RUE-PÉTILLON MILITARY CEMETERY
Fleurbaix
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.63134, Longitude: 2.83567
Location Information
Fleurbaix is a village 5 kilometres south-west of Armentieres on the D22.
Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery will be found by taking the D175 from Fleurbaix towards Fauquissart, then the D171 towards Petillon. The cemetery is on the south side of the road from Petillon to La Boutillerie.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible, but may be by alternative entrance.
Historical Information
Rue Pétillon Cemetery
British soldiers began burying their fallen comrades at Rue Pétillon in December 1914 and the cemetery was used by fighting units until it fell into German hands during the Spring Offensive of 1918. The Allies recaptured this sector of the front in September 1918 and when the war ended in November the cemetery was the site of twelve Battalion burial grounds. Many of those laid to rest here had died of wounds in a dressing station that was located in the buildings adjoining the cemetery, which were known as ‘Eaton Hall’ during the war. The cemetery was enlarged in the years after the Armistice when graves were concentrated here from the battlefields around Fleurbaix and a number of smaller burial grounds. A whole range of different Commonwealth units served in this sector during the war and the cemetery contains the graves of British, Irish, Canadian, New Zealand, and Indian soldiers, as well as over 260 men who were killed while serving with the Australian Imperial Force. Today 1,523 war dead of the First World War are buried or commemorated here.
The Australian Imperial Force – First Encounters with the Enemy
Units of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) began arriving at the great southern port of Marseille at the end of March 1916. From there, they were transported north and, having spent a brief period in the region of Hazebrouck, were posted to the front-line trenches south of Armentières at the beginning of April. Many of these Australian soldiers had survived tough conditions and fierce fighting during the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign of 1915, but none of them had experienced combat on the Western Front.
One of their first encounters with the German forces occurred on the evening of 5 May 1916, when units of the 6th Bavarian reserve regiment raided the Australian trenches south west of Fleurbaix around Le Bridoux. After a withering artillery and mortar bombardment that caused dozens of casualties, German soldiers entered the Australian positions and captured a small number of prisoners before retiring to their own lines. For the next number of weeks, activity along this sector of the front increased as German and Australian artillery units regularly exchanged fire and German snipers claimed a steady toll of casualties.
On 30 May, the Germans staged another raid, this time attacking a salient held by the 11th Battalion AIF at Cordonnerie Farm. British and Australian miners had been tunnelling in this part of the line, and the objective of the German raid was to identify the Commonwealth regiments in the area and destroy mine shafts. At 8.15 in the evening, the Germans unleashed a devastating bombardment of artillery shells and heavy trench mortar bombs. This intense fire continued for over an hour and twenty minutes and completely destroyed the flimsy breastworks behind which the Australian troops were sheltering. Despite the noise and thick clouds of shell smoke, the men of the 11th rallied well and began firing Lewis gun rounds toward the German troops who started advancing across no man’s land just after 9.00 pm. The raiders managed to enter the Australian positions and capture a handful of prisoners, but were forced to retreat before they could inflict further damage. The lengthy bombardment that accompanied the raid on 30 May caused over 100 Australian casualties, over 40 of whom were killed. Many of those killed during the raid were buried at Rue Pétillon, which is also the final resting placing of over 100 Australian soldiers killed at the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916.
Total Burials: 1,523.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 549, Australia 270, Canada 38, New Zealand 24.Germany 4, India 3 Total 888.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Noel Ackroyd Rew
Dedications
205139 Private James William Sword, 9th Bn. Norfolk Regiment 1st August 1917, aged 23 . Son of James William Sword of Norwich, Norfolk.
Remembered with honour by Matthew Abel
Fleurbaix is a village 5 kilometres south-west of Armentieres on the D22.
Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery will be found by taking the D175 from Fleurbaix towards Fauquissart, then the D171 towards Petillon. The cemetery is on the south side of the road from Petillon to La Boutillerie.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible, but may be by alternative entrance.
Historical Information
Rue Pétillon Cemetery
British soldiers began burying their fallen comrades at Rue Pétillon in December 1914 and the cemetery was used by fighting units until it fell into German hands during the Spring Offensive of 1918. The Allies recaptured this sector of the front in September 1918 and when the war ended in November the cemetery was the site of twelve Battalion burial grounds. Many of those laid to rest here had died of wounds in a dressing station that was located in the buildings adjoining the cemetery, which were known as ‘Eaton Hall’ during the war. The cemetery was enlarged in the years after the Armistice when graves were concentrated here from the battlefields around Fleurbaix and a number of smaller burial grounds. A whole range of different Commonwealth units served in this sector during the war and the cemetery contains the graves of British, Irish, Canadian, New Zealand, and Indian soldiers, as well as over 260 men who were killed while serving with the Australian Imperial Force. Today 1,523 war dead of the First World War are buried or commemorated here.
