PHILOSOPHE BRITISH CEMETERY
Mazingarbe
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.47092, Longitude: 2.74168
Image © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Philosophe lies between Bethune and Lens.
From the Lens-Bethune road (N43), follow the D165E road for 400 metres to a right turn. The cemetery lies to the left 100 metres along this track. The first CWGC sign for the cemetery is at the junction of the N43 and the D165E.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The cemetery was started in August 1915. In 1916 it was taken over by the 16th (Irish) Division, who held the Loos Salient at the time, and many of their dead were brought back to the cemetery from the front line. Succeeding divisions used the cemetery until October 1918, and men of the same Division, and often the same battalion, were buried side by side.
After the Armistice, this cemetery was one of those used for the concentration of isolated graves from the Loos battlefield. The bodies of 41 men of the 9th Black Watch were brought from positions a little West of Loos, and those of 340 officers and men of other Regiments from different points in the communes of Cambrin, Auchy, Vermelles, Halluch and Loos.
There are now 1,996 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery, 277 of them unidentified.
Total Burials: 2,001.
World War One Commonwealth Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,712, Canada 6, Australia 2. Total 1,720.
World War One Commonwealth Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 277.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and John Reginald Truelove
Cemetery images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
A panorama of Loos, showing on the left the road leading to Crucifix Dump. In the centre of the picture is Loos Crassier with Hill 70 in the background is Fosse 121, Cite St. Pierre.
Three young casualties of the war aged 15, 16 and 17.
(Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem)
(Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem)
13064 Private Reginald Albert Twyford, "A" Company, 13th Bn. East Surrey Regiment, died 8th August 1916, aged 15. Plot I. B. 26. Son of John William Twyford, of 70, Merton Rd., Wandsworth, London.
22851 Private James Woods, 7th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died 22nd May 1916, aged 16. Plot I. E. 13. Son of James and Catherine Woods, of Mulboy, Dungannon. His headstone bears the inscription "No King Or Saint Hath Tomb So Proud As He Whose Flag Becomes His Shroud"
28634 Private John Ninian McHaffie, 7th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died 27th April 1916, aged 17. Plot I. D. 10. Son of Andrew and Susan McHaffie, of 3, Thornwood Avenue, Partick, Glasgow. His headstone bears the inscription "He Played The Man"
12th April 1918 - Plotting reference: 36B L 17 Mazingarbe N. © IWM (BOX 403-242-18JC-36B-1918)
Men of the 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) washing themseleves in a ruined house in Lievin, 16 May 1918. © IWM (Q 6620)
Battle of Loos. An Artillery Observation Post at Philosophe, September 1915. © IWM (Q 49237)
Philosophe, France. A town building with little apparent damage which was used as a battalion headquarters.
