The Authuile Military Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Somme region of France commemorating British and Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the First World War. The cemetery contains soldiers who died on a variety of dates in several battles near the French village of Authuile.[1][2]
| Authuile Military Cemetery | |
|---|---|
 Memorial at the Authuile Cemetery | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Established | 1915 |
| Location | Authuile, Somme, France |
| Country | Great Britain and Commonwealth |
| Coordinates | 50°02′26″N 2°39′57″E / 50.04056°N 2.66573°E |
| Type | Military |
| Size | 2650 sq m |
| No. of graves | 450+, 435 identifiable |
| Website | cwgc.org |
| Find a Grave | Authuile Military Cemetery |
Location
editThe cemetery is located on the south side of the village of Authile, approximately 5 km north of Albert, France.[1]
Conflict near Authuile
editThe village was destroyed by shell fire while under the control of the British from summer 1915 to March 1918, when it was captured in the German Offensive on the Somme. It was used by the British from August 1915 to December 1916, and from 1917 to 1918 by Indian Labour Companies.[1]
Establishment of the cemetery
editHistory
editThe cemetery was used by field ambulances and fighting units from August 1915 to December 1916 and in 1917 and 1918 by Indian Labor Companies. Two German soldiers have been removed from the cemetery since burial.[3][4]
Statistics
editOf the 472 graves in the cemetery, 435 are identified and approximately 40 are unidentified. Special memorials are dedicated to 18 British soldiers known to be buried among the unknown. The cemetery covers an area of 2650 square meters and is enclosed by a concrete curb.[1][3]
| Nation | Number of Known Burials |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 472 |
| India | 14 |
| South Africa | 3 |
| Germany | 1 |
| Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers | 63 | Royal Irish Rifles | 41 |
| West Yorkshire Regiment | 41 | Lancashire Fusiliers | 38 |
| Dorsetshire Regiment | 24 | Highland Light Infantry | 24 |
| King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry | 23 | Northumberland Fusiliers | 23 |
| Duke of Wellington - West Riding Regiment | 15 | York & Lancaster Regiment | 15 |
| Border Regiment | 11 | Gordon Highlanders | 11 |
| Manchester Regiment | 10 | Royal Field Artillery | 10 |
| Royal Engineers | 9 | Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders | 7 |
| Machine Gun Corps | 6 | Black Watch | 5 |
| South Lancashire Regiment | 5 | Indian Labour Company | 4 |
| Northamptonshire Regiment | 4 | Loyal North Lancashire | 3 |
| Royal Sussex | 3 | Seaforth Highlanders | 3 |
| South African Heavy Artillery | 3 | Worcestershire Regiment | 3 |
| 29th Lancers - Deccan Horse | 2 | 9th Hodson's Horse | 2 |
| Cheshire Regiment | 2 | Durham Light Infantry | 2 |
| King's Liverpool Regiment | 2 | King's Own Scottish Borderers | 2 |
| Royal Garrison Artillery | 2 | 11th King Edward's Own Cavalry | 1 |
| 19th Lancers - Fane's Horse | 1 | 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers | 1 |
| 36th Jacob's Horse | 1 | 37th Lancers | 1 |
| 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry | 1 | East Surrey Regiment | 1 |
| Gloucestershire Regiment | 1 | Hampshire Regiment | 1 |
| Inniskilling Dragoons | 1 | Middlesex Regiment | 1 |
| Royal Fusiliers | 1 | Royal Horse Guards | 1 |
| Royal Irish Fusiliers | 1 | Somerset Light Infantry | 1 |
| Wiltshire Regiment | 1 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Cemetery Details | CWGC". www.cwgc.org. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ "Webmatters : Authuile Military Cemetery, Authuille". www.webmatters.net. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ a b c "Authuile Military Cemetery, Somme, France (CWGC)". WW1 Cemeteries.com - A photographic guide to over 4000 military cemeteries and memorials. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ a b "Authuile Military Cemetery". silentwitness.freeservers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.