SOUPIR COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Aisne
France
GPS coordinates: Latitude: 49.40883, Longitude: 3.60112
Image © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Soupir is a village and commune in the Department of the Aisne, Northern France. Situated on the northern side of the D.925 road from Soissons to Guignicourt, about 20 kilometres east of Soissons. Take the D.967 from Laon towards Fismes. After passing the "1st Loyal North Lancs Memorial' at Cerny-en-Laonnois (17 kilometres), and after a further 1.5 kilometres, you will come to the Vendresse British Cemetery on your right which is then followed by the village of Vendresse-Beauline. Turn right after entering the village along the 'Rue de Beaulne' (D88), and after a further 6.5 kilometres you will arrive at the village of Soupir. Turn right opposite the church along the Rue de Paris for 50 metres and then turn right again up a steep narrow road marked with a CWGC plaque. This road leads up to the Communal Cemetery. On entering the Cemetery through the main entrance gate, turn right and the 2 plots of war graves are about 30 metres south-west, close to the perimeter wall.
History Information
The village was cleared by the Brigade of Guards on 14 September 1914 and on the same day, and for some days later, heavy fighting took place at La Cour de Soupir farm, near the head of the valley north-west of the village. Dressing stations were established at Soupir Chateau and at the farm. The village was in German hands again between 2 and 6 November 1914 and for much of the war it remained very close to the front line. Soupir Communal Cemetery contains 16 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. All date from September-October 1914 and were brought in after the Armistice from a position near the north-west corner of the village of Vailly.
World War One Casualties: United Kingdom 16.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Captain
Charles William Banbury
3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards
16th September 1914, aged 36.
Son of the Right Hon. Sir Frederick George Banbury, Bart., M.P. (now 1st Baron Banbury of Southam) and Lady Banbury; husband of Josephine Banbury (now the Hon. Mrs. Rupert Craven), of Wadley Manor, Faringdon, Berks. Served in the South African Campaign.
His headstone bears the inscription "Their Name Liveth For Evermore, Highwood, Wilts"
Charles William Banbury
3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards
16th September 1914, aged 36.
Son of the Right Hon. Sir Frederick George Banbury, Bart., M.P. (now 1st Baron Banbury of Southam) and Lady Banbury; husband of Josephine Banbury (now the Hon. Mrs. Rupert Craven), of Wadley Manor, Faringdon, Berks. Served in the South African Campaign.
His headstone bears the inscription "Their Name Liveth For Evermore, Highwood, Wilts"
Captain
Hamilton Hugh Berners
1st Bn. Irish Guards
14th September 1914, aged 32.
Son of Charles Berners, of Woolverstone Park, Ipswich; husband of Edith M. G. Berners, of 22, North Audley St., London, W1.
His headstone bears the inscription "Proficiscere Anima Christiana De Hoc Mundo" R. I. P.
Hamilton Hugh Berners
1st Bn. Irish Guards
14th September 1914, aged 32.
Son of Charles Berners, of Woolverstone Park, Ipswich; husband of Edith M. G. Berners, of 22, North Audley St., London, W1.
His headstone bears the inscription "Proficiscere Anima Christiana De Hoc Mundo" R. I. P.
Captain
The Honourable William Amherst Cecil, M. C. & Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
16th September 1914, aged 28.
Son of Col. Lord William Cecil, C.V.O., and Baroness Amherst of Hackney; husband of Lady Amherst of Hackney, of The Red House, Windsor.
His headstone bears the inscription "Cor Unum Via Una (One Heart One Way)"
The Honourable William Amherst Cecil, M. C. & Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
16th September 1914, aged 28.
Son of Col. Lord William Cecil, C.V.O., and Baroness Amherst of Hackney; husband of Lady Amherst of Hackney, of The Red House, Windsor.
His headstone bears the inscription "Cor Unum Via Una (One Heart One Way)"
Lieutenant
Frederick William Des Voeux
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
14th September 1914, aged 24.
Son of Sir George William Des Voeux, G.C.M.G. and Lady Des Voeux, of 51, Eaton Square, Westminster, London. Born at Government House, Hong Kong, during his father's governorship of that colony.
His headstone bears the inscription "Only Good-Night Beloved Not Farewell"
Frederick William Des Voeux
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
14th September 1914, aged 24.
Son of Sir George William Des Voeux, G.C.M.G. and Lady Des Voeux, of 51, Eaton Square, Westminster, London. Born at Government House, Hong Kong, during his father's governorship of that colony.
His headstone bears the inscription "Only Good-Night Beloved Not Farewell"
Captain
Heneage Greville Finch
1st Bn. Irish Guards
14th September 1914, aged 31.
(Served as GUERNSEY), Son of Lord Guernsey 8th Earl of Aylesford; husband of Gladys, Lady Guernsey (nee Fellowes), of 3, Belgrave Square, London. His son, Capt. Heneage Michael Charles Finch, Royal Artillery also died on service on 28th May 1940, aged 31. He is buried in Wormhoudt Communal Cemetery in France.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Know That He Went As His Soul Bade Him Go, We Know That He Died As He Chose To Die, On The Soil Of France And In Sight Of The foe, Glory Points Where But God Whispers Why"
Heneage Greville Finch
1st Bn. Irish Guards
14th September 1914, aged 31.
