ROCQUIGNY-EQUANCOURT ROAD BRITISH CEMETERY
Manancourt
Somme
France
Location Information
Rocquigny and Equancourt are two villages in the Department of the Somme, some 13 kilometres north of Péronne and 12 kilometres south-east of Bapaume. Rocquigny and Equancourt are approximately 8 kilometres apart and the Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery lies about halfway between the two villages on the north side of the road just west of the crossing road from Etricourt to Ytres.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Étricourt was occupied by Commonwealth troops at the beginning of April 1917 during the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. It was lost on the 23 March 1918 when the Germans advanced, but regained at the beginning of September.
The cemetery was begun in 1917 and used until March 1918, mainly by the 21st and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations posted at Ytres, and to a small extent by the Germans, who knew it as "Etricourt Old English Cemetery". Burials were resumed by Commonwealth troops in September 1918 and the 3rd Canadian and 18th Casualty Clearing Stations buried in it in October and November 1918.
The cemetery contains 2,045 burials and commemorations of the First World War.
Total Burials: 2,045.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,749, Germany 195, Canada 34, New Zealand 21, South Africa 12, Australia 5. Total 2,016.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Dedication
57691 Private Timothy Rigby, 12th Bn., Manchester Regiment, died 12th October 1918, aged 36. Plot XII. B. 13. Son of Timothy and Mary Rigby; husband of Elizabeth Rigby, of 22, Chester Rd., Blackpool. Native of Southport.
Remembered by his Grandson Kenneth William Rigby
Rocquigny and Equancourt are two villages in the Department of the Somme, some 13 kilometres north of Péronne and 12 kilometres south-east of Bapaume. Rocquigny and Equancourt are approximately 8 kilometres apart and the Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery lies about halfway between the two villages on the north side of the road just west of the crossing road from Etricourt to Ytres.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
Étricourt was occupied by Commonwealth troops at the beginning of April 1917 during the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. It was lost on the 23 March 1918 when the Germans advanced, but regained at the beginning of September.
The cemetery was begun in 1917 and used until March 1918, mainly by the 21st and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations posted at Ytres, and to a small extent by the Germans, who knew it as "Etricourt Old English Cemetery". Burials were resumed by Commonwealth troops in September 1918 and the 3rd Canadian and 18th Casualty Clearing Stations buried in it in October and November 1918.
The cemetery contains 2,045 burials and commemorations of the First World War.
Total Burials: 2,045.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,749, Germany 195, Canada 34, New Zealand 21, South Africa 12, Australia 5. Total 2,016.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Dedication
57691 Private Timothy Rigby, 12th Bn., Manchester Regiment, died 12th October 1918, aged 36. Plot XII. B. 13. Son of Timothy and Mary Rigby; husband of Elizabeth Rigby, of 22, Chester Rd., Blackpool. Native of Southport.
Remembered by his Grandson Kenneth William Rigby
15122 Serjeant John Harold Rhodes, V. C., D. C. M. and bar.
3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards, died 27th November 1917, aged 26. Plot III. E. 1.
Husband of Lizzie Rhodes, of 27, New St., Pittshill, Stoke-on-Trent.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 30400, dated 23rd Nov., 1917, records the following:- For most conspicuous bravery when in charge of a Lewis gun section covering the consolidation of the right front company. He accounted for several enemy with his rifle as well as by Lewis gun fire, and, upon seeing three enemy leave a "pill-box," he went out single handed through our own barrage and hostile machine-gun fire, and effected an entry into the "pill-box." He there captured nine enemy including a forward observation officer connected by telephone with his battery. These prisoners he brought back with him, together with valuable information.
3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards, died 27th November 1917, aged 26. Plot III. E. 1.
Husband of Lizzie Rhodes, of 27, New St., Pittshill, Stoke-on-Trent.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 30400, dated 23rd Nov., 1917, records the following:- For most conspicuous bravery when in charge of a Lewis gun section covering the consolidation of the right front company. He accounted for several enemy with his rifle as well as by Lewis gun fire, and, upon seeing three enemy leave a "pill-box," he went out single handed through our own barrage and hostile machine-gun fire, and effected an entry into the "pill-box." He there captured nine enemy including a forward observation officer connected by telephone with his battery. These prisoners he brought back with him, together with valuable information.
INSCRIPTION.
UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS & THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY
4646 Airman 1st Class
John Thomas Gadd
No.3 Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
30th September 1917, aged 21.
