REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY
Grandcourt
Somme
France
Location Information
Although Regina Trench Cemetery is in the commune of Grandcourt, it is not possible to gain access to the cemetery from Grandcourt.
Visitors should approach the cemetery from the direction of Courcelette, which is a village about 8 kilometres north-east of Albert (next to the main road D929 Albert-Bapaume).
The cemetery lies about 1.5 kilometres north-west of the village of Courcelette (signposted in the centre of Courcelette) and will be found 1.5 kilometres down a single track lane (not suitable for cars).
Visiting Information
PLEASE NOTE: Many of these graves in this cemetery contain more than one burial and where two names are shown on the one headstone, it is necessary to count the individual names in order to find the correct grave location.
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
On 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, Grandcourt village was reached by part of the 36th (Ulster) Division, but it was not until the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, early in February 1917, that it was occupied by patrols of the Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division. To the south-east of it is Courcelette, taken by the 2nd Canadian Division on 15 September 1916.
Regina Trench was a German earthwork, captured for a time by the 5th Canadian Brigade on 1 October 1916, attacked again by the 1st and 3rd Canadian Divisions on 8 October, taken in part by the 18th and 4th Canadian Divisions on 21 October, and finally cleared by the 4th Canadian Division on 11 November 1916.
The original part of the cemetery (now Plot II, Rows A to D) was made in the winter of 1916-1917. The cemetery was completed after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Courcelette, Grandcourt and Miraumont; most date from October 1916 to February 1917.
Two considerable groups of scattered graves, classed as cemeteries, were concentrated in to Regina Trench Cemetery:-
COURCELETTE ROAD CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT, was on the West side of West Miraumont Road, between Courcelette and Miraumont, and in it were buried soldiers from Canada and from the United Kingdom, who fell in September-November 1916.
MIRAUMONT BRITISH CEMETERY, on the East side of the same road, contained the graves of soldiers from Canada and from the United Kingdom, who fell in September-December 1916.
Regina Trench Cemetery now contains 2,280 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 1,077 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 14 casualties believed to be buried among them. One American airman is also buried in the cemetery.
Casualty Details: United Kingdom 1680, Canada 564, Australia 35, U. S. A. 1. Total Burials 2,280.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 812, Canada 372, Australia 18, U. S. A. 1. Total 1,203
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 868, Canada 192, Australia 17. Total 1,077.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Although Regina Trench Cemetery is in the commune of Grandcourt, it is not possible to gain access to the cemetery from Grandcourt.
Visitors should approach the cemetery from the direction of Courcelette, which is a village about 8 kilometres north-east of Albert (next to the main road D929 Albert-Bapaume).
The cemetery lies about 1.5 kilometres north-west of the village of Courcelette (signposted in the centre of Courcelette) and will be found 1.5 kilometres down a single track lane (not suitable for cars).
Visiting Information
PLEASE NOTE: Many of these graves in this cemetery contain more than one burial and where two names are shown on the one headstone, it is necessary to count the individual names in order to find the correct grave location.
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
On 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, Grandcourt village was reached by part of the 36th (Ulster) Division, but it was not until the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, early in February 1917, that it was occupied by patrols of the Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division. To the south-east of it is Courcelette, taken by the 2nd Canadian Division on 15 September 1916.
Regina Trench was a German earthwork, captured for a time by the 5th Canadian Brigade on 1 October 1916, attacked again by the 1st and 3rd Canadian Divisions on 8 October, taken in part by the 18th and 4th Canadian Divisions on 21 October, and finally cleared by the 4th Canadian Division on 11 November 1916.
The original part of the cemetery (now Plot II, Rows A to D) was made in the winter of 1916-1917. The cemetery was completed after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Courcelette, Grandcourt and Miraumont; most date from October 1916 to February 1917.
Two considerable groups of scattered graves, classed as cemeteries, were concentrated in to Regina Trench Cemetery:-
COURCELETTE ROAD CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT, was on the West side of West Miraumont Road, between Courcelette and Miraumont, and in it were buried soldiers from Canada and from the United Kingdom, who fell in September-November 1916.
