RAPERIE BRITISH CEMETERY
Villemontoire
Aisne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.29174, Longitude: 3.32559
Picture © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Villemontoire is just to the west of the main D1, Chateau-Thierry to Soissons road, approximately 10 kilometres from Soissons.
From the N2, Soissons Ring Road, take the D1 towards Chateau-Thierry. Ignore signs for Villemontoire and continue on the D1 until the crossroads signed for Vierzy. Turn right here along the D1280 towards Vierzy, then take the first left turn (1.2 kilometres) at the second CWGC sign, and Raperie British Cemetery will be found on your left after 150 metres.
Historical Information
Villemontoire is connected entirely with the victorious advance of the 15th (Scottish) and 34th Divisions, under French leadership, in the period from the 23rd July to the 2nd August 1918.
The cemetery was made, after the Armistice, by the concentration of graves from the battlefield and from several smaller burial grounds which had been made by the Burial Officers and units of the two Divisions, including:-
BILLY-SUR-OURCQ CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of five soldiers.
BILLY-SUR-OURCQ COMMUNAL CEMETERY, which contained the graves of three soldiers.
CHESHIRE CEMETERY, PARCY-ET-TIGNY, which contained the graves of 16 men of the Cheshire and Herefordshire Regiments.
HARTENNES ROAD CEMETERY, PARCY-ET-TIGNY, which contained the graves of 23 soldiers who fell on the 24th July.
HEREFORD CEMETERY, PARCY-ET-TIGNY, which contained the graves of 21 soldiers of the Herefordshire Regiment and two others who fell on the 23rd July.
RAPERIE QUARRY CEMETERY, which was 365 metres to the East and made by the 15th Division burial officer on the 9th August. It contained the graves of 103 officers and men, almost all of whom belonged to the 9th Royal Scots who fell on the 1st and 2nd August.
There are 612, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 100 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to eleven men of the Herefordshire Regiment and one of the Royal Scots who are known or believed to be buried among them.
The cemetery covers an area of 2,576 square metres and is enclosed by a low rubble wall forming an arc at the back.
Total Burials: 612.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 498.
Unidentified Casualties: 114.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens & John Reginald Truelove
Cemetery images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Images in gallery below © Geerhard Joos
202034 Private
Alfred Allsop
2nd Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
29th July 1918, aged 23.
Plot IVA. A. 8.
Son of Mary Ellen and the late William Allsop, of 2, Alston St., Great Lever, Bolton.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loving Hearts Remember Thee."
Alfred Allsop
2nd Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
29th July 1918, aged 23.
Plot IVA. A. 8.
Son of Mary Ellen and the late William Allsop, of 2, Alston St., Great Lever, Bolton.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Loving Hearts Remember Thee."
201853 Private
Kemble Fredrick Baber
2nd/4th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
29th July 1918.
Plot VI. E. 1.
Husband of E. H. Baber, of 20, Cecil Rd., West Croydon, Surrey.
Kemble Fredrick Baber
2nd/4th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
29th July 1918.
Plot VI. E. 1.
Husband of E. H. Baber, of 20, Cecil Rd., West Croydon, Surrey.
Lieutenant
Douglas Alexander Bannatyne
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 40.
Plot III. B. 6.
Son of Mark Bannatyne (Solicitor), and Kate Bannatyne, of Glasgow. Solicitor by profession. Joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps shortly after outbreak of the War and received comission in Royal Scots in 1915.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He That Leadeth An Uncorrupt Life & Doeth The Thing Which Is Right."
Douglas Alexander Bannatyne
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 40.
Plot III. B. 6.
Son of Mark Bannatyne (Solicitor), and Kate Bannatyne, of Glasgow. Solicitor by profession. Joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps shortly after outbreak of the War and received comission in Royal Scots in 1915.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He That Leadeth An Uncorrupt Life & Doeth The Thing Which Is Right."
241120 Private
James Feguson Barrack
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot IV. E. 2.
Father of Miss M. Barrack, of Shepherds Croft, Cluny, Lillyflourie, Aberdeen.
James Feguson Barrack
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot IV. E. 2.
Father of Miss M. Barrack, of Shepherds Croft, Cluny, Lillyflourie, Aberdeen.
131637 Private
Frank Bristow
34th Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
23rd July 1918.
Plot IA. C. 2.
Son of Mr. W Bristow, of I09, Stourbridge Rd., Stourbridge.
Frank Bristow
34th Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
23rd July 1918.
Plot IA. C. 2.
Son of Mr. W Bristow, of I09, Stourbridge Rd., Stourbridge.
Lieutenant
George Gordon Carmichael
1st/5th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
1st August 1918, aged 22.