The Australian Imperial Force – First Encounters with the Enemy
Units of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) began arriving at the great southern port of Marseille at the end of March 1916. From there, they were transported north and, having spent a brief period in the region of Hazebrouck, were posted to the front-line trenches south of Armentières at the beginning of April. Many of these Australian soldiers had survived tough conditions and fierce fighting during the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign of 1915, but none of them had experienced combat on the Western Front.
One of their first encounters with the German forces occurred on the evening of 5 May 1916, when units of the 6th Bavarian reserve regiment raided the Australian trenches south west of Fleurbaix around Le Bridoux. After a withering artillery and mortar bombardment that caused dozens of casualties, German soldiers entered the Australian positions and captured a small number of prisoners before retiring to their own lines. For the next number of weeks, activity along this sector of the front increased as German and Australian artillery units regularly exchanged fire and German snipers claimed a steady toll of casualties.
On 30 May, the Germans staged another raid, this time attacking a salient held by the 11th Battalion AIF at Cordonnerie Farm. British and Australian miners had been tunnelling in this part of the line, and the objective of the German raid was to identify the Commonwealth regiments in the area and destroy mine shafts. At 8.15 in the evening, the Germans unleashed a devastating bombardment of artillery shells and heavy trench mortar bombs. This intense fire continued for over an hour and twenty minutes and completely destroyed the flimsy breastworks behind which the Australian troops were sheltering. Despite the noise and thick clouds of shell smoke, the men of the 11th rallied well and began firing Lewis gun rounds toward the German troops who started advancing across no man’s land just after 9.00 pm. The raiders managed to enter the Australian positions and capture a handful of prisoners, but were forced to retreat before they could inflict further damage. The lengthy bombardment that accompanied the raid on 30 May caused over 100 Australian casualties, over 40 of whom were killed. Many of those killed during the raid were buried at Rue Pétillon, which is also the final resting placing of over 100 Australian soldiers killed at the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916.
Total Burials: 1,523.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 549, Australia 270, Canada 38, New Zealand 24.Germany 4, India 3 Total 888.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Noel Ackroyd Rew
Dedications
205139 Private James William Sword, 9th Bn. Norfolk Regiment 1st August 1917, aged 23 . Son of James William Sword of Norwich, Norfolk.
Remembered with honour by Matthew Abel
Cemetery image in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
593 Private
Edward George Austin
30th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
20th July 1916, aged 27.
Plot I. K. 51.
Son of Samuel and Ellen Caroline Austin; husband of Theresa Austin, of Collins St., Corrimal, New South Wales. Born at Queanbeyan, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of The Loving Husband Of Theresa Austin Of Corrimal"
Studio portrait of 593 Private (Pte) Edward George Austin, 30th Battalion from Corrimal, NSW. A 27 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 11 July 1915, he embarked for overseas with C Company from Sydney on 9 November 1915 aboard HMAT Beltana. While serving with the battalion in France, he was killed in action at Fromelles on 20 July 1916.
Edward George Austin
30th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
20th July 1916, aged 27.
Plot I. K. 51.
Son of Samuel and Ellen Caroline Austin; husband of Theresa Austin, of Collins St., Corrimal, New South Wales. Born at Queanbeyan, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of The Loving Husband Of Theresa Austin Of Corrimal"
Studio portrait of 593 Private (Pte) Edward George Austin, 30th Battalion from Corrimal, NSW. A 27 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 11 July 1915, he embarked for overseas with C Company from Sydney on 9 November 1915 aboard HMAT Beltana. While serving with the battalion in France, he was killed in action at Fromelles on 20 July 1916.
800 Private
William Robert Comb
29th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
31st July 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. L. 38.
Son of Alexander and Ellen Comb, of Merbein, Victoria, Australia. Born at Corack East, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth"
Studio portrait of 800 Private (Pte) William Robert Comb, 29th Battalion from Mildura, Victoria. A 23 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 14 July 1915, he embarked for overseas with C Company from Melbourne on 10 November 1915 aboard HMAT Ascanius. While serving in France, he was killed in action near Armentieres on 31 July 1916.
William Robert Comb
29th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
31st July 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. L. 38.
