"Y" RAVINE CEMETERY
Beaumont Hamel
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.07609, Longitude: 2.65213
Location Information
Using the D919 from Arras to Amiens you will drive through the villages of Bucquoy, Puisieux then Serre Les Puisieux (approximately 20 kilometres south of Arras). On leaving Serre Les Puisieux, 3 kilometres further along the D919, turn left following the signs for Auchonvillers. At the crossroads in the village centre, follow the signs for 'Newfoundland Park, Beaumont Hamel'. "Y" Ravine Cemetery is located within the Park.
Historical Information
"Y" Ravine runs East and West about 800 metres South of the village, from "Station Road" to the front line of July 1916. It was a deep ravine with steep sides, lined with dug-outs, with extending two short arms at the West end.
The village of Beaumont-Hamel was attacked and reached on 1 July, 1916, by units of the 29th Division (which included the Royal Newfoundland Regiment), but it could not be held. It was attacked again and captured, with the Ravine, by the 51st (Highland) Division on 13 November 1916. The Newfoundland Memorial Park, and the 29th and 51st Divisional Memorials within it, commemorate these engagements, and "Y" Ravine Cemetery is within the Park. The village was later "adopted", with three others in the Somme, by the City of Winchester.
The cemetery was made by the V Corps in the spring of 1917, when these battlefields were cleared. It was called originally "Y" Ravine Cemetery No.1. No.2 cemetery was concentrated after the Armistice into Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel.
There are 428, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a third are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 53 soldiers (or sailors or Marines) from the United Kingdom and eight from Newfoundland, known or believed to be buried among them.
The cemetery covers an area of 1,166 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, M. C.
Total Burials: 428.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 239, Canada 36. Total 275.
Unidentified Casualties: 153.
Using the D919 from Arras to Amiens you will drive through the villages of Bucquoy, Puisieux then Serre Les Puisieux (approximately 20 kilometres south of Arras). On leaving Serre Les Puisieux, 3 kilometres further along the D919, turn left following the signs for Auchonvillers. At the crossroads in the village centre, follow the signs for 'Newfoundland Park, Beaumont Hamel'. "Y" Ravine Cemetery is located within the Park.
Historical Information
"Y" Ravine runs East and West about 800 metres South of the village, from "Station Road" to the front line of July 1916. It was a deep ravine with steep sides, lined with dug-outs, with extending two short arms at the West end.
The village of Beaumont-Hamel was attacked and reached on 1 July, 1916, by units of the 29th Division (which included the Royal Newfoundland Regiment), but it could not be held. It was attacked again and captured, with the Ravine, by the 51st (Highland) Division on 13 November 1916. The Newfoundland Memorial Park, and the 29th and 51st Divisional Memorials within it, commemorate these engagements, and "Y" Ravine Cemetery is within the Park. The village was later "adopted", with three others in the Somme, by the City of Winchester.
The cemetery was made by the V Corps in the spring of 1917, when these battlefields were cleared. It was called originally "Y" Ravine Cemetery No.1. No.2 cemetery was concentrated after the Armistice into Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel.
There are 428, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a third are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 53 soldiers (or sailors or Marines) from the United Kingdom and eight from Newfoundland, known or believed to be buried among them.
The cemetery covers an area of 1,166 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, M. C.
Total Burials: 428.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 239, Canada 36. Total 275.
Unidentified Casualties: 153.
2304 Sergeant
Harry Bremner, M. M.
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
15th November 1916, aged 21.
Special Memorial B. 8.
Son of Charles and Jessie E. Davidson Bremner, of Cortes Cottage, Lonmay, Aberdeenshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Fondly Remembered"
Harry Bremner, M. M.
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
15th November 1916, aged 21.
Special Memorial B. 8.
Son of Charles and Jessie E. Davidson Bremner, of Cortes Cottage, Lonmay, Aberdeenshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Fondly Remembered"
291160 Private
Albert Reid Ellis
7th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 33.
Row D. 53.
Son of James and Barbara Ellis, of Wark Leochel, Cushnie, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Ever Remembered"
Albert Reid Ellis
7th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 33.
Row D. 53.
