PERREUSE CHÂTEAU FRANCO BRITISH NATIONAL CEMETERY
Seine-et-Marne
France
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
Location Information
Perreuse Château Franco British National Cemetery is situated within the grounds of the Chateau of Perreuse, Signy Pereuse, a hamlet of Signy-Signets, which is 7 kilometres south-west of the town of La Ferte Sous-Jouarre, and 60 kilometres east of Paris.
Taking the Paris-Reims motorway (A4), leave at Junction 19, marked "La Ferte Sous-Jouarre/Montreuil Aux Lions". Turn first right and after 1 kilometre turn right again onto the N3 road. Following the signs for La Ferte Sous-Jourre, pass through the village of Becart and follow the signs for "Centre Ville": crossing over the River Marne with the two Royal Engineer Memorials on the right of the bridge, and the Memorial to The Missing on the left (approximately 9 kilometres from the motorway). At the roundabout in front of the Memorial, turn right towards Meaux and then first left onto the D402, towards the town of "Jouarre". Take the second right turn (at the first CWGC road sign) and then turn right again along the D114P (at the second CWGC road sign) towards Signy-Signets.
Pass through the village of Les Corbiers and turn left (at the third CWGC road sign), and then take the first right turn (fourth CWGC road sign) and follow this road for 500 metres until you arrive at the fifth CWGC road sign, which is pointing down a track to the left of the road. The cemetery is situated at the end of this track (300 metres) on the left hand side.
Historical Information
The Chateau was used by French medical units throughout the First World War and the site of the cemetery was presented by the owner, Mme. Dumez, to the French Government.
The cemetery contains 150 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 24 of them unidentified, and all brought in from the surrounding battlefields. There are also 16 Second World War burials, most of them airmen, brought in from the following cemeteries:-
FAINS-LES-SOURCES CEMETERY, Meuse:
4 R.A.F., 2 R.N.Z.A.F. and 1 R.A.A.F. casualties in 1961.
FAUY VILLECERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Meuse:
5 R.A.F. casualties.
MONTIGNY-LE-FRANC CHURCHYARD, Aisne:
2 R.C.A.F. casualties.
ST. AUBIN CHATEAU-NEUF COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Yonne:
1 British Army casualty.
Casualty Details: UK 143, Canada 4, Australia 2, South Africa 1, Total Burials: 150.
Perreuse Château Franco British National Cemetery is situated within the grounds of the Chateau of Perreuse, Signy Pereuse, a hamlet of Signy-Signets, which is 7 kilometres south-west of the town of La Ferte Sous-Jouarre, and 60 kilometres east of Paris.
Taking the Paris-Reims motorway (A4), leave at Junction 19, marked "La Ferte Sous-Jouarre/Montreuil Aux Lions". Turn first right and after 1 kilometre turn right again onto the N3 road. Following the signs for La Ferte Sous-Jourre, pass through the village of Becart and follow the signs for "Centre Ville": crossing over the River Marne with the two Royal Engineer Memorials on the right of the bridge, and the Memorial to The Missing on the left (approximately 9 kilometres from the motorway). At the roundabout in front of the Memorial, turn right towards Meaux and then first left onto the D402, towards the town of "Jouarre". Take the second right turn (at the first CWGC road sign) and then turn right again along the D114P (at the second CWGC road sign) towards Signy-Signets.
Pass through the village of Les Corbiers and turn left (at the third CWGC road sign), and then take the first right turn (fourth CWGC road sign) and follow this road for 500 metres until you arrive at the fifth CWGC road sign, which is pointing down a track to the left of the road. The cemetery is situated at the end of this track (300 metres) on the left hand side.
Historical Information
The Chateau was used by French medical units throughout the First World War and the site of the cemetery was presented by the owner, Mme. Dumez, to the French Government.
The cemetery contains 150 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 24 of them unidentified, and all brought in from the surrounding battlefields. There are also 16 Second World War burials, most of them airmen, brought in from the following cemeteries:-
FAINS-LES-SOURCES CEMETERY, Meuse:
4 R.A.F., 2 R.N.Z.A.F. and 1 R.A.A.F. casualties in 1961.
FAUY VILLECERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Meuse:
5 R.A.F. casualties.
MONTIGNY-LE-FRANC CHURCHYARD, Aisne:
2 R.C.A.F. casualties.
ST. AUBIN CHATEAU-NEUF COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Yonne:
1 British Army casualty.
Casualty Details: UK 143, Canada 4, Australia 2, South Africa 1, Total Burials: 150.
Lieutenant
Francis Henry Beaufort
104th Sqdn. Royal Air Force
13th August 1918, aged 27.
Plot 1. C. 23.
Son of Esther E. Penley (formerly Beaufort), of 103, West 77th St., New York, U.S.A. and the late Jay Henry Beaufort.
His headstone bears the inscription; "One Of Nature's Noblemen."
Francis Henry Beaufort
104th Sqdn. Royal Air Force
13th August 1918, aged 27.
