RETHEL FRENCH NATIONAL CEMETERY
Ardennes
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.51548, Longitude: 4.35585
Location Information
Rethel is a town 36 kilometres north-east of Reims, along the N51-E46 main road to Mezieres.
The French National Cemetery is beside the D946, west of the main town. It can be reached from the N51-E46 after exiting at Le Pont d'Arcole and heading towards Rethel. The cemetery is on the left as you approach the town.
Historical Information
Rethel was in German hands from the early days of the First World War until 6 November 1918. Rethel French National Cemetery contains the graves of almost 3,000 French soldiers who died, for the most part, in the fighting at Bertoncourt in 1914, and at Herpy in 1918.
The Commonwealth Plot, in the east part of the cemetery, contains 110 graves, four of which are unidentified. Sixty-eight of these came from the German National Cemetery on the north-east side of the town, and the rest from the German cemeteries of Asfield, Blanzy, Brienne-sur-Aisne, Herpy, Juniville, Le Thour, Neuflize Policourt, Sevigny, Tagnon, Faissault Churchyard and Chateau Porcien Communal Cemetery.
The French National Cemetery also contains Russian and Romanian graves.
Total Burials: 110.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 106.
Unidentified Casualties: 4.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Lieutenant
Robert Vincent Gilliat
10th Bn. Manchester Regiment
25th May 1918, aged 27.
Cemetery/memorial reference: 1832.
Son of Joseph William and Lilla Gilliat, of Oldham.
Robert Vincent Gilliat
10th Bn. Manchester Regiment
25th May 1918, aged 27.
Cemetery/memorial reference: 1832.
Son of Joseph William and Lilla Gilliat, of Oldham.
291318 Private
Frank Kirkland
"B" Coy. 1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
1st August 1918, aged 26.
Cemetery/memorial reference: 1753.
Son of William and Charlotte Kirkland, of Luthermuir, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Ever Remembered."
Frank Kirkland
"B" Coy. 1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
1st August 1918, aged 26.
Cemetery/memorial reference: 1753.
Son of William and Charlotte Kirkland, of Luthermuir, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Ever Remembered."
200917 Private
George Summerscales
2nd/4th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
27th May 1918.
Cemetery/memorial reference: 1717.
George Summerscales
2nd/4th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
27th May 1918.
Cemetery/memorial reference: 1717.
20644 Private
Frank Webber
9th Bn. Devonshire Regiment
19th January 1918, aged 40.
Cemetery/memorial reference: 1861
Son of John and Margaret Webber, of Parkfield, Ashburton, Devon.
Frank Webber
9th Bn. Devonshire Regiment
19th January 1918, aged 40.
Cemetery/memorial reference: 1861
Son of John and Margaret Webber, of Parkfield, Ashburton, Devon.
Officers of the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 62nd Division, conferring with French and Italian officers in the Bois de Reims during the Battle of Tardenois, 24 July 1918. © IWM (Q 11113)
Battle of Tardenois. Men of the 1/5th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (62nd Division) resting in the Bois de Reims, 24 July 1918. © IWM (Q 11096)
