ST. POL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Pas De Calais
France
Location Information
The town of St Pol is about 29 kilometres south-west of Bethune and 34 kilometres west-north-west of Arras. The Communal Cemetery Extension is situated on high ground next to the old Communal Cemetery and is reached by a steep road, Rue de Cimetiere, on the north side of the old N39 road to Arras.
Historical Information
St. Pol-sur-Ternoise was an administrative centre during the whole of the war, taken over by British troops from the French in March 1916; and No.12 Stationary Hospital was posted on the race-course near the town from the 1st June 1916, to 1st June 1919.
The Extension was made alongside the "Cimetiere Thuillier" (which is more than 500 years old) by the French Tenth Army, and in March 1916-April 1918, the British Plot was added in the South-West quarter.
There are now over 200, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.
The British Plot covers an area of 1,111 square metres.
Casualty Details: UK 210, Canada 7, Australia 3, New Zealand 4, South Africa 1, India 1, Total Burials: 226.
The town of St Pol is about 29 kilometres south-west of Bethune and 34 kilometres west-north-west of Arras. The Communal Cemetery Extension is situated on high ground next to the old Communal Cemetery and is reached by a steep road, Rue de Cimetiere, on the north side of the old N39 road to Arras.
Historical Information
St. Pol-sur-Ternoise was an administrative centre during the whole of the war, taken over by British troops from the French in March 1916; and No.12 Stationary Hospital was posted on the race-course near the town from the 1st June 1916, to 1st June 1919.
The Extension was made alongside the "Cimetiere Thuillier" (which is more than 500 years old) by the French Tenth Army, and in March 1916-April 1918, the British Plot was added in the South-West quarter.
There are now over 200, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.
The British Plot covers an area of 1,111 square metres.
Casualty Details: UK 210, Canada 7, Australia 3, New Zealand 4, South Africa 1, India 1, Total Burials: 226.
2550 Private
Ambrose Perkins
8th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
3rd July 1916, aged 22.
Row A. 22.
Son of Mr. F. Perkins, of 299, Farm St., Hockley, Birmingham
Picture 1: Ambrose Perkins
Picture 2: Ambrose Perkins with his brother Horace
Picture 3: Ambrose Perkins with his mother, sister and brother Horace
Pictures courtesy Dianne Moores, great-niece
Ambrose Perkins
8th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
3rd July 1916, aged 22.
Row A. 22.
Son of Mr. F. Perkins, of 299, Farm St., Hockley, Birmingham
Picture 1: Ambrose Perkins
Picture 2: Ambrose Perkins with his brother Horace
Picture 3: Ambrose Perkins with his mother, sister and brother Horace
Pictures courtesy Dianne Moores, great-niece
Shot at Dawn
19/158 Lance Corporal, Peter Goggins, 19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, executed for quitting his post, 18th January 1917. Row D. 2. Husband of Mrs. M. Goggins, of 58, South St., South Moor, Stanley, Co. Durham.
19/420 Lance Corporal, John McDonald, 19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, executed for quitting his post, 18th January 1917, aged 28. Row D. 3. Son of Malcolm and Joanina McDonald, of Sunderland; husband of Hannah McDonald, of 29, Hartley's Buildings, Millfield, Sunderland.
19/647 Lance Serjeant, Joseph William Stones, 19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, executed for casting away his arms, 18th January 1917. Row D. 1. Husband of Elizabeth Edith Jones (formerly Stones), of 85, Wheatbottom, Crook, Co. Durham.
On 26 Nov 1916, in a sparsely held part of the line near Arras that was frequently subject to the detonation of undergound mines, an officer led a night-time patrol to the King’s Crater. There a German raiding-party shot & wounded the officer; & Stones dropped his rifle & made off towards the rear to give the alarm — to be arrested, along with an accompanying Private, by the Military Police at a battle stop.
In another section of the same line, a party of 6 men made off, headed by Goggins & McDonald (without their rifles) — ending up likewise in the hands of the Military Police.
At the trial on Christmas Eve of the 3 NCOs, along with the 4 Privates, it was confirmed on behalf of Stones that at the time of his arrest he had been in a nervous state, with difficulty in walking; but the battalion doctor merely reported the absence of any organic disorder. Despite Stones’ good fighting record, he was sentenced to death. In respect of the 6 men led by Goggins & McDonald, all charged with quitting their posts, there was evidence of an (unauthorised) order to retire,possibly from a German with fluent English. However all 6 received the same sentence as Stones.
Against a background of prejudice against Bantam battalions then prevalent amongst senior officers, the divisional commander described Goggins & McDonald as mentally & physically degenerate. On review, Haig commuted the sentences on the 4 Privates to imprisonment for 15 years, which was then suspended. (Putkowski,pp.156-159)
19/158 Lance Corporal, Peter Goggins, 19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, executed for quitting his post, 18th January 1917. Row D. 2. Husband of Mrs. M. Goggins, of 58, South St., South Moor, Stanley, Co. Durham.
19/420 Lance Corporal, John McDonald, 19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, executed for quitting his post, 18th January 1917, aged 28. Row D. 3. Son of Malcolm and Joanina McDonald, of Sunderland; husband of Hannah McDonald, of 29, Hartley's Buildings, Millfield, Sunderland.
19/647 Lance Serjeant, Joseph William Stones, 19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, executed for casting away his arms, 18th January 1917. Row D. 1. Husband of Elizabeth Edith Jones (formerly Stones), of 85, Wheatbottom, Crook, Co. Durham.
On 26 Nov 1916, in a sparsely held part of the line near Arras that was frequently subject to the detonation of undergound mines, an officer led a night-time patrol to the King’s Crater. There a German raiding-party shot & wounded the officer; & Stones dropped his rifle & made off towards the rear to give the alarm — to be arrested, along with an accompanying Private, by the Military Police at a battle stop.
In another section of the same line, a party of 6 men made off, headed by Goggins & McDonald (without their rifles) — ending up likewise in the hands of the Military Police.
At the trial on Christmas Eve of the 3 NCOs, along with the 4 Privates, it was confirmed on behalf of Stones that at the time of his arrest he had been in a nervous state, with difficulty in walking; but the battalion doctor merely reported the absence of any organic disorder. Despite Stones’ good fighting record, he was sentenced to death. In respect of the 6 men led by Goggins & McDonald, all charged with quitting their posts, there was evidence of an (unauthorised) order to retire,possibly from a German with fluent English. However all 6 received the same sentence as Stones.
Against a background of prejudice against Bantam battalions then prevalent amongst senior officers, the divisional commander described Goggins & McDonald as mentally & physically degenerate. On review, Haig commuted the sentences on the 4 Privates to imprisonment for 15 years, which was then suspended. (Putkowski,pp.156-159)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
