SUNKEN ROAD CEMETERY
Boisleux-St. Marc
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.21732, Longitude: 2.78982
Location Information
Boisleux-St. Marc is a village in the department of the Pas-de-Calais, 8 kilometres south of Arras. Sunken Road Cemetery is down a 1 kilometre track on the west side of the road running between this village and the adjacent village of Boisleux-au-Mont (D42E).
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this is ssite possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
Boisleux-St. Marc was occupied by Commonwealth troops in March 1917 following the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. The 20th Casualty Clearing Station was established at Boisleux-au-Mont in June and the 43rd in November, but both had left by the end of March 1918. From April to almost the end of August part of Boisleux-St. Marc was once again in German hands. In September, October and November, six Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Boisleux-au-Mont for shorts periods.
Sunken Road Cemetery was called at one time "Boisleux-au-Mont British Cemetery". It was begun by the hospitals in May 1917 and used until July when it began to be shelled. Four burials were made in March 1918 and it was completed the following September and October.
The cemetery contains 416 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified, and four German war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens & George Hartley Goldsmith
Total Burials: 420.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 397, Canada 14, Germany 4, New Zealand 2, India 1. Total 418.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 2.
Dedications
63812 Private R. Robinson, 5th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 15th September 1918.
Remembered by Great Niece Margaret, who never met him but honours his name
Cemetery images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Second Lieutenant
Harley Bentham
9th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
16th September 1918, aged 23.
Plot II. B. 28.
Son of Thomas Hardacre Bentham and Elizabeth Bentham, of 7, Thorndale St., Hellifield, Leeds.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Loved To Do A Kind Action"
Harley Bentham
9th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
16th September 1918, aged 23.
Plot II. B. 28.
Son of Thomas Hardacre Bentham and Elizabeth Bentham, of 7, Thorndale St., Hellifield, Leeds.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Loved To Do A Kind Action"
59244 Private
David Henderson Carmichael
2nd Bn. Royal Scots
30th September 1918, aged 19.
Plot III. B. 10.
Son of Mary Carmichael, of 13, Roseneath St., Edinburgh, and the late A. H. Carmichael.
His headstone bears the inscription "Till The Dawn Breaks"
David Henderson Carmichael
2nd Bn. Royal Scots
30th September 1918, aged 19.
Plot III. B. 10.
Son of Mary Carmichael, of 13, Roseneath St., Edinburgh, and the late A. H. Carmichael.
His headstone bears the inscription "Till The Dawn Breaks"
35914 Private
John William Crossley
1st/7th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
22nd September 1918.
Plot II. D. 29.
John William Crossley
1st/7th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
22nd September 1918.
Plot II. D. 29.
Major
John Gregory Forster, M. C. &. Bar
7th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
2nd October 1918, aged 41.
Plot III. E. 12.
John Gregory Forster, M. C. &. Bar
7th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
2nd October 1918, aged 41.
Plot III. E. 12.
40016 Private
George Rippon Hardy, M. M.
1st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
21st September 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 23.
Son of Thomas and Isabella Catherine Hardy, of Mill Moor Rd., Meltham, Huddersfield.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died A Hero"
George Rippon Hardy, M. M.
1st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
21st September 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 23.
Son of Thomas and Isabella Catherine Hardy, of Mill Moor Rd., Meltham, Huddersfield.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died A Hero"
99772 Gunner
Sam Lawson
278th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
26th September 1918.
Plot II. E. 1.
Sam Lawson
278th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
26th September 1918.
Plot II. E. 1.
Second Lieutenant
William Archibald Gillies MacKenzie
2nd/5th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
29th September 1918, aged 25.
Plot II. E. 29.
Son of John and Janet Mackenzie (stepmother), of Little Bridge, Callander, Perthshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
William Archibald Gillies MacKenzie
2nd/5th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
29th September 1918, aged 25.
Plot II. E. 29.
Son of John and Janet Mackenzie (stepmother), of Little Bridge, Callander, Perthshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
40190 Private
Donald Miller Mallen
1st/5th Bn. Highland Light Infantry
21st September 1918, aged 30.
Plot II. D. 27.
Son of George and Elizabeth Mallen, of Stow, Midlothian.
Donald Miller Mallen
1st/5th Bn. Highland Light Infantry
21st September 1918, aged 30.
Plot II. D. 27.
Son of George and Elizabeth Mallen, of Stow, Midlothian.
57659 Gunner
Alexander Cameron Struthers
New Zealand Field Artillery
26th September 1918.
Plot II. E. 5.
Alexander Cameron Struthers
New Zealand Field Artillery
26th September 1918.
Plot II. E. 5.
11108 Private
Edwin Spencer Webb
4th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
30th May 1917, aged 24.
Plot I. D. 2.
Son of Walter and Mary A. E. Webb, of 5, Carey Rd., Wokingham, Berks. Formerly Bandsman 1st Bn. Proceeded overseas Aug.1914.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Love We Have Loved We Will Love Looking Unto Jesus"
Edwin Spencer Webb
4th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
30th May 1917, aged 24.
Plot I. D. 2.
Son of Walter and Mary A. E. Webb, of 5, Carey Rd., Wokingham, Berks. Formerly Bandsman 1st Bn. Proceeded overseas Aug.1914.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Love We Have Loved We Will Love Looking Unto Jesus"
