WARLOY-BAILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.01247, Longitude: 2.52686
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Warloy-Baillon is a village about 21 kilometres north-east of Amiens along the D919 to Arras. The Communal Cemetery is on the east side of the village and the extension is on the eastern side of the cemetery.
Visiting Information
Both the Communal Cemetery and the Communal Cemetery Extension are at all times open to the public
Wheelchair access with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The first Commonwealth burial took place in the communal cemetery in October 1915 and the last on 1 July 1916. By that date, field ambulances had come to the village in readiness for the attack on the German front line eight kilometres away, and the extension was begun on the eastern side of the cemetery.
The fighting from July to November 1916 on the northern part of the Somme front accounts for the majority of the burials in the extension, but some are from the German attack in the spring of 1918.
The communal cemetery contains 46 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 158 French war graves.
Total Burials: 206.
Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 46.
Other Burials: France 158.
Non War Casualties: 2.
The extension contains 1,340 First World War Commonwealth burials and two from the Second World War. There are also 18 German war graves in the extension.
Total Burials: 1,360.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 867, Australia 321, Canada 152, Germany 17. Total 1.357.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 2, Germany 1. Total 3.
Lieutenant Colonel
Thomas Mowbray Martin Berkeley
Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), Camp Commandant, 8th Corps, Staff D.A.Q.M.G.
20th May 1916, aged 56.
Row A. 2.
Son of Robert Berkeley and Lady Catherine Berkeley, of Spetchley Park, Worcester. Medal and Clasp, Nile Expedition, 1884-5; Khedive's Star Queen's Medal King's Medal and Clasp, S.A. War.
His headstone bears the inscription "Son Of Robert Berkeley Of Spetchley, Killed in Action May We Rest In Peace"
Thomas Mowbray Martin Berkeley
Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), Camp Commandant, 8th Corps, Staff D.A.Q.M.G.
20th May 1916, aged 56.
Row A. 2.
Son of Robert Berkeley and Lady Catherine Berkeley, of Spetchley Park, Worcester. Medal and Clasp, Nile Expedition, 1884-5; Khedive's Star Queen's Medal King's Medal and Clasp, S.A. War.
His headstone bears the inscription "Son Of Robert Berkeley Of Spetchley, Killed in Action May We Rest In Peace"
Second Lieutenant
Thomas Seton Gordon
11th Bn. Border Regiment
22nd January 1916, aged 25.
Row C. 6.
Son of Charles and Josephine Gimby Gordon. Native of Owen Sound, Ontario. Enlisted May, 1915, C.O.T.C., 2nd University Coy. P.P.C.L.I. (University of Toronto), transf. Sept., 1915, to Border Regt.
His headstone bears the inscription Born In Owen Sound, Canada "Noblesse Oblige"
Thomas Seton Gordon
11th Bn. Border Regiment
22nd January 1916, aged 25.
Row C. 6.
Son of Charles and Josephine Gimby Gordon. Native of Owen Sound, Ontario. Enlisted May, 1915, C.O.T.C., 2nd University Coy. P.P.C.L.I. (University of Toronto), transf. Sept., 1915, to Border Regt.
His headstone bears the inscription Born In Owen Sound, Canada "Noblesse Oblige"
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
7515 Rifleman
William John Higgins
1st Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
12th April 1916, aged 20.
Row C. 7.
Son of William Higgins, of King St., Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry.
William John Higgins
1st Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
12th April 1916, aged 20.
Row C. 7.
Son of William Higgins, of King St., Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry.
Lieutenant Colonel
Percy Wilfred Machell, Companion of St. Michael and St. George, Distinguished Service Order
11th Service Bn. (Lonsdale), Border Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 54.
Row A. 17.