Plot VII. C. 2.
Son of Robert Carmichael, J.P., and Euphemia Bell Carmichael, of "Rosybank," Coldstream, Berwickshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Break."
George Gordon Carmichael
1st/5th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
1st August 1918, aged 22.
Plot VII. C. 2.
Son of Robert Carmichael, J.P., and Euphemia Bell Carmichael, of "Rosybank," Coldstream, Berwickshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Break."
290374 Private
William Henry Cartwright
1st/7th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
23rd July 1918.
Plot X. B. 3.
William Henry Cartwright
1st/7th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
23rd July 1918.
Plot X. B. 3.
Ruins of the cathedral at Soissons, 9 October 1918. Soissons was entered by the Germans on 29 May 1918 and liberated on 2 August 1918 after which the city was heavily bombarded. © IWM (Q 58218)
291491 Private
Alfred Daniels
1st/7th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
24th July 1918.
Plot IIA. E. 10.
Son of Mrs. S. E. Stebbing, of 3, Smithy Lane, Seacombe, Cheshire.
Alfred Daniels
1st/7th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
24th July 1918.
Plot IIA. E. 10.
Son of Mrs. S. E. Stebbing, of 3, Smithy Lane, Seacombe, Cheshire.
Lieutenant Colonel
John Graham Dooner, D. S. O.Royal Field Artillery, attd. as G.S.O.1 R.A. 34th Div. General Staff
31st July 1918.
Plot IVA. D. 10.
Croix de Guerre (France). Husband of Mrs. J. G. Dooner, of 32, South Eaton Place, London, S.W.1.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Croix De Guerre. In Proud Memory Of My Beloved Husband. Sans Peur Et Sans Reproche." (Fearless and above Reproach.)
John Graham Dooner, D. S. O.Royal Field Artillery, attd. as G.S.O.1 R.A. 34th Div. General Staff
31st July 1918.
Plot IVA. D. 10.
Croix de Guerre (France). Husband of Mrs. J. G. Dooner, of 32, South Eaton Place, London, S.W.1.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Croix De Guerre. In Proud Memory Of My Beloved Husband. Sans Peur Et Sans Reproche." (Fearless and above Reproach.)
Captain
Haddo Reginald Drummond-Fraser. M. C.
5th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, attd. 1st Bn. Herefordshire Regiment
1st August 1918, aged 22.
Plot IX. D. 3.
Son of Sir Drummond and Lady Drummond Fraser, of Earlscliffe, Altrincham, Cheshire. Educated at Charterhouse and Cambridge University.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Younger Brother Of Murray Killed June 3-1915; Greater Love Hath No Man Than This." Murray Drummond-Fraser is commemorated at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery.
Haddo Reginald Drummond-Fraser. M. C.
5th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, attd. 1st Bn. Herefordshire Regiment
1st August 1918, aged 22.
Plot IX. D. 3.
Son of Sir Drummond and Lady Drummond Fraser, of Earlscliffe, Altrincham, Cheshire. Educated at Charterhouse and Cambridge University.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Younger Brother Of Murray Killed June 3-1915; Greater Love Hath No Man Than This." Murray Drummond-Fraser is commemorated at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery.
Major
Russell Herbert Freeman, M. C., Mentioned in Despatches
73rd Sqdn. Royal Air Force
21st July 1918, aged 24.
Plot VII. D. 2.
Croix de Guerre (France). Son of W. R. and Anne F. C. Freeman, of 103, Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, London.
Russell Herbert Freeman, M. C., Mentioned in Despatches
73rd Sqdn. Royal Air Force
21st July 1918, aged 24.
Plot VII. D. 2.
Croix de Guerre (France). Son of W. R. and Anne F. C. Freeman, of 103, Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, London.
Captain
James Shirra Gibb
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
29th July 1918, aged 26.
Plot X. A. 10.
Son of Kate S. Gibb, of Ashtown, Gourock, Renfrewshire, and the late Robert Shirra Gibb.
James Shirra Gibb
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
29th July 1918, aged 26.
Plot X. A. 10.
Son of Kate S. Gibb, of Ashtown, Gourock, Renfrewshire, and the late Robert Shirra Gibb.
36252 Private
Herbert Greenwood
"C" Coy. 2nd Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
23rd July 1918, aged 20.
Plot IA. E. 4.
Son of Wright and Caroline Greenwood, of 117, Waterloo Rd., Burnley.
A weaver at Messrs. Browning's Springfield Mill prior to enlisting. He had already had a lucky escape after his training ended when the ship on which he was bound for Italy was torpedoed on the Mediterranean. He spent ninety minutes in the water before being picked up and taken to France. He then served in Egypt before returning to France, being killed just two months later.