Son of Thomas and Jane Gadd, of 125, Winson Green Rd., Birmingham.
He was killed whilst acting as an observer on a training formation flying flight on September 30th 1917, when his plane piloted by Lt. Victor Joseph Woodcock crashed out of control. John is now buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery in Grave I. D. 20. with his pilot buried alongside in Grave I. D. 19.
John Thomas Gadd
No.3 Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
30th September 1917, aged 21.
Son of Thomas and Jane Gadd, of 125, Winson Green Rd., Birmingham.
He was killed whilst acting as an observer on a training formation flying flight on September 30th 1917, when his plane piloted by Lt. Victor Joseph Woodcock crashed out of control. John is now buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery in Grave I. D. 20. with his pilot buried alongside in Grave I. D. 19.
249443 Sapper
Lewis Howell Giles
38th Div. Signal Company. Royal Engineers
12th October 1918, aged 24.
Plot XII. B. 2.
Picture courtesy of Suzanne Townsend, great niece of this soldier
Lewis Howell Giles
38th Div. Signal Company. Royal Engineers
12th October 1918, aged 24.
Plot XII. B. 2.
Picture courtesy of Suzanne Townsend, great niece of this soldier
266969 Private
William Metcalfe
2nd/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
22nd November 1917.
Plot II. F. 23.
Born in Long Preston, Yorkshire
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Alan Metcalfe.
William Metcalfe
2nd/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
22nd November 1917.
Plot II. F. 23.
Born in Long Preston, Yorkshire
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Alan Metcalfe.
DM2/208215
Private Francis Ratcliffe
893rd Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
Accidentally killed 4th January 1918, aged 20.
Plot IX. B. 30.
Son of Charles and Elizabeth Ratcliffe, of 20, Glover St., Preston, Lancs. Native of Burnley.
Picture courtesy of John Garlington
Private Francis Ratcliffe
893rd Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
Accidentally killed 4th January 1918, aged 20.
Plot IX. B. 30.
Son of Charles and Elizabeth Ratcliffe, of 20, Glover St., Preston, Lancs. Native of Burnley.
Picture courtesy of John Garlington
43895 Private
Frank Redfarn
8th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
13th October 1918, aged 19.
Plot XIV. C. 21.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Redfam, of 22, John St., City Rd., Cambridge.
Frank Redfarn
8th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
13th October 1918, aged 19.
Plot XIV. C. 21.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Redfam, of 22, John St., City Rd., Cambridge.
Lieutenant
Victor Joseph Woodcock
3rd Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
30th September 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. D. 19.
Son of George Redfern Woodcock and Harriet Eliza Woodcock, of "Ravenscroft," The Drive, Roundhay, Leeds.Under Graduate Leeds University, Science (Engineering).
He was killed whilst piloting a training formation flying flight on September 30th 1917. The plane crashed out of control. He was aged 21. Victor was 2 years into an engineering course at Leeds University and was intending to candidate for the Methodist Ministry. His Captain said of him "Though only with us eight days, he made his mark". Victor is buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery in Plot I. D. 19 with his Observer, John Thomas Gadd buried beside him in Plot I. D. 20.
Picture courtesy of Gillian Horn, great niece of Victor Woodcock
Victor Joseph Woodcock
3rd Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
30th September 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. D. 19.
Son of George Redfern Woodcock and Harriet Eliza Woodcock, of "Ravenscroft," The Drive, Roundhay, Leeds.Under Graduate Leeds University, Science (Engineering).
He was killed whilst piloting a training formation flying flight on September 30th 1917. The plane crashed out of control. He was aged 21. Victor was 2 years into an engineering course at Leeds University and was intending to candidate for the Methodist Ministry. His Captain said of him "Though only with us eight days, he made his mark". Victor is buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery in Plot I. D. 19 with his Observer, John Thomas Gadd buried beside him in Plot I. D. 20.
Picture courtesy of Gillian Horn, great niece of Victor Woodcock
Shot at Dawn
200945 Private Joseph Bateman, 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment, executed for desertion 3rd December 1917. Plot VI. A. 27. Husband of Florence May Bateman, of 7a, Vauxhall Street, Dudley.
200945 Private Joseph Bateman, 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment, executed for desertion 3rd December 1917. Plot VI. A. 27. Husband of Florence May Bateman, of 7a, Vauxhall Street, Dudley.
Pictures in gallery below © André De Smet
German troops carrying buckets of water by the ruins of Rocquigny church, February 1917. © IWM (Q 42254)