Son of Alexander and Ellen Comb, of Merbein, Victoria, Australia. Born at Corack East, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth"
Studio portrait of 800 Private (Pte) William Robert Comb, 29th Battalion from Mildura, Victoria. A 23 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 14 July 1915, he embarked for overseas with C Company from Melbourne on 10 November 1915 aboard HMAT Ascanius. While serving in France, he was killed in action near Armentieres on 31 July 1916.
1025 Lance Sergeant
Ralph Bertram Webb Cracknell
30th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
20th July 1916, aged 25.
Plot I. K. 69.
Son of Frederick and Fanny Eliza Cracknell, of 134, Vine St., Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Late Moonee Ponds Victoria, Australia He Did His Duty"
Ralph Bertram Webb Cracknell
30th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
20th July 1916, aged 25.
Plot I. K. 69.
Son of Frederick and Fanny Eliza Cracknell, of 134, Vine St., Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Late Moonee Ponds Victoria, Australia He Did His Duty"
1319 Sergeant
Ernest Davey Morshead
29th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Died between 19th July 1916 and 20th July 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. K. 74.
Son of William and Mary Eliza Morshead, of 32, Tress St., Mount Pleasant, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Duty Always"
Studio portrait of 1319 Sergeant Ernest Davey Morshead, 29th Battalion of Ballarat, Victoria. A high school teacher prior to enlisting, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 10 November 1915. On 19 July 1916, he was killed in action at Fleurbaix, France during the Battle of Fromelles, aged 21.
Ernest Davey Morshead
29th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Died between 19th July 1916 and 20th July 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. K. 74.
Son of William and Mary Eliza Morshead, of 32, Tress St., Mount Pleasant, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Duty Always"
Studio portrait of 1319 Sergeant Ernest Davey Morshead, 29th Battalion of Ballarat, Victoria. A high school teacher prior to enlisting, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 10 November 1915. On 19 July 1916, he was killed in action at Fleurbaix, France during the Battle of Fromelles, aged 21.
17171 Private
Albert Edward George Reynolds
2nd Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment
9th July 1915.
Plot I. C. 28.
Albert’s parents lived on Finedon Road, Irthlingborough Northamptonshire and moved temporarily to Kidderminster, Worcestershire where he was born in July 1878, returning to Irthlingborough soon after. He married Martha Ann Allen, of Irthlingborough on 9th October 1898. Albert was an ironstone worker. He was a tall man with a bright and cheery manner. A staunch member of The Salvation Army Corps, he was said to be “regular & devotional in his duties”. He left 4 children, Fred, George, Albert (known as Mac) and Violet. Fred enlisted in 1917 and won the Military Medal for bravery under fire. Albert had only been in France for one month when he was killed on Monday, 9th July 1915. He was buried at Rue-Petillon, Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Pas de Calais, France. Martha received a letter from him two days after being informed of his death and travelled to France in the early 1920’s to visit his original grave.
‘Your days at the most cannot be very long, so use them to the best of your ability for the glory of God and the benefit of your generation’ -
William Booth, 4th October 1910
Pictures and text courtesy of great-granddaughter, Helen Norman
Albert Edward George Reynolds
2nd Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment
9th July 1915.
Plot I. C. 28.
Albert’s parents lived on Finedon Road, Irthlingborough Northamptonshire and moved temporarily to Kidderminster, Worcestershire where he was born in July 1878, returning to Irthlingborough soon after. He married Martha Ann Allen, of Irthlingborough on 9th October 1898. Albert was an ironstone worker. He was a tall man with a bright and cheery manner. A staunch member of The Salvation Army Corps, he was said to be “regular & devotional in his duties”. He left 4 children, Fred, George, Albert (known as Mac) and Violet. Fred enlisted in 1917 and won the Military Medal for bravery under fire. Albert had only been in France for one month when he was killed on Monday, 9th July 1915. He was buried at Rue-Petillon, Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Pas de Calais, France. Martha received a letter from him two days after being informed of his death and travelled to France in the early 1920’s to visit his original grave.
‘Your days at the most cannot be very long, so use them to the best of your ability for the glory of God and the benefit of your generation’ -
William Booth, 4th October 1910
Pictures and text courtesy of great-granddaughter, Helen Norman
696811 Gunner
Edwin Borwick Schofield
"B" Battery, 275th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
16th October 1918, aged 34.
Plot I. E. 643.
Son of the Rev. Daniel and Euphemia Katherine Schofield, of Stalmine Vicarage, Fleetwood, Lancs. Born at Morecambe.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Wished to Do His Duty And Did It Unto Death"
The information below supplied by 'The Ellesmerian Club', the alumni organisation for Ellesmere College where Edwin was a pupil.