Herbert Greenwood
"C" Coy. 2nd Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
23rd July 1918, aged 20.
Plot IA. E. 4.
Son of Wright and Caroline Greenwood, of 117, Waterloo Rd., Burnley.
A weaver at Messrs. Browning's Springfield Mill prior to enlisting. He had already had a lucky escape after his training ended when the ship on which he was bound for Italy was torpedoed on the Mediterranean. He spent ninety minutes in the water before being picked up and taken to France. He then served in Egypt before returning to France, being killed just two months later.
The Third Battle of the Aisne. Big fire in Soissons caused by an Allied air bomb, June 1918. French prisoners with shovels marching along a street in which are many destroyed shops. Soissons was recaptured by the Germans on 29 May 1918. © IWM (Q 55354)
Captain
Joseph Jaffe
Royal Army Medical Corps, attd. 2nd/4th Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
1st August 1918, aged 28.
Plot IA. B. 2.
Only son of Mrs. Ida Jaffe, of Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, South Africa.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Ever Remembered By His Sorrowing Mother And Sisters In Africa."
Joseph Jaffe
Royal Army Medical Corps, attd. 2nd/4th Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
1st August 1918, aged 28.
Plot IA. B. 2.
Only son of Mrs. Ida Jaffe, of Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, South Africa.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Ever Remembered By His Sorrowing Mother And Sisters In Africa."
44247 Lance Corporal
Robert Jeffrey
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 19.
Plot I. D. 7.
Son of Sarah Jeffrey, of 12, Meadowpark St., Dennistoun, Glasgow, and the late Mr. Jeffrey.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Passed Over & All The Trumpets Sounded For Him On The Other Side."
Photo courtesy of Susan K. Strang, Great niece of Robert Jeffrey
Robert Jeffrey
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 19.
Plot I. D. 7.
Son of Sarah Jeffrey, of 12, Meadowpark St., Dennistoun, Glasgow, and the late Mr. Jeffrey.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Passed Over & All The Trumpets Sounded For Him On The Other Side."
Photo courtesy of Susan K. Strang, Great niece of Robert Jeffrey
352194 Private
Bertie Edwin Johnston
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918.
Plot IV. C. 6.
Husband of W. Johnston, of 80, High St., Desborough, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Bertie Edwin Johnston
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918.
Plot IV. C. 6.
Husband of W. Johnston, of 80, High St., Desborough, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
18358 Lance Corporal
Alexander Lauder
2nd/4th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
29th July 1918, aged 38.
Plot IVA. B. 9.
Son of Alexander P. and Mary Lauder, husband of Mary A. A. Lauder, of 60, Ritherdon Rd., Upper Tooting, London.
Alexander Lauder
2nd/4th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
29th July 1918, aged 38.
Plot IVA. B. 9.
Son of Alexander P. and Mary Lauder, husband of Mary A. A. Lauder, of 60, Ritherdon Rd., Upper Tooting, London.
30714 Private
William Lyall
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 27.
Plot IV. C. 1.
Son of Robert and Ellen Lyall, of Hutton, Berwick-on-Tweed.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died That We Might Live."
William Lyall
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 27.
Plot IV. C. 1.
Son of Robert and Ellen Lyall, of Hutton, Berwick-on-Tweed.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Died That We Might Live."
200589 Private
Angus Morrison
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot X. E. 2.
Husband of Mrs. J. Morrison, of 60, Regent St., Greenock.
Angus Morrison
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st August 1918.
Plot X. E. 2.
Husband of Mrs. J. Morrison, of 60, Regent St., Greenock.
A French 105 mm naval gun and tractor on the move on the road near Soissons, 5 July 1917. © IWM (Q 78185)
290563 Private
James Rainey
1st/8th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
29th July 1918, aged 27.
Plot VI. A. 10.
Son of John and Hannah Rainey, of Aughnahoy, Portglenone, Co. Antrim.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sadly Missed By His Sorrowing Father And Mother."
James Rainey
1st/8th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
29th July 1918, aged 27.
Plot VI. A. 10.
Son of John and Hannah Rainey, of Aughnahoy, Portglenone, Co. Antrim.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sadly Missed By His Sorrowing Father And Mother."
71999 Private
Harry Robertson
104th Field Amb. Royal Army Medical Corps
24th July 1918.
Plot IA. C. 5.
Harry Robertson
104th Field Amb. Royal Army Medical Corps
24th July 1918.
Plot IA. C. 5.
41918 Private
James McDougall Robertson
1st/5th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
29th July 1918.