Plot 1. C. 23.
Son of Esther E. Penley (formerly Beaufort), of 103, West 77th St., New York, U.S.A. and the late Jay Henry Beaufort.
His headstone bears the inscription; "One Of Nature's Noblemen."
422251 Flying Officer (Pilot)
Walter Boocock
550 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force
13th July 1944, aged 29.
Cemetery/memorial reference: Plot 2. Row B. Joint grave 25-26.
Son of Walter and Margaret Alice Boocock, of Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand.
Walter Boocock
550 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force
13th July 1944, aged 29.
Cemetery/memorial reference: Plot 2. Row B. Joint grave 25-26.
Son of Walter and Margaret Alice Boocock, of Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand.
Captain
Stephen Henry Christy, D. S. O.
20th Hussars
3rd September 1914, aged 35.
Plot 1 D. 25.
Son of Stephen and Blanche Christy, of Stockport; husband of V. M.M. Christy (nee Chapell-Hodge).
His headstone bears the inscription; "And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears From Their Eyes" Revn. 21 Verse 4."
Stephen Henry Christy, D. S. O.
20th Hussars
3rd September 1914, aged 35.
Plot 1 D. 25.
Son of Stephen and Blanche Christy, of Stockport; husband of V. M.M. Christy (nee Chapell-Hodge).
His headstone bears the inscription; "And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears From Their Eyes" Revn. 21 Verse 4."
475801 Private
Harry Adolph Cochran
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)
28th December 1918, aged 21.
Plot 1. C. 49.
Son of J.H. Cochran, of Carmen, Manitoba, Canada, and the late Emily Cochran.
Wounded and captured at Sanctuary Wood in early June 1916 during the battle of Mount Sorrell. He had been released at the end of the war and was making his way home when he died of influenza.
Harry Adolph Cochran
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)
28th December 1918, aged 21.
Plot 1. C. 49.
Son of J.H. Cochran, of Carmen, Manitoba, Canada, and the late Emily Cochran.
Wounded and captured at Sanctuary Wood in early June 1916 during the battle of Mount Sorrell. He had been released at the end of the war and was making his way home when he died of influenza.
Second Lieutenant
Edward James Vibart Collingwood-Thompson
2nd Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
10th September 1914, aged 20.
Plot 1. D. 46.
Only son of the late Edward Collingwood-Thompson and of Mrs. Andrew Wylie (formerly Collingwood-Thompson), of 4, Queen Anne St., Cavendish Square, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori. R.I.P."
Edward James Vibart Collingwood-Thompson
2nd Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
10th September 1914, aged 20.
Plot 1. D. 46.
Only son of the late Edward Collingwood-Thompson and of Mrs. Andrew Wylie (formerly Collingwood-Thompson), of 4, Queen Anne St., Cavendish Square, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori. R.I.P."
Lieutenant
John Blomfield Gough, Mentioned in Despatches
"D" Bty. Royal Horse Artillery
8th September 1914, aged 28.
Plot 1. B. 45.
Son of Col. Bloomfield Gough, late 9th Lancers; husband of Marian Ethel Gough, of Brookhampton House North Cadbury, Somerset.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Break."
John Blomfield Gough, Mentioned in Despatches
"D" Bty. Royal Horse Artillery
8th September 1914, aged 28.
Plot 1. B. 45.
Son of Col. Bloomfield Gough, late 9th Lancers; husband of Marian Ethel Gough, of Brookhampton House North Cadbury, Somerset.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Break."
Major
Percy Hastings
1st Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
2nd September 1914, aged 41.
Plot 1. C. 4.
Husband of Mrs. Kathleen Hastings of Great Bealings, Suffolk.
Percy Hastings
1st Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
2nd September 1914, aged 41.
Plot 1. C. 4.
Husband of Mrs. Kathleen Hastings of Great Bealings, Suffolk.
29298 Private
Noel Malcolm
6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
13th October 1918, aged 19.
Plot 1. C. 11.
Son of John and Margaret Malcolm, of 9, Dashwood Square, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace, With Loved Ones Far Away In Jesus' Keeping We Are Safe And They."
Noel Malcolm
6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
13th October 1918, aged 19.
Plot 1. C. 11.
Son of John and Margaret Malcolm, of 9, Dashwood Square, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace, With Loved Ones Far Away In Jesus' Keeping We Are Safe And They."
Lieutenant
Ronald Elphinstone Parker
"D" Bty. Royal Horse Artillery
8th September 1914, aged 28.
Plot 1. B. 44.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Answered The Call Of The Captain Of His Salvation The Lord Jesus."
Ronald Elphinstone Parker
"D" Bty. Royal Horse Artillery
8th September 1914, aged 28.
Plot 1. B. 44.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Answered The Call Of The Captain Of His Salvation The Lord Jesus."
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) with French and Belgian troops at La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, 10th September 1914. © IWM (Q 51494)
A bridge over the River Marne destroyed by the invading German Army at La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, 26 September 1914. © IWM (Q 53252)