Edwin Borwick Schofield
"B" Battery, 275th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
16th October 1918, aged 34.
Plot I. E. 643.
Son of the Rev. Daniel and Euphemia Katherine Schofield, of Stalmine Vicarage, Fleetwood, Lancs. Born at Morecambe.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Wished to Do His Duty And Did It Unto Death"
The information below supplied by 'The Ellesmerian Club', the alumni organisation for Ellesmere College where Edwin was a pupil.
Edwin Borwick Schofield came from a strongly religious background for his father was the Reverend Daniel Schofield, a Primitive Methodist, and his younger brother, Robert, became a cleric in due course. His mother, Euphemia Katherine was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister who ran the Frodsham Academy, Cheshire. He was the type of person Ellesmere College was founded to educate.
Born on 4th September 1884 at Morecambe, Lancashire, Edwin was almost sixteen years old when he arrived at Ellesmere College in the autumn of 1900 and he left the following summer, 1901.
Twenty-seven new boys arrived at Ellesmere that term and four of them, Douglas Simpson, Hughie Ellis and Edwin, would die on active service during the war. Edwin would have known Douglas especially well as they were both allocated to the ‘Heywood’ dormitory. Edward Owen took up his place in the dormitory the next term and he, too, would die during the conflict.
Naturally, so brief a stay has left almost nothing in the annals of The Ellesmerian except to say that he was in Form Lower IV under Mr. Rodgers when he left and that, when representing the ‘Heywood’ dormitory at cricket, he failed to score. On leaving the college, he became a banker’s clerk, boarding with a Mr. and Mrs. Allen in Lancaster.
He joined the West Lancashire Brigade, the Royal Field Artillery as Gunner Schofield, Service No: 696811, when war was declared. This brigade was initially part of the 55th West Lancashire Division and, as such, saw fighting in most of the major battles of the Western Front. Edwin would have fought in the later phases of the Battle of the Somme at Ginchy and Morval; in the Third Battle of Ypres at Pilkem Ridge and Menin Road Ridge.
By 1918, Edwin, now a member of ‘B’ Company, No. 275 Brigade, was in the front line at Givenchy and Festubert. Here it blunted the enemy assaults of April which, according to a German officer, marked the final ruination of the supreme German effort of 1918.
In the autumn there began the pursuit of the enemy to Mons. No. 275 Brigade advanced fifty miles in eighty days, but without Edwin for he was killed during the crossing of the Haute Deule Canal, near La Bassee, on 16th October 1918.
He was buried at the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix and was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. His sacrifice is commemorated on memorials at Wyrsedale, Stalmine, Preesall, Morecambe and Ellesmere College.
Born on 4th September 1884 at Morecambe, Lancashire, Edwin was almost sixteen years old when he arrived at Ellesmere College in the autumn of 1900 and he left the following summer, 1901.
Twenty-seven new boys arrived at Ellesmere that term and four of them, Douglas Simpson, Hughie Ellis and Edwin, would die on active service during the war. Edwin would have known Douglas especially well as they were both allocated to the ‘Heywood’ dormitory. Edward Owen took up his place in the dormitory the next term and he, too, would die during the conflict.
Naturally, so brief a stay has left almost nothing in the annals of The Ellesmerian except to say that he was in Form Lower IV under Mr. Rodgers when he left and that, when representing the ‘Heywood’ dormitory at cricket, he failed to score. On leaving the college, he became a banker’s clerk, boarding with a Mr. and Mrs. Allen in Lancaster.
He joined the West Lancashire Brigade, the Royal Field Artillery as Gunner Schofield, Service No: 696811, when war was declared. This brigade was initially part of the 55th West Lancashire Division and, as such, saw fighting in most of the major battles of the Western Front. Edwin would have fought in the later phases of the Battle of the Somme at Ginchy and Morval; in the Third Battle of Ypres at Pilkem Ridge and Menin Road Ridge.
By 1918, Edwin, now a member of ‘B’ Company, No. 275 Brigade, was in the front line at Givenchy and Festubert. Here it blunted the enemy assaults of April which, according to a German officer, marked the final ruination of the supreme German effort of 1918.
In the autumn there began the pursuit of the enemy to Mons. No. 275 Brigade advanced fifty miles in eighty days, but without Edwin for he was killed during the crossing of the Haute Deule Canal, near La Bassee, on 16th October 1918.
He was buried at the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix and was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. His sacrifice is commemorated on memorials at Wyrsedale, Stalmine, Preesall, Morecambe and Ellesmere College.
