials, 224 being unidentified.
Total Burials: 549.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 317, Australia 6, Canada 1, India 1. Total 325.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 92, Australia 4, South Africa 3, Canada 1, New Zealand 1, Unknown 123. Total 224.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton
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Major Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand, V. C.
10th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
Killed in action 1st July 1916, aged 36.
Plot I. C. 77.
Son of Mr. J. L. Loudoun-Shand, of 27, Alleyn Park, Dulwich, London.
His headstone bears the inscription: "In Honoured And Loving Memory."
Citation:
An extract from the London Gazette No. 29740 dated 8th Sept. 1916 records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery. When his company attempted to climb over the parapet to attack the enemy's trenches, they were met by very fierce machine gun fire, which temporarily stopped their progress. Maj. Loudoun-Shand leapt on the parapet, helped the men over it, and encouraged them in every way until fell mortally wounded. Even then he insisted on being propped up in the trench, and went on encouraging the non-commissioned officers and men until he died"
Headstone
Picture © Geerhard Joos
1510 Private
Edwin Ivey Vincent Biggs
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th August 1916, aged 19.
Plot I. D. 93.
Son of William Augustus and E. Elizabeth Biggs. Native of Ballarat, Victoria. Australia.
A warehouseman, of Caulfield, Victoria, he enlisted on 12 April 1915 and embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Berrima on 28 June 1915 for Gallipoli. The battalion was withdrawn to Alexandria in January 1916 and relocated to the Western Front, France, during March 1916. Pte Biggs was killed in action near Albert on 26 August 1916. He was aged 19 years.
Originally reported as missing, 2446 Private W. L. Winnett gave the following details about the last moments of Edwin Biggs; "He was directed to return to our lines after the attack on Mouquet Farm on August 25th, but missed his way and got into the German lines. It was daytime. There is just a chance that he is a Prisoner of War"
Edwin Ivey Vincent Biggs
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th August 1916, aged 19.
Plot I. D. 93.
Son of William Augustus and E. Elizabeth Biggs. Native of Ballarat, Victoria. Australia.
A warehouseman, of Caulfield, Victoria, he enlisted on 12 April 1915 and embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Berrima on 28 June 1915 for Gallipoli. The battalion was withdrawn to Alexandria in January 1916 and relocated to the Western Front, France, during March 1916. Pte Biggs was killed in action near Albert on 26 August 1916. He was aged 19 years.
Originally reported as missing, 2446 Private W. L. Winnett gave the following details about the last moments of Edwin Biggs; "He was directed to return to our lines after the attack on Mouquet Farm on August 25th, but missed his way and got into the German lines. It was daytime. There is just a chance that he is a Prisoner of War"
15443 Private
William Arthur Cook
8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
23rd October 1915, aged 25.
Plot I. A. 23.
Eldest son of Thomas and Louisa Cook, of 53, Grove Rd., Norwich. One of five brothers who served, two of whom fell.
His headstone bread the inscription; "Trusting In God's Mercy."
William Arthur Cook
8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
23rd October 1915, aged 25.
Plot I. A. 23.
Eldest son of Thomas and Louisa Cook, of 53, Grove Rd., Norwich. One of five brothers who served, two of whom fell.
His headstone bread the inscription; "Trusting In God's Mercy."
18334 Private
John Varley Cowlishaw
8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
3rd July 1916, aged 26.
Plot I. B. 85.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Cowlishaw. of Bradford, Yorks; husband of Annie Cowlishaw, of 207, Somerville Rd., Small Heath, Birmingham.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Ever In Thoughts Of Wife & Children Mother & All Until The Day Dawns."
Previously wounded at the Dardanelles.
John Varley Cowlishaw
8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
3rd July 1916, aged 26.
Plot I. B. 85.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Cowlishaw. of Bradford, Yorks; husband of Annie Cowlishaw, of 207, Somerville Rd., Small Heath, Birmingham.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Ever In Thoughts Of Wife & Children Mother & All Until The Day Dawns."