Son of James and Barbara Ellis, of Wark Leochel, Cushnie, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Ever Remembered"
Second Lieutenant
Roderick Mackenzie Ferguson
4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 21.
Row A. 27.
Son of John Macrae Ferguson, I.S.O., and Mrs. Ferguson, of 4, Marine Terrace, Aberdeen. Born at Ashford, Kent. Employee of Canadian Bank of Commerce, Kingston, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "Till He Come"
Roderick Mackenzie Ferguson
4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 21.
Row A. 27.
Son of John Macrae Ferguson, I.S.O., and Mrs. Ferguson, of 4, Marine Terrace, Aberdeen. Born at Ashford, Kent. Employee of Canadian Bank of Commerce, Kingston, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "Till He Come"
6402 Private
Laurence Halcrow
1st/7th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916.
Row B. 84.
Laurence Halcrow
1st/7th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916.
Row B. 84.
9214 Private
Robert Irwin, M. M.
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st July 1916
Row C. 50
Robert Irwin, M. M.
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st July 1916
Row C. 50
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
1275 Lance Corporal
Frederick Janes
1st Bn. Newfoundland Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 23.
Row D. 10.
Son of Alexander and Bertha Janes, of St. John's, Newfoundland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Dawn"
Frederick Janes
1st Bn. Newfoundland Regiment
1st July 1916, aged 23.
Row D. 10.
Son of Alexander and Bertha Janes, of St. John's, Newfoundland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Dawn"
Second Lieutenant
John Bowler Karran
2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers
1st July 1916.
Row B. 10.
John Bowler Karran was the son of Mr George C. Karran, of Sea Mount, Castletown, and a member of the family which owned and operated the Karran Fleet. John was educated at King William's College, and in September 1914 received a commission in the 2nd battalion South Wales Borderers. He spent five months at Gallipoli in 1915, and after the British withdrawal from the Dardanelles he was posted to France. He was killed in action on 2 July 1916, at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, whilst serving as bombing officer with his battalion.
John Bowler Karran
2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers
1st July 1916.
Row B. 10.
John Bowler Karran was the son of Mr George C. Karran, of Sea Mount, Castletown, and a member of the family which owned and operated the Karran Fleet. John was educated at King William's College, and in September 1914 received a commission in the 2nd battalion South Wales Borderers. He spent five months at Gallipoli in 1915, and after the British withdrawal from the Dardanelles he was posted to France. He was killed in action on 2 July 1916, at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, whilst serving as bombing officer with his battalion.
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1373 Private
William Brown McDonald
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Higlanders
15th November 1916. *
Special Memorial B. 7.
Son of Jane Isabella McDonald of 17 Longate, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. Youngest brother of my Grandma Catherine Jane Forbes (formerly McDonald
* The date of his death on the certificate is noted as 13th, yet all other documents record the 15th while the War Diary for the regiment has "Died of Wounds" on the 16th.
Submitted by his Great Niece Valerie Porter (formerly Forbes) and family. Always remembered.
William Brown McDonald
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Higlanders
15th November 1916. *
Special Memorial B. 7.
Son of Jane Isabella McDonald of 17 Longate, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. Youngest brother of my Grandma Catherine Jane Forbes (formerly McDonald
* The date of his death on the certificate is noted as 13th, yet all other documents record the 15th while the War Diary for the regiment has "Died of Wounds" on the 16th.
Submitted by his Great Niece Valerie Porter (formerly Forbes) and family. Always remembered.
Second Lieutenant
Cuthbert Anthony Stonor
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st July 1916.
Plot D. 99.
Cuthbert Anthony Stonor
1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st July 1916.
Plot D. 99.
2271 Private
David Alexander Webster
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 24.
Row B. 65.
Son of Gordon and Margaret Webster, of Kelly, Methlick, Aberdeenshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Third Son Of Gordon Webster Kelly Methlick, Aberdeenshire
David Alexander Webster
1st/5th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916, aged 24.
Row B. 65.
Son of Gordon and Margaret Webster, of Kelly, Methlick, Aberdeenshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Third Son Of Gordon Webster Kelly Methlick, Aberdeenshire
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
