Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France

VILLERS-FAUCON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Somme

France

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.97941, Longitude: 3.10009

Location Information

Villers-Faucon is a large village in the Department of the Somme, about 17 kilometres north-east of Peronne.

From the centre of the village take the D72 towards Lieramont. Turn right at a CWGC signpost opposite a parking area. The Cemetery is on the left hand side of the road and the Commonwealth War Graves Plot is on the north-west side of the cemetery.

Historical Information

Villers-Faucon was captured by the 5th Cavalry Division on 27 March 1917, lost on 22 March 1918, and retaken by the III Corps on 7 September 1918.

The Commonwealth graves in the COMMUNAL CEMETERY are those of soldiers who died in February-August 1917, or (in the case of two who are buried in Row B) in September 1918. They were made by the cavalry, the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, and other fighting troops.

The communal cemetery contains 227 First World War burials, five of them unidentified, and 91 German graves.

Total Burials: 318.

Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 222, Germany 80. Total 302.

Unidentified Casualties: Germany 11, Commonwealth 5. Total 16.

The adjoining EXTENSION was begun in April 1917 and used until March 1918. It was then used by the Germans, and Commonwealth burials were resumed in September and October 1918. Further Commonwealth graves were brought in after the Armistice from a wide area round Villers-Faucon.

The extension contains 459 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 144 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to six casualties believed to be buried among them. The extension also contains 66 German graves.

Total Burials: 525.

Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 297, Germany 33, India 10, Australia 7, New Zealand 1. Total 348.

Unidentified Casualties: Commonwealth 144, Germany 33. Total 177.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Arthur James Scott Hutton

241627 Private
John Cleaver Bishop
1st/8th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
24th April 1917, aged 32.
Plot IV. A. 19.

Son of John Lane Bishop and Rebecca Bishop; husband of Florence Bishop, of 14, Blount Terrace, Foley Park, Kidderminster. Born at Wolverhampton.

Lieutenant
George Harvey Brownrigg-Jay
124th Company, Machine Gun Corps
21st September 1918, aged 24.
Plot II. B. 4.

Son of Maj. and Mrs. Harvey Brownrigg-Jay, of Flaghead, Canford Cliffs, Dorset; husband of Gladys Brownrigg-Jay.

202579 Private
Harold Cuthbert
1st/4th Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
18th November 1917, aged 23.
Plot I. D. 5.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbert, of 5, Carr Place, Oldham Rd., Rochdale. Born at Brighouse, Yorks.

His headstone bears the inscription "Thy Will Be Done"

S/27845 Corporal
Thomas Morris
16th Bn. Rifle Brigade.
Died of wounds 25th March 1918, aged 21.
Plot III. C. 7.

Son of Thomas and Jane Morris, of 34, Adelphi St., Preston.

His headstone bears the inscription "R. I. P.

Picture courtesy of John Garlington

Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos

Second Lieutenant
Pomeroy John Peter
10th (R. East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
19th September 1918.
Plot II. A. 5.

5636 Lance Corporal
Henrich Alfred Pumpa
27th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
3rd October 1918, aged 23.
Plot IV. B. 6.

Son of John and E. Carolina Pumpa, of Eden Valley, South Australia.

Major
Ernest Evelyn Rich, D. S. O.
"U" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
1st December 1917, aged 31.
Plot I. A. 13.

Son of Evelyn and Mary Rich; Husband of Claire Rich, The Grays, Westerham Hill, Kent.

His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Husband Of Claire Rich The Place Where Thine Honour Dwelleth"