Plot IIIA. C. 8.
Son of Mr. W. Robertson, of 3, Argyle St., Alexandria, Dumbartonshire.
James McDougall Robertson
1st/5th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
29th July 1918.
Plot IIIA. C. 8.
Son of Mr. W. Robertson, of 3, Argyle St., Alexandria, Dumbartonshire.
Lieutenant
Findlay MacFadyen Ross, M. C.
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 25.
Plot III. B. 5.
Son of the late Rev. J. Ross, D.D., Missionary U. F. Church, Manchuria, and Mrs. Ross, of 16, Mayfield Rd., Edinburgh. Born at Moulden, Manchuria, China. Educated George Watson's College, Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."
Findlay MacFadyen Ross, M. C.
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 25.
Plot III. B. 5.
Son of the late Rev. J. Ross, D.D., Missionary U. F. Church, Manchuria, and Mrs. Ross, of 16, Mayfield Rd., Edinburgh. Born at Moulden, Manchuria, China. Educated George Watson's College, Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace Perfect Peace."
202841 Serjeant
John Scott, M. M.
5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
23rd July 1918, aged 30.
Plot IIA. D. 2.
Son of Rose Mc Ilvenna Scott, of 36, Crescent St., Greenock, and the late John Scott.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away."
John Scott, M. M.
5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
23rd July 1918, aged 30.
Plot IIA. D. 2.
Son of Rose Mc Ilvenna Scott, of 36, Crescent St., Greenock, and the late John Scott.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away."
290618 Private
Isaac Sherratt
1st/7th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
23rd July 1918.
Sp. Mem. X. B. 9. Buried near this spot.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
Isaac Sherratt
1st/7th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
23rd July 1918.
Sp. Mem. X. B. 9. Buried near this spot.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
Lieutenant
Tom Stevenson
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 28.
Plot II. C. 8.
Son of James St. Clair Stevenson, of 49/51, Shandwick Place, Edinburgh.
Tom Stevenson
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918, aged 28.
Plot II. C. 8.
Son of James St. Clair Stevenson, of 49/51, Shandwick Place, Edinburgh.
270236 Private
Thomas Swindell
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918.
Plot I. E. 10.
Thomas Swindell
1st/9th Bn. Royal Scots
1st August 1918.
Plot I. E. 10.
Lieutenant Colonel
Geoffrey Hillier Swindells, TD. (Territorial Decoration)
1st/4th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
1st August 1918, aged 44.
Plot IX. A. 6.
Son of George Cawley Swindells and Maud Swindells; husband of Sybil Louise Ethel Swindells, of The Bracken, Headley, Bordon, Hants.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At The Setting Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him. R.I.P.."
Geoffrey Hillier Swindells, TD. (Territorial Decoration)
1st/4th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
1st August 1918, aged 44.
Plot IX. A. 6.
Son of George Cawley Swindells and Maud Swindells; husband of Sybil Louise Ethel Swindells, of The Bracken, Headley, Bordon, Hants.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At The Setting Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him. R.I.P.."
3972 Private
Neil Thomson
"Y" Coy. 1st/8th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
29th July 1918, aged 25.
Plot VI. B. 10.
Son of Archibald and the late Jessie Thomson, of 14, South St., Greenock.
Neil Thomson
"Y" Coy. 1st/8th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
29th July 1918, aged 25.
Plot VI. B. 10.
Son of Archibald and the late Jessie Thomson, of 14, South St., Greenock.
Lieutenant
Laurence Stewart Watson
8th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
29th July 1918, aged 21.
Plot X. D. 10.
Son of David Henty and Maria Watson, of Strathaden, Troon, Ayrshire.
Laurence Stewart Watson
8th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
29th July 1918, aged 21.
Plot X. D. 10.
Son of David Henty and Maria Watson, of Strathaden, Troon, Ayrshire.
Major
Augustin George Richard Whitehouse, M. C.
1st Bn. Herefordshire Regiment
1st August 1918, aged 25.
Plot IX. D. 4.
Son of the Rev. George Whitehouse, late Vicar of Sellack, Ross-on-Wye, and of Clara Whitehouse.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Posterity Will Ne'er Survey A Nobler Grave Than This."
Augustin George Richard Whitehouse, M. C.
1st Bn. Herefordshire Regiment
1st August 1918, aged 25.
Plot IX. D. 4.
Son of the Rev. George Whitehouse, late Vicar of Sellack, Ross-on-Wye, and of Clara Whitehouse.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Posterity Will Ne'er Survey A Nobler Grave Than This."
An advance patrol of a German dismounted cavalry regiment near Soissons, September 1918. © IWM (Q 55424)