4251 Private
Harold Smith
2nd Bn. Border Regiment
16th February 1915, aged 23.
Plot I. M. 26.
Son of Charles and Sarah Jane Smith, of 17, Forshaw Avenue, St. Annes, Lytham; husband of Rhoda Smith, of 16, Kirkgate, Burnley, Lancs. Born in Burnley.
His headstone bears the following inscription: "Far Away From His Home And Loved Ones Laid To Rest In A Far Away Land."
This is the original death notice for Harold Smith, from his family:
"IN LOVING MEMORY
of Private Harold Smith (4251)
Killed in action, February 16th 1915 in his 23rd year.
A loving husband and Daddy, None breathed more true and kind, But tis sweet to know we meet again, Where parting is no more, And that our loved one has only gone before, So sad, but so true, we cannot tell why, The best are the first who are called to die, God took him home, it was his will, But in our hearts he liveth still. 25 Brunswick St, Burnley."
Picture courtesy of Phil Smith
Harold Smith
2nd Bn. Border Regiment
16th February 1915, aged 23.
Plot I. M. 26.
Son of Charles and Sarah Jane Smith, of 17, Forshaw Avenue, St. Annes, Lytham; husband of Rhoda Smith, of 16, Kirkgate, Burnley, Lancs. Born in Burnley.
His headstone bears the following inscription: "Far Away From His Home And Loved Ones Laid To Rest In A Far Away Land."
This is the original death notice for Harold Smith, from his family:
"IN LOVING MEMORY
of Private Harold Smith (4251)
Killed in action, February 16th 1915 in his 23rd year.
A loving husband and Daddy, None breathed more true and kind, But tis sweet to know we meet again, Where parting is no more, And that our loved one has only gone before, So sad, but so true, we cannot tell why, The best are the first who are called to die, God took him home, it was his will, But in our hearts he liveth still. 25 Brunswick St, Burnley."
Picture courtesy of Phil Smith
3476 Company Sgt Major
Charles Frederick Sydes
59th Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
19th July 1916, aged 31.
Plot I. G. 17.
Son of John Robert and Catherine Sydes, of Great Baddow, Chelmsford, England. Born at Great Waltham, Essex.
Born in Chelmsford, Essex, December 6th 1885. Member of 10th Battalion Middlesex Regt. British Territorials, he migrated to Australia working as a School Teacher and enlisted in the A. I. F. at Melbourne on 17th July 1915, joined the 8th Battalion before transferring to the 59th Battalion. Embarked on "Kinfauns Castle" from Alexandria 18/6/16 to Marseilles, arriving 29/6/16. Died in Battle of Fromelles July 19th 1916.
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Gary Sydes
Charles Frederick Sydes
59th Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
19th July 1916, aged 31.
Plot I. G. 17.
Son of John Robert and Catherine Sydes, of Great Baddow, Chelmsford, England. Born at Great Waltham, Essex.
Born in Chelmsford, Essex, December 6th 1885. Member of 10th Battalion Middlesex Regt. British Territorials, he migrated to Australia working as a School Teacher and enlisted in the A. I. F. at Melbourne on 17th July 1915, joined the 8th Battalion before transferring to the 59th Battalion. Embarked on "Kinfauns Castle" from Alexandria 18/6/16 to Marseilles, arriving 29/6/16. Died in Battle of Fromelles July 19th 1916.
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Gary Sydes
Captain
Lewis Talbot Watson
1st Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
11th March 1915, aged 34.
Plot IV. A. 5.
Son of Col. Richard Talbot Watson, V.D., of Honeybrook House, Franche, Kidderminster; husband of Margaret Amy Watson. Served in the South African Campaign.
Lewis Talbot Watson
1st Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
11th March 1915, aged 34.
Plot IV. A. 5.
Son of Col. Richard Talbot Watson, V.D., of Honeybrook House, Franche, Kidderminster; husband of Margaret Amy Watson. Served in the South African Campaign.
204 Private
Albert Roy Bennett Webber
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
19th July 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. L. 55.
Son of Frederick and Jane Webber, of Nairne, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Some Day, Some Time Our Eyes Shall See That Sweet Face Kept In Memory."
Picture courtesy of Simon Mitchell, great nephew
Albert Roy Bennett Webber
32nd Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
19th July 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. L. 55.
Son of Frederick and Jane Webber, of Nairne, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription: "Some Day, Some Time Our Eyes Shall See That Sweet Face Kept In Memory."
Picture courtesy of Simon Mitchell, great nephew