SAILLY-SUR-LA-LYS CANADIAN CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
Location Information
The village of Sailly-sur-la-Lys lies approximately 7 kilometres west of Armentieres. From Armentieres follow the road to Estaires, traversing the small town of Ergingham-Lys and then joining the D945 to Estaires. Follow the D945 for approximately 5 kilometres until reaching the village of Sailly-sur-la-Lys. Continue through the village on the same road and the Cemetery lies 2 kilometres on the other side of the village, directly on the left hand side of the road opposite the Anzac Cemetery.
Historical Information
Sailly Church was burnt during the open fighting of October 1914, when French cavalry and British and German infantry fought on the Lys, but from the winter of 1914-1915 to the spring of 1918 the village was comparatively untouched. It was captured by the Germans on 9 April 1918, and it remained in their hands until the beginning of September.
The cemetery was begun by Canadian units in March 1915, and used as a front-line cemetery until July 1916; it contains 313 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and one German grave.
Casualty Details: UK 285, Canada 9, Australia 19, Germany 1, Total Burials: 314.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
The village of Sailly-sur-la-Lys lies approximately 7 kilometres west of Armentieres. From Armentieres follow the road to Estaires, traversing the small town of Ergingham-Lys and then joining the D945 to Estaires. Follow the D945 for approximately 5 kilometres until reaching the village of Sailly-sur-la-Lys. Continue through the village on the same road and the Cemetery lies 2 kilometres on the other side of the village, directly on the left hand side of the road opposite the Anzac Cemetery.
Historical Information
Sailly Church was burnt during the open fighting of October 1914, when French cavalry and British and German infantry fought on the Lys, but from the winter of 1914-1915 to the spring of 1918 the village was comparatively untouched. It was captured by the Germans on 9 April 1918, and it remained in their hands until the beginning of September.
The cemetery was begun by Canadian units in March 1915, and used as a front-line cemetery until July 1916; it contains 313 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and one German grave.
Casualty Details: UK 285, Canada 9, Australia 19, Germany 1, Total Burials: 314.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker

7213 Regimental Serjeant Major
Joseph Henry Hull
11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters, (Notts and Derby Regiment)
8th February 1916
Plot II. D. 92
Born 1874, Sneinton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Rich Lomanto
Joseph Henry Hull
11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters, (Notts and Derby Regiment)
8th February 1916
Plot II. D. 92
Born 1874, Sneinton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Rich Lomanto

1970 Private
Thomas Penhorwood
25th field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
10th May 1915, aged 27.
Plot II. C. 69.
Son of Lewis and Martha Penhorwood, of Reddown, Egloskerry, Cornwall.
Thomas Penhorwood
25th field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
10th May 1915, aged 27.
Plot II. C. 69.
Son of Lewis and Martha Penhorwood, of Reddown, Egloskerry, Cornwall.
Two images above © Geerhard Joos
Shot at Dawn
S/9560 Rifleman Arthur James Irish, 2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade, executed for desertion 3rd October 1915, aged 30. Plot 1. E. 86. (served as LEE). Son of the late Henry William and Margaret Ann Irish, of 4, Salt Lane, Salisbury.
S/9405 Rifleman W. Smith, 2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade, executed for desertion 3rd October 1915, aged 37. Plot 1. E. 87.
Both the above were old soldiers, from the Reserve: the former had joined up in the name of George Lee, & had served for 12 years in another regiment, while Smith had served in the Boer War. When their battalion was in rest, the 2 men got drunk & went absent. 6 days later they gave themselves up to the British Consul in Dunkirk. Irish was dressed in a blue coat & dungarees, & carried a workman’s pass. At trial, it emerged that Irish (who stated that he had a dependent widowed mother) was subject to a suspended sentence for a previous absence. Mercy was recommended for each, on account of previous good work in the trenches, but in vain. Irish’s mother was informed that her son had been killed in action at Loos. (Putkowski,p, 54-55)
S/9560 Rifleman Arthur James Irish, 2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade, executed for desertion 3rd October 1915, aged 30. Plot 1. E. 86. (served as LEE). Son of the late Henry William and Margaret Ann Irish, of 4, Salt Lane, Salisbury.
S/9405 Rifleman W. Smith, 2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade, executed for desertion 3rd October 1915, aged 37. Plot 1. E. 87.
Both the above were old soldiers, from the Reserve: the former had joined up in the name of George Lee, & had served for 12 years in another regiment, while Smith had served in the Boer War. When their battalion was in rest, the 2 men got drunk & went absent. 6 days later they gave themselves up to the British Consul in Dunkirk. Irish was dressed in a blue coat & dungarees, & carried a workman’s pass. At trial, it emerged that Irish (who stated that he had a dependent widowed mother) was subject to a suspended sentence for a previous absence. Mercy was recommended for each, on account of previous good work in the trenches, but in vain. Irish’s mother was informed that her son had been killed in action at Loos. (Putkowski,p, 54-55)