Auchonvillers Military Cemetery
The Auchonvillers Military Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Somme region of France commemorating British and Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Somme in World War I. The cemetery contains soldiers who died manning the Allied front line near the village of Auchonvillers.[1]
| Auchonvillers Communal Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery | |
|---|---|
 Auchonvillers Military Cemetery | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Established | June 1915 |
| Location | Auchonvillers, France |
| Type | Military |
| No. of graves | 528 |
| Website | cwgc.org |
Location
editThe cemetery is located on the outskirts of Auchonvillers, which is approximately 20 kilometers south of Arras, France. The two towns are linked by the D919 road. The coordinates of the cemetery are 50°04′50″N 2°37′36″E / 50.08059°N 2.62674°E.[2]
Establishment of the Cemetery
editHistory
editBetween the beginning of the war and mid-1915, the front was held by French troops, who started the cemetery in June 1915. From 1915 until the German retreat in February 1917, the cemetery was used by Commonwealth units including the 51st Highlanders and military hospitals, who referred to it as "Ocean Villas".[3] The cemetery was seldom used after 1917. After the Armistice agreement ended hostilities in the Great War, 15 more graves were created for soldiers who died in the area east of the cemetery. French graves have since been moved to separate burial grounds. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and William Cowlishaw.[1][2]
Statistics
edit
Currently, 528 Commonwealth soldiers are buried in the cemetery. 487 soldiers are identifiable, including 457 British, 8 Canadians, and 2 New Zealanders.[2]
| Nationality | Number of Burials |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 457 |
| Canada | 8 |
| New Zealand | 2 |
| Lancashire Fusiliers | 47 | Border Regiment | 33 |
| Royal Dublin Fusiliers | 25 | Middlesex Regiment | 23 |
| New Zealand burials | 22 | Royal Sussex Regiment | 18 |
| Black Watch | 17 | Royal Fusiliers - City of London Regiment | 16 |
| Royal Engineers | 15 | Royal Field Artillery | 15 |
| Duke of Wellington - West Riding Regiment | 13 | Worcestershire Regiment | 13 |
| Royal Warwickshire Regiment | 12 | Seaforth Highlanders | 12 |
| Gordon Highlanders | 11 | Hampshire Regiment | 11 |
| Lincolnshire Regiment | 11 | Royal Irish Rifles | 11 |
| Royal Irish Fusiliers | 9 | Essex Regiment | 8 |
| Gloucestershire Regiment | 8 | Royal Irish Regiment | 8 |
| Royal Newfoundland Regiment | 8 | Royal Scots | 8 |
| South Wales Borderers | 8 | Suffolk Regiment | 8 |
| Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders | 7 | East Yorkshire Regt. | 7 |
| Highland Light Infantry | 7 | King's Own Scottish Borderers | 7 |
| East Lancashire Regiment | 6 | French burials | 6 |
| Royal Garrison Artillery | 6 | West Yorkshire Regiment | 6 |
| King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry | 5 | Machine Gun Corps | 5 |
| Northumberland Fusiliers | 5 | Rifle Brigade | 5 |
| Hertfordshire Regiment | 4 | Loyal North Lancashire Regiment | 4 |
| Manchester Regiment | 4 | Royal Navy Division - Infantry | 4 |
| Bedfordshire Regiment | 3 | Monmouthshire Regiment | 3 |
| Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment | 3 | King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment | 3 |
| South Lancashire Regiment | 3 | York & Lancaster Regiment | 3 |
| Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers | 2 | Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 2 |
| Buffs - East Kent Regiment | 1 | King's Liverpool Regiment | 1 |
| King's Royal Rifle Corps | 1 | King's Shropshire Light Infantry | 1 |
| Norfolk Regiment | 1 | Queen's - Royal West Surrey Regiment | 1 |
| Royal Berkshire Regiment | 1 | Royal Scots Fusiliers | 1 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Cemetery Details | CWGC". www.cwgc.org. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ a b c d "Auchonvillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France (CWGC)". WW1 Cemeteries.com - A photographic guide to over 4000 military cemeteries and memorials. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "First World War.com - The Western Front Today - Auchonvillers Cemetery". www.firstworldwar.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ Canada, Veterans Affairs (2019-02-20). "Auchonvillers Military Cemetery - The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada". www.veterans.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Auchonvillers Military Cemetery". silentwitness.freeservers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.