OULCHY-LE-CHÂTEAU CHURCHYARD EXTENSION
Aisne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.20487, Longitude: 3.37067
Location Information
Oulchy-le-Chateau is a village 19 kilometres due south of Soissons, on the road (D1) to Chateau-Thierry.
The Churchyard Extension is behind the Churchyard, behind the church in the main square.
Historical Information
Oulchy-le-Chateau was passed by British troops on the 11th September 1914, in the advance to the Aisne; and it was re-captured by the French Sixth Army (after the German offensive of May-June 1918) on the 25th July 1918.
The Extension was begun by French troops. British graves were transferred here after the Armistice from the surrounding battlefields and other burial grounds, including:-
AISNE-MARNE AMERICAN CEMETERY, BELLEAU, a permanent cemetery of 2,212 graves, on the South side of the Chateau Thierry-Gandelu road, in which one British soldier, who fell in July 1918, was buried. Belleau Wood was captured by the 2nd American Division (whose Memorial is opposite the Cemetery), on the 11th June 1918.
BEUGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, contained the graves of 36 British soldiers (mainly of the 1st/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) who fell on the 1st August 1918.
GRAND-MENIL FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY, ROZET-ST. ALBIN, where one British soldier who fell in July 1918, was buried.
HAUTEVESNES CHURCHYARD, where three British soldiers who fell in September 1914, were buried.
The 193 French and 137 German graves have since been removed and their site now forms the Communal Cemetery of the village.
There are now 124, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 33 are unidentified.
The two British plots cover an area of 758 square metres and are enclosed by a low rubble wall on three sides.
Total Burials: 124.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 91.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 33.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
39635 Private
James Buckley
34th Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
31st July 1918, aged 22.
Plot II. F. 7.
James Buckley
34th Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
31st July 1918, aged 22.
Plot II. F. 7.
S/17161 Private
John Borthwick Cullens
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot I. C. 6.
Husband of Agnes Cullens, of 1102, Pollokshaws Rd., Shawlands, Glasgow.
John Borthwick Cullens
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot I. C. 6.
Husband of Agnes Cullens, of 1102, Pollokshaws Rd., Shawlands, Glasgow.
40257 Private
Harold Hawcroft
2nd Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
1st August 1918, aged 28.
Plot II. D. 6.
Son of the late Charles and Sarah Elizabeth Hawcroft, of Barnsley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memory Ever Dear."
Harold Hawcroft
2nd Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
1st August 1918, aged 28.
Plot II. D. 6.
Son of the late Charles and Sarah Elizabeth Hawcroft, of Barnsley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memory Ever Dear."
An advance patrol of a German dismounted cavalry regiment near Soissons, September 1918. © IWM (Q 55424)
200105 Serjeant
Alexander McTurk
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot II. A. 9.
Alexander McTurk
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot II. A. 9.
201609 Private
Robert Millar
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918, aged 34.
Plot I. A. 5.
Son of the late James and Mary McKinnon Millar; husband of Helen Fenton Millar, of 20, West St., Paisley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Breaks."
Robert Millar
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918, aged 34.
Plot I. A. 5.
Son of the late James and Mary McKinnon Millar; husband of Helen Fenton Millar, of 20, West St., Paisley.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Breaks."
201241 Regimental Serjeant Major
Robert S. Monteith, M. C.
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot II. A. 3.
Robert S. Monteith, M. C.
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot II. A. 3.
Lieutenant (& Adjutant)
Arthur Hennis Perrott
1st Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
10th September 1914, aged 29.
Plot I. D. 1A.
Son of Major-General Sir T. Perrott, K.C.B.
Arthur Hennis Perrott
1st Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
10th September 1914, aged 29.
Plot I. D. 1A.
Son of Major-General Sir T. Perrott, K.C.B.
The Third Battle of the Aisne. A German wounded being carried out on improvised stretchers from a communication trench to the nearest field hospital in the Soissons sector, June 1918. Stretcher bearers are probably attached to the 450th Infantry Regiment. Note a group of soldiers playing cards (very likely skat) in the background. © IWM (Q 55014)
Second Lieutenant
Frank William Saunders
8th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918, aged 37.
Plot II. A. 4.
Husband of Jenny C. Meiklejohn Saunders, of Anworth, Craigmore, Bute. Minister of the Parish of Anwoth. M.A., B.D., of Glasgow University.
His headstone bears the inscription; "I Thank My God Upon Every Remembrance Of Thee."
Frank William Saunders
8th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918, aged 37.
Plot II. A. 4.
Husband of Jenny C. Meiklejohn Saunders, of Anworth, Craigmore, Bute. Minister of the Parish of Anwoth. M.A., B.D., of Glasgow University.
His headstone bears the inscription; "I Thank My God Upon Every Remembrance Of Thee."
Second Lieutenant
Frederick Alvin Sproston
6th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
30th July 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. F. 5.
Son of Charles Frederick and Elizabeth Annie Sproston, of the Tannery, Middlewich, Cheshire.
Frederick Alvin Sproston
6th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
30th July 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. F. 5.
Son of Charles Frederick and Elizabeth Annie Sproston, of the Tannery, Middlewich, Cheshire.
235434 Private
William Tait
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
1st August 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. F. 8.
Son of William and Betsy Tait, of 133, Victoria Rd., Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription; "There Is A Link Death Cannot Sever, Love And Remembrance Last Forever."
William Tait
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
1st August 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. F. 8.
Son of William and Betsy Tait, of 133, Victoria Rd., Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription; "There Is A Link Death Cannot Sever, Love And Remembrance Last Forever."