MIRAUMONT BRITISH CEMETERY, on the East side of the same road, contained the graves of soldiers from Canada and from the United Kingdom, who fell in September-December 1916.
Regina Trench Cemetery now contains 2,280 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 1,077 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 14 casualties believed to be buried among them. One American airman is also buried in the cemetery.
Casualty Details: United Kingdom 1680, Canada 564, Australia 35, U. S. A. 1. Total Burials 2,280.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 812, Canada 372, Australia 18, U. S. A. 1. Total 1,203
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 868, Canada 192, Australia 17. Total 1,077.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
2872 Private
John Barnes
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 40.
Plot VIII. H. 8.
Click on image to enlarge
Son of John and Margaret Barnes, of Fryer's Town, Victoria, Australia.
Outdoor group portrait including 2872 Private (Pte) John Barnes, 51st Battalion from Castlemaine, Victoria, probably standing in the centre. A 39 year old miner prior to enlisting on 23 June 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 9th Reinforcements of the 11th Battalion from Fremantle, Western Australia on 5 October 1915 aboard HMAT Hororata. Following further training in Egypt, he transferred to the 51st Battalion, joining them in the field in France where he was killed in action at Mouquet Farm on 3 September 1916.
John Barnes
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 40.
Plot VIII. H. 8.
Click on image to enlarge
Son of John and Margaret Barnes, of Fryer's Town, Victoria, Australia.
Outdoor group portrait including 2872 Private (Pte) John Barnes, 51st Battalion from Castlemaine, Victoria, probably standing in the centre. A 39 year old miner prior to enlisting on 23 June 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 9th Reinforcements of the 11th Battalion from Fremantle, Western Australia on 5 October 1915 aboard HMAT Hororata. Following further training in Egypt, he transferred to the 51st Battalion, joining them in the field in France where he was killed in action at Mouquet Farm on 3 September 1916.
1305 Private
William Byfield
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 27.
Plot IX. N. 7.
Click on image to enlarge
Son of George and Johannah Byfield, of 178, Brisbane St., Brown Hill, Western Australia. Native of Clunes, Victoria. Australia.
Studio portrait of 1305 Private (Pte) William Byfield, 51st Battalion (Late 11th Battalion). A miner from Boulder, Western Australia, prior to enlistment in the 11th Battalion on 27 September 1914, he embarked from Fremantle on 22 February 1915 aboard HMAT Itonus for Gallipoli. The battalion was withdrawn to Alexandria in January 1916 and he was transferred to the 51st Battalion which relocated to the Western Front, France, in June 1916. Pte Byfield was killed in action near Pozieres, France, on 3 September 1916.
William Byfield
51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd September 1916, aged 27.
Plot IX. N. 7.
Click on image to enlarge
Son of George and Johannah Byfield, of 178, Brisbane St., Brown Hill, Western Australia. Native of Clunes, Victoria. Australia.
Studio portrait of 1305 Private (Pte) William Byfield, 51st Battalion (Late 11th Battalion). A miner from Boulder, Western Australia, prior to enlistment in the 11th Battalion on 27 September 1914, he embarked from Fremantle on 22 February 1915 aboard HMAT Itonus for Gallipoli. The battalion was withdrawn to Alexandria in January 1916 and he was transferred to the 51st Battalion which relocated to the Western Front, France, in June 1916. Pte Byfield was killed in action near Pozieres, France, on 3 September 1916.
R/4066 Corporal
Albert Manklow
1st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps.
17th February 1917, aged 26.
Plot IV. E. 8.
"Gone but not forgotten"
Picture courtesy of great, great nephew, Roger Webb
Albert Manklow
1st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps.
17th February 1917, aged 26.
Plot IV. E. 8.
"Gone but not forgotten"
Picture courtesy of great, great nephew, Roger Webb