Previously wounded at the Dardanelles.
102789 Sapper
Thomas William Emmerson
178th Coy. Royal Engineers
14th September 1915.
Plot I. A. 2.
Thomas lived in Shildon, County Durham and was an expert miner and digger plus handling explosives meant he was ideal for tunnelling. He was sadly shot by a sniper exiting a tunnel. He was married to Elizabeth and had 4 children.
Additional information provided by Darran Weston (Great Grandson)
Thomas William Emmerson
178th Coy. Royal Engineers
14th September 1915.
Plot I. A. 2.
Thomas lived in Shildon, County Durham and was an expert miner and digger plus handling explosives meant he was ideal for tunnelling. He was sadly shot by a sniper exiting a tunnel. He was married to Elizabeth and had 4 children.
Additional information provided by Darran Weston (Great Grandson)
15924 Corporal
John Myles
8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
5th October 1915, aged 25.
Plot I. C. 4.
Son of Charles McBryde Myles and Margaret Myles, of 29, Saville Rd., Silvertown, London. Native of Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him O Lord."
John Myles
8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
5th October 1915, aged 25.
Plot I. C. 4.
Son of Charles McBryde Myles and Margaret Myles, of 29, Saville Rd., Silvertown, London. Native of Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him O Lord."
106407 Corporal
Arthur Nottingham "H" Coy. 2nd Bn. Special Bde. Royal Engineers 26th June 1916, aged 25. Plot I. C. 70. His headstone bears the inscription: "He Died That We Might Live." Son of Jane Helen Nottingham, of Churchfield Terrace, Liversedge, Yorks, and the late Arthur Thomas Nottingham. |
Click on image to enlarge
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3555 Private
Alfred Shanhun
16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
31st August 1916, aged 43.
Plot II. B. 13.
Son of the late Chang and Ellen Shanhun. Native of Victoria, Australia.
Alfred Shanhun
16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
31st August 1916, aged 43.
Plot II. B. 13.
Son of the late Chang and Ellen Shanhun. Native of Victoria, Australia.
Shot at Dawn
8037 Private John Jennings, 3rd Bn., attached to 2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment, executed for desertion 26th June 1916, Plot 1. D. 85. Son of Mrs. Eliza Dolan, of 57, Macclesfield Street, City Road, London.
549 Private Griffiths Lewis, 3rd Bn., attached to 2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment, executed for desertion 26th June 1916. Plot 1. D. 86. Brother of Miss. Annie Lewis, of Warrington Road, Lysdale, Widnes, Lancs.
Private Jennings and Private Lewis were veterans of the BEF, but in October 1915 went missing in London when en route again for France; were arrested together in Shoreditch in May 1916; returned in the usual way to their unit then on the Somme; & tried, sentenced & executed together. (Putkowski, p.86)
8037 Private John Jennings, 3rd Bn., attached to 2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment, executed for desertion 26th June 1916, Plot 1. D. 85. Son of Mrs. Eliza Dolan, of 57, Macclesfield Street, City Road, London.
549 Private Griffiths Lewis, 3rd Bn., attached to 2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment, executed for desertion 26th June 1916. Plot 1. D. 86. Brother of Miss. Annie Lewis, of Warrington Road, Lysdale, Widnes, Lancs.
Private Jennings and Private Lewis were veterans of the BEF, but in October 1915 went missing in London when en route again for France; were arrested together in Shoreditch in May 1916; returned in the usual way to their unit then on the Somme; & tried, sentenced & executed together. (Putkowski, p.86)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Images in this gallery © Johan Pauwels
Becourt Chateau in 1913 (left) and 1919 (right). The chateau was used as an advanced dressing station during the Battle of the Somme.
Wounded Australian soldier being carried into Becourt Chateau, August 1916 © IWM (Q 907)
