PEAKE WOOD CEMETERY
Fricourt
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.01784, Longitude: 2.7228
Location Information
Fricourt is a village about 5 kilometres east of Albert. Peake Wood Cemetery will be found on the north-west side of the road about one kilometre from Contalmaison.
Historical Information
Peake Wood was the name given by the army to a copse on the south-east side of the road to Contalmaison. The wood fell into Allied hands on 5 July 1916, but the cemetery was not begun until later in the month. It was used as a front line cemetery until February 1917 and was in German hands from the end of March 1918, until nearly the end of the following August.
The cemetery contains 103 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including special memorials to six casualties believed to be buried there but whose graves could not be located.
Total Burials: 103.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 93, Australia 8, Canada 1. Total 102.
Unidentified Casualty: 1.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
7841 Gunner
Walter Francis Butt
22nd Bde. Australian Field Artillery
23rd August 1916, aged 22.
Row C. 11.
A farmer from Thurgoona, New South Wales prior to enlistment in the 5th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Persic on 18 November 1915 for Egypt. His unit relocated to the Western Front, France in March 1916 and he was transferred to the 22nd Bde., in May. Gnr Butt was killed in action near Pozieres, France, on 23 August 1916.
Walter Francis Butt
22nd Bde. Australian Field Artillery
23rd August 1916, aged 22.
Row C. 11.
A farmer from Thurgoona, New South Wales prior to enlistment in the 5th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Persic on 18 November 1915 for Egypt. His unit relocated to the Western Front, France in March 1916 and he was transferred to the 22nd Bde., in May. Gnr Butt was killed in action near Pozieres, France, on 23 August 1916.
Second Lieutenant
Henry Alfred Stanley Carpenter
103rd Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
2nd September 1916, aged 22.
Row B. 10.
Son of Alfred Edward and Elizabeth Emma Carpenter, of Ivy House, Belton, Doncaster.
His headstone bears the inscription; "All Gallantly He Lived And Thus He Died; But Not In Vain."
Henry Alfred Stanley Carpenter
103rd Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
2nd September 1916, aged 22.
Row B. 10.
Son of Alfred Edward and Elizabeth Emma Carpenter, of Ivy House, Belton, Doncaster.
His headstone bears the inscription; "All Gallantly He Lived And Thus He Died; But Not In Vain."
3848a Private
Leslie Hampton
20th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th February 1917, aged 24.
Row C. 8.
Son of Arthur Henry and Elizabeth Hampton, of "Leslie," 180, Hawthorn Parade, Haberfield, Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "May His Soul Through The Mercy Of God Rest In Peace Loved By All."
Leslie Hampton and several others were killed in the vicinity of Scotts Redoubt, Contalmaison by a bomb dropped by an enemy aircraft.
Leslie Hampton
20th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th February 1917, aged 24.
Row C. 8.
Son of Arthur Henry and Elizabeth Hampton, of "Leslie," 180, Hawthorn Parade, Haberfield, Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "May His Soul Through The Mercy Of God Rest In Peace Loved By All."
Leslie Hampton and several others were killed in the vicinity of Scotts Redoubt, Contalmaison by a bomb dropped by an enemy aircraft.
Second Lieutenant
David Kerr, M. C.
6th/7th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
12th August 1916, aged 22.
Row C. 17.
Son of George and Isabel Rait Kerr, of 17, Cluny Terrace, Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription; "It Is Well With The Child."
David Kerr, M. C.
6th/7th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
12th August 1916, aged 22.
Row C. 17.
Son of George and Isabel Rait Kerr, of 17, Cluny Terrace, Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription; "It Is Well With The Child."
17785 Private
Edgar Myers
1st Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
21st July 1916, aged 18.
Row A. 6c.
Son of Stephen and Maria Myers, of 1, Edward St., Farnworth, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Volunteered When Duty Called."
Edgar Myers
1st Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
21st July 1916, aged 18.
Row A. 6c.
Son of Stephen and Maria Myers, of 1, Edward St., Farnworth, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Volunteered When Duty Called."
1536 Private
William Gaulton Richardson
20th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th February 1917, aged 20.
Row C. 7.
Son of John James Richardson and Alice Mary Richardson, of Benalla, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone West" Your Loved Ones In Far Australia Will Never Forget."
From Drysdale, NSW. A 21 year old engine driver prior to enlisting on 12 April 1915,
he embarked for overseas with the 1st Reinforcements from Sydney on 6 June 1915 aboard HMAT Berrima.
He served at Gallipoli, France and Belgium and was killed in action on 5 February 1917 near Fricourt, France.
William Gaulton Richardson
20th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th February 1917, aged 20.
Row C. 7.
Son of John James Richardson and Alice Mary Richardson, of Benalla, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone West" Your Loved Ones In Far Australia Will Never Forget."
From Drysdale, NSW. A 21 year old engine driver prior to enlisting on 12 April 1915,
he embarked for overseas with the 1st Reinforcements from Sydney on 6 June 1915 aboard HMAT Berrima.
He served at Gallipoli, France and Belgium and was killed in action on 5 February 1917 near Fricourt, France.
February 1919: The grave of 2281 Lance Corporal Norman Gilbert Henley, 27th Battalion, of Goolwa SA, who died of accidental injuries at Contalmaison on 2 April 1917, in Peake Wood Cemetery, Fricourt. Behind are the graves of a number of Germans.
The bombardment of Fricourt, 2 July 1916. Fricourt was captured early in the morning of the 2nd by the 17th Division. © IWM (Q 114)
