POIX-DU-NORD COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.19511, Longitude: 3.61001
Location Information
Poix-du-Nord is a village about 66 kilometres south-east of Lille and 8 kilometres south of Le Quesnoy. This town is also south-east of Lille, and is on the main Valenciennes-Landrecies-Guise road. The Cemetery is on the northern side of the village on the road leading to Ghissignies. Poix-du-Nord is about 8 kilometres south of Le Quesnoy. The Extension is on the north side of the Communal Cemetery.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this site is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
The village of Poix-du-Nord was captured in the latter part of October 1918. It was later "adopted" by the Borough of Keighley.
The Extension was made after the capture of the village, and increased after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the following cemetery:-
ESCARMAIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION. This was at the back of the Communal Cemetery and was begun by the Germans, but continued to be used by the 2nd Division Burial Officer after the capture of the village at the end of October 1918. It contained the graves of 20 German soldiers and 27 from the United Kingdom.
There are 96, 1914-18 and 1,1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site.
The Extension covers an area of 621 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Total Burials: 97.
Identified World War One Casualties: United Kingdom 93.
Unidentified World War One Casualties: United Kingdom 3.
Identified World War Two Casualty: United Kingdom 1.
The commonwealth plot was designed by William Harrison Cowlishaw
Images in this gallery © Johan Pauwels
43597 Private
Joseph Clark
7th Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
28th October 1918.
Plot II. B. 23.
Joseph Clark
7th Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
28th October 1918.
Plot II. B. 23.
Second Lieutenant
W. L. Percival
9th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
24th October 1918.
Plot II. B. 17.
W. L. Percival
9th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
24th October 1918.
Plot II. B. 17.
15709 Private
John Edward Reddiough
9th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
4th November 1918.
Plot I. B. 6.
John Edward Reddiough
9th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
4th November 1918.
Plot I. B. 6.
Troops of No. 1 Platoon, A Company, 10th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) breakfasting on their way to the line. Near Le Quesnoy, 27 October 1918. © IWM (Q 7154)
The walls of Le Quesnoy, which the New Zealanders had to scale when capturing the town, one of their most notable feats of the war.
39840 Flying Officer
Derek Hurlstone Allen, D. F. C.
85 Squadron, Royal Air Force
18th May 1940, aged 22.
Son of Alfred E. and Sylvia S. M. H. Allen, of Leicester.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of Our Long Lost Valiant Brother, Uncle and Kinsman.
Derek was credited with shooting down four German aircraft in World War II. He also assisted with three more kills. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. His Hawker Hurricane was shot down near Cambrai, France, on May 18, 1940 and he was reported missing in action and later, presumed dead. His body was thought lost and he was originally commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial but later it was discovered he was buried in this cemetery.
Derek Hurlstone Allen, D. F. C.
85 Squadron, Royal Air Force
18th May 1940, aged 22.
Son of Alfred E. and Sylvia S. M. H. Allen, of Leicester.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of Our Long Lost Valiant Brother, Uncle and Kinsman.
Derek was credited with shooting down four German aircraft in World War II. He also assisted with three more kills. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. His Hawker Hurricane was shot down near Cambrai, France, on May 18, 1940 and he was reported missing in action and later, presumed dead. His body was thought lost and he was originally commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial but later it was discovered he was buried in this cemetery.
Picture © Johan Pauwels
