Details

Albert is a town of 7,000 inhabitants on the river Ancre, in the Department of the Somme. It was held by the French forces against the German advance on the Somme in September, 1914. It passes into British hands in the summer of 1915; and the first fighting in July, 1916, is known as the Battle of Albert, 1916. It was captures by the Germans on the 26th March, 1918, and before its recapture by the 8th East Surreys on the following 22nd August ( in the Battle of Albert, 1918) it had been completely destroyed by artillery fire.

Albert Communal Cemetery is on the South-East side of the town, at the junction of the roads to Fricourt and Méaulte, and the Extension is entirely enclosed by it except for the frontage to the Fricourt road. The Extension was used by fighting units and Field Ambulances from August, 1915 to November, 1916, and more particularly in and after September, 1916, when Field Ambulances were concentrated at Albert. From November, 1916, the 5th Casualty Clearing Station used it for two months. From March, 1917, it was not used (except for four burials in March, 1918) until the end of August, 1918, when Plot II was made by the 18th Division.

The Extension contains the graves of 618 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 202 from Canada, 39 ffrom Australia and two from the British West Indies Regiment; one man whose unit in the UK forces is not known; and one employee og the Imperial War Graves Commission. Five graves, destroyed by shell fire, are now represented by special memorials. The unnamed graves are twelve in number.

The 2nd Field Company, Australian Engineers, and the 29th, 73rd and 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalions erected wooden memorials in the Extension to their dead in the Battles of the Somme, 1916.

Number of burials by Unit

Those having awards buried in this cemetery

L/Sgt. Edward Barnes M.M., 31st Bn. Canadian Inf. (Alberta Reg.). Died 26th Sept. 1916 aged 25. P.50

Brig. Gen. Randle Barnett-Barker D.S.O. & Bar, Late Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Commanding 99th Infantry Brigade. Killed in action 24th March 1918 at the 2nd Battle of the Somme aged 48. Son of Maj. John Barnett-Barker, late Northumberland Fusiliers. Special Memorial 4.

Capt. Edward Inkerman Jordan Bell M.C. & Bar, 17th Bn. Middlesex Regt., and Staff General List, 99th Infantry Brigade. Died 24th March 1918 aged 32. Special Memorial 5.

2nd Lt. Percy Augustine Binley M.C., 10th Bn. Essex Regt. Killed in action 23rd Aug. 1918 aged 37. S. 8

Lt. James Sutherland Brims, Mentioned in Despatches. "D" Bty. 79th Brig. Royal Field Artillery. Died 8th Nov. 1916 aged 24. R. 46

L/Cpl. Marenza Bristow M.M., 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. Killed in action 22nd Aug. 1918 aged 24. A. 5

Lt. Col. Victor Carl Buchanan D.S.O., 13th Bn. Canadian Inf. (Quebuec Regt.) Killed in action 26th Sept. 1916 aged 47. P. 24

Brig. Gen. Henry Frederick Hugh Clifford D.S.O., Suffolk Regt. Commanding 149th Brig. Killed by sniper from Delville Wood while inspecting advanced assembly trenches, 11th Sept. 1916 aged 49. Son of Maj. Gen. The Hon. Sir Henry Hugh Clifford, V