Son of the late Canon Machell and Hon. Emma, sister of 8th Lord Middleton. Joined 56th (Essex Regt.) in 1882. In 1884-5 he served in the Nile Expeditionary Force (medal with clasp and bronze star). Attached to the Egyptian Army in 1886, he was in command at the capture of Fort Khor Moussa (Order of the Osmanieh, 4th class); operations round Suakin and action of Gemaizah, 1888 (clasp, horse shot); Sudan, 1889-91, Toski Expedition, Brigade-Major No. 2 Column; capture of Tokar (clasp, and clasp on bronze star, Medjidie, 4th class); helped to raise and commanded 12th Sudanese Battalion, 1891-95; Inspector General Egyptian Coastguard, 1896; Adviser to the Ministry of Interior, Egypt, 1898-1906; (Grand Cordon of the Medjidie, 1902), (C.M.G., 1906). Raised, trained and commanded 11th (S) Border Regt. (Lonsdale), 1914-16. M. (1905) Lady Valda Gleichen, D. of Admiral Prince Victor of Hohenlohe Langenbur, R.N., G.C.B.
His headstone bears the inscription "56 Regt. Egyptian Army 1886 C. O. X11 Sudanese 1891 - 1895 Advisor Ministry Of Interior Egyptian Government 1898 - 1908 Prospice"
Percy Wilfred Machell, Companion of St. Michael and St. George, Distinguished Service Order
11th Service Bn. (Lonsdale), Border Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 54.
Row A. 17.
Son of the late Canon Machell and Hon. Emma, sister of 8th Lord Middleton. Joined 56th (Essex Regt.) in 1882. In 1884-5 he served in the Nile Expeditionary Force (medal with clasp and bronze star). Attached to the Egyptian Army in 1886, he was in command at the capture of Fort Khor Moussa (Order of the Osmanieh, 4th class); operations round Suakin and action of Gemaizah, 1888 (clasp, horse shot); Sudan, 1889-91, Toski Expedition, Brigade-Major No. 2 Column; capture of Tokar (clasp, and clasp on bronze star, Medjidie, 4th class); helped to raise and commanded 12th Sudanese Battalion, 1891-95; Inspector General Egyptian Coastguard, 1896; Adviser to the Ministry of Interior, Egypt, 1898-1906; (Grand Cordon of the Medjidie, 1902), (C.M.G., 1906). Raised, trained and commanded 11th (S) Border Regt. (Lonsdale), 1914-16. M. (1905) Lady Valda Gleichen, D. of Admiral Prince Victor of Hohenlohe Langenbur, R.N., G.C.B.
His headstone bears the inscription "56 Regt. Egyptian Army 1886 C. O. X11 Sudanese 1891 - 1895 Advisor Ministry Of Interior Egyptian Government 1898 - 1908 Prospice"
Second Lieutenant
Douglas Alexander Simpson
7th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
15th October 1915, aged 25.
Row C. 1.
Son of Alexander Nicol Simpson and Elizabeth Harber Simpson, of Whinhurst, Fordoun, Kincardineshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "All He Had He Gave For Home And Kindred Himself He Scorned To Save"
The information below supplied by 'The Ellesmerian Club', the alumni organisation for Ellesmere College where Douglas was a pupil.
Douglas Alexander Simpson
7th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
15th October 1915, aged 25.
Row C. 1.
Son of Alexander Nicol Simpson and Elizabeth Harber Simpson, of Whinhurst, Fordoun, Kincardineshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "All He Had He Gave For Home And Kindred Himself He Scorned To Save"
The information below supplied by 'The Ellesmerian Club', the alumni organisation for Ellesmere College where Douglas was a pupil.
Douglas Alexander Simpson, who arrived at Ellesmere College having travelled from Arbroath, Forfarshire in September 1900, left in July 1906. This was a lengthy residence at this stage of the college’s development – it was by no means a ‘comfortable’ life as many Ellesmerians testified in later life.
His parents were Alexander Nicol and Elizabeth Harber Simpson of Fordoun, Kinkardineshire. There were four children in the family and Douglas, the youngest and only son, was born on 15th July 1890.Three elder sisters made sure he behaved and probably made him appreciate the confines of Ellesmere more! Why his parents chose to educate him 375 miles south of their home is not known.
