ST. PIERRE CEMETERY
Amiens
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.90969, Longitude: 2.32841
Picture © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
St. Pierre Cemetery is situated on the north-eastern outskirts of Amiens, on the northern side of the main road to Albert. The cemetery will be found in the suburb of Rivery on the left hand side of the D929 Amiens to Albert road.
At the back of the cemetery is the Commonwealth Plot.
Visiting Information
For your information, the opening time for St Pierre Communal Cemetery is 8:00 to 18:00.
Historical Information
During part of August 1914, Amiens was the British Advanced Base. It was captured by the Germans on 31 August, and retaken by the French on the following 13 September. The German offensive which began in March 1918 had Amiens for at least one of its objectives but the Battle of Amiens (8 - 11 August 1918) is the Allied name for the action by which the counter offensive, the Advance to Victory, was begun.
The 7th General Hospital was at Amiens in August 1914; the 56th (South Midland) Casualty Clearing Station from April to July 1916; the New Zealand Stationary Hospital from July 1916 to May 1917; the 42nd Stationary Hospital from October 1917 to March 1919; and the 41st Stationary Hospital in March 1918, and again in December 1918 and January 1919.
The Commonwealth plot in St. Pierre Cemetery was first used in September 1915 and closed in October 1919, but shortly afterwards 33 graves of 1918 were brought in from positions in or near the city.
During the Second World War, Amiens was again a British base, and G.H.Q. reserve was accommodated in the area south-west of the town. There was heavy fighting in and around Amiens when the Germans broke through the Somme line and took the town on 18 May 1940. Much damage was done, but although all the houses to the west of the cathedral were completely destroyed by the bombardment, the cathedral itself and the church of St. Germain l'Ecossais survived. Amiens was retaken by the British Second Army on 31 August 1944. Nos. 25 and 121 General Hospitals were posted there in October 1944, remaining until April 1945.
St. Pierre Cemetery contains 676 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 82 from the Second World War.
Total Burials: 758.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 561, Australia 93, Canada 10, New Zealand 3, India 2, South Africa 1. Total 670.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 6.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United KIngdom 57, Canada 12, Australia 9, New Zealand 1. Total 79.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 3.
The Commonwealth plot was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg. M. C.
Cemetery pictures in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Captain
William Forsyth
1st/7th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
20th October 1915, aged 50.
Plot V. A. 8.
Son of Ebenezer and Helen Nelson Forsyth, of Blackburn, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire; husband of Mary Rennie Forsyth, of 37, Selsdon Rd., West Norwood, London.
William Forsyth
1st/7th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
20th October 1915, aged 50.
Plot V. A. 8.
Son of Ebenezer and Helen Nelson Forsyth, of Blackburn, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire; husband of Mary Rennie Forsyth, of 37, Selsdon Rd., West Norwood, London.
Second Lieutenant
A. E. Glew
24th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
8th September 1916.
Plot V. B. 5.
A. E. Glew
24th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
8th September 1916.
Plot V. B. 5.
Lieutenant
A. J. Hamar
55th Squadron, 9th wing, Royal Flying Corps
8th April 1917.
Plot VI. A. 8
Son of Mr. W. Hamar, of Hillcrest, Knighton, Radnorshire.
A. J. Hamar
55th Squadron, 9th wing, Royal Flying Corps
8th April 1917.
Plot VI. A. 8
Son of Mr. W. Hamar, of Hillcrest, Knighton, Radnorshire.
Captain
James Lusk, Mentioned in Despatches
Adjt. 1st/6th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
28th December 1915, aged 37.
Plot VI. A. 1.
Croix de Chevalier, Legion D'Honneur. Mentioned in Despatches. Son of John and Jessie Colville Lusk. B.A.(Cantab.). Staff Captain, Scottish Rifle Bde. (T.F.), Falkirk, Scotland, 1914-15.
James Lusk, Mentioned in Despatches
Adjt. 1st/6th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
28th December 1915, aged 37.
Plot VI. A. 1.
Croix de Chevalier, Legion D'Honneur. Mentioned in Despatches. Son of John and Jessie Colville Lusk. B.A.(Cantab.). Staff Captain, Scottish Rifle Bde. (T.F.), Falkirk, Scotland, 1914-15.
Second Lieutenant
Edward William Mather
1st (Northumberland) Field Company, Royal Engineers
13th October 1916.
Plot VI. B. 5
Son of E. W. and Ada Mather; husband of H. A. Mather, of Brookville, Edenderry, King's Co.
Edward William Mather
1st (Northumberland) Field Company, Royal Engineers
13th October 1916.
Plot VI. B. 5
Son of E. W. and Ada Mather; husband of H. A. Mather, of Brookville, Edenderry, King's Co.
Major
Allen Llewellen Palmer
1st Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
15th November 1916, aged 34.
Plot VI. A. 6.
Son of Brig. Gen. George Palmer and Madeleine Palmer, of "Berryfield," Bradford-on-Avon. Served as Captain, 14th Hussars, in the South African Campaign. Native of Trowbridge
Allen Llewellen Palmer
1st Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
15th November 1916, aged 34.
Plot VI. A. 6.
Son of Brig. Gen. George Palmer and Madeleine Palmer, of "Berryfield," Bradford-on-Avon. Served as Captain, 14th Hussars, in the South African Campaign. Native of Trowbridge
Captain
David Wilson M. C.
24th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
30th July 1916, aged 23.
Plot V. A. 5.
Son of the Rev. David Wilson, M.A. and May Wilson, of 14, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.I.
David Wilson M. C.
24th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
30th July 1916, aged 23.
Plot V. A. 5.
Son of the Rev. David Wilson, M.A. and May Wilson, of 14, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.I.