(Served as GUERNSEY), Son of Lord Guernsey 8th Earl of Aylesford; husband of Gladys, Lady Guernsey (nee Fellowes), of 3, Belgrave Square, London. His son, Capt. Heneage Michael Charles Finch, Royal Artillery also died on service on 28th May 1940, aged 31. He is buried in Wormhoudt Communal Cemetery in France.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Know That He Went As His Soul Bade Him Go, We Know That He Died As He Chose To Die, On The Soil Of France And In Sight Of The foe, Glory Points Where But God Whispers Why"
Major
Arthur Dowson Green, D. S. O.
Worcestershire Regiment, attd. as Bde. Major 17th Inf. Bde.
28th September 1914, aged 40.
Son of the late Henry Green; husband of Isabella M. Green, of Caryll Hurst, West Grinstead, Sussex. Served in the South African War.
Arthur Dowson Green, D. S. O.
Worcestershire Regiment, attd. as Bde. Major 17th Inf. Bde.
28th September 1914, aged 40.
Son of the late Henry Green; husband of Isabella M. Green, of Caryll Hurst, West Grinstead, Sussex. Served in the South African War.
Captain
Lord Arthur Vincent Hay
1st Bn. Irish Guards
14th September 1914, aged 25.
Son of the 10th Marquess of Tweeddale and the Marchioness of Tweeddale, of 6, Hill St., Mayfair, London; husband of Lady Arthur Hay (now Mrs. Robert Leatham).
His headstone bears the inscription "In Such A Death There Is no Sting In Such A Grave Everlasting Vicory. (Mother)"
Lord Arthur Vincent Hay
1st Bn. Irish Guards
14th September 1914, aged 25.
Son of the 10th Marquess of Tweeddale and the Marchioness of Tweeddale, of 6, Hill St., Mayfair, London; husband of Lady Arthur Hay (now Mrs. Robert Leatham).
His headstone bears the inscription "In Such A Death There Is no Sting In Such A Grave Everlasting Vicory. (Mother)"
Second Lieutenant
Richard William Mark Lockwood
2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
14th September 1914, aged 23.
Son of Robert and Chinty Lockwood, of Havering Court, Romford. Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory "Enter My Rest Your Crown Of Life Is Won"
Richard William Mark Lockwood
2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
14th September 1914, aged 23.
Son of Robert and Chinty Lockwood, of Havering Court, Romford. Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory "Enter My Rest Your Crown Of Life Is Won"
Second Lieutenant
John Reynolds Pickersgill-Cunliffe
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
14th September 1914, aged 19.
Son of Harry and Arlette Pickersgill-Cunliffe, of 27, Beaufort Gardens, Chelsea, London.
John Reynolds Pickersgill-Cunliffe
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
14th September 1914, aged 19.
Son of Harry and Arlette Pickersgill-Cunliffe, of 27, Beaufort Gardens, Chelsea, London.
Lieutenant
Richard William Gregory Welby, Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
16th September 1914, aged 25.
Son of Sir Charles G. E. Welby, 5th Bart., C.B., and Lady Maria Welby, of Denton Manor, Grantham, Lincs.
His headstone bears the inscription "Qui Ante Diem Perlit Sed Miles Sed Pro Patria"
Richard William Gregory Welby, Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
16th September 1914, aged 25.
Son of Sir Charles G. E. Welby, 5th Bart., C.B., and Lady Maria Welby, of Denton Manor, Grantham, Lincs.
His headstone bears the inscription "Qui Ante Diem Perlit Sed Miles Sed Pro Patria"
Other Burial Details
2375 Private Richard Biggins, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, died 14th September 1914.
Lieutenant George Brooke, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, died 7th October 1914, aged 37. Son of Sir George F. Brooke, 1st Bart., and Lady Brooke (nee Shakerley); husband of Nina Brooke, of 21, Southwick St., Oxford Square, London. His headstone bears the inscription "Thou Shalt Keep Him In Perfect Peace Whose Mind Is Stayed On Thee"
16370 Private Wallace Christopher Clissold, 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards, died between 14th September 1914 and 16th September 1914. His headstone bears the inscription "Gone But Not Forgotten"
13375 Private Oscar Fletcher, 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards, died 16th September 1914.
5293 Private James Killeen, 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards, died 15th September 1914, aged 28. Husband of J. Killeen, of 6/26, Ashley St., Birmingham. His headstone bears the inscription "Remembered"
16310 Guardsman Arthur John Trivett, 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards, died between 14th September 1914 and 16th September 1914.
2375 Private Richard Biggins, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, died 14th September 1914.
Lieutenant George Brooke, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, died 7th October 1914, aged 37. Son of Sir George F. Brooke, 1st Bart., and Lady Brooke (nee Shakerley); husband of Nina Brooke, of 21, Southwick St., Oxford Square, London. His headstone bears the inscription "Thou Shalt Keep Him In Perfect Peace Whose Mind Is Stayed On Thee"
16370 Private Wallace Christopher Clissold, 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards, died between 14th September 1914 and 16th September 1914. His headstone bears the inscription "Gone But Not Forgotten"
13375 Private Oscar Fletcher, 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards, died 16th September 1914.
5293 Private James Killeen, 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards, died 15th September 1914, aged 28. Husband of J. Killeen, of 6/26, Ashley St., Birmingham. His headstone bears the inscription "Remembered"
16310 Guardsman Arthur John Trivett, 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards, died between 14th September 1914 and 16th September 1914.