Douglas played for his dormitory, the ‘Heywood’ in the various competitions: hockey, football, rugby and cricket. Douglas was reported to have “played up pluckily” in the hockey competition when the Heywood was heavily defeated by the ‘Arthur’ dormitory. Out on the wicket, he is recorded to have scored a total of five runs in his last cricket game for his dormitory.
The Ellesmerian reported his appointment as Dayroom Captain. Douglas was awarded the Form Prize in June 1904 and gained a Pass certificate in the 1906 Oxford Local Examinations, having been successful in Arithmetic, Religious Knowledge, English History, English Geography, Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry.
Very little is known of his life after he left Ellesmere at the end of the summer term 1906 when 16 years old but newspaper reports indicate that, prior to enlisting, he held a ‘commercial appointment’ in Brechin – in fact he was assisting his father who managed the East Brechin mill as well as other business interests. Douglas was active in the local community and took on the role of Secretary for the Kincardineshire Junior Football Association.
He enlisted in the 7th Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders in the spring of 1915, and the award of the 1915 Star Medal confirms that he saw active service in a foreign theatre of war before the end of the year. He was also awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
The 7th (Deeside) Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders arrived in Boulogne in May 1915 and was very soon in action. In the early autumn, Douglas, now a 2nd Lieutenant, had been on leave in England, and had attended the funeral of another Auchinblae man who had died on active service, after which he returned to his unit.
On 13th October 1915, the unit took part in the renewal of the offensive at Loos. Losses were heavy as the various Divisions, after an artillery and gas bombardment, attempted to gain their objectives. The wire had not been effectively cut and attacking battalions were annihilated without achieving anything. Among those seriously injured was Douglas.
Douglas died of his wounds two days later, on 15th October, and was one of the first to be buried in the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery. Forty-five other Commonwealth soldiers lie alongside him. His life is commemorated on the War Memorials at Fourdon Parish Church, at Arbroath and at Ellesmere College.
His parents were Alexander Nicol and Elizabeth Harber Simpson of Fordoun, Kinkardineshire. There were four children in the family and Douglas, the youngest and only son, was born on 15th July 1890.Three elder sisters made sure he behaved and probably made him appreciate the confines of Ellesmere more! Why his parents chose to educate him 375 miles south of their home is not known.
Douglas played for his dormitory, the ‘Heywood’ in the various competitions: hockey, football, rugby and cricket. Douglas was reported to have “played up pluckily” in the hockey competition when the Heywood was heavily defeated by the ‘Arthur’ dormitory. Out on the wicket, he is recorded to have scored a total of five runs in his last cricket game for his dormitory.
The Ellesmerian reported his appointment as Dayroom Captain. Douglas was awarded the Form Prize in June 1904 and gained a Pass certificate in the 1906 Oxford Local Examinations, having been successful in Arithmetic, Religious Knowledge, English History, English Geography, Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry.
Very little is known of his life after he left Ellesmere at the end of the summer term 1906 when 16 years old but newspaper reports indicate that, prior to enlisting, he held a ‘commercial appointment’ in Brechin – in fact he was assisting his father who managed the East Brechin mill as well as other business interests. Douglas was active in the local community and took on the role of Secretary for the Kincardineshire Junior Football Association.
He enlisted in the 7th Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders in the spring of 1915, and the award of the 1915 Star Medal confirms that he saw active service in a foreign theatre of war before the end of the year. He was also awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
The 7th (Deeside) Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders arrived in Boulogne in May 1915 and was very soon in action. In the early autumn, Douglas, now a 2nd Lieutenant, had been on leave in England, and had attended the funeral of another Auchinblae man who had died on active service, after which he returned to his unit.
On 13th October 1915, the unit took part in the renewal of the offensive at Loos. Losses were heavy as the various Divisions, after an artillery and gas bombardment, attempted to gain their objectives. The wire had not been effectively cut and attacking battalions were annihilated without achieving anything. Among those seriously injured was Douglas.
Douglas died of his wounds two days later, on 15th October, and was one of the first to be buried in the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery. Forty-five other Commonwealth soldiers lie alongside him. His life is commemorated on the War Memorials at Fourdon Parish Church, at Arbroath and at Ellesmere College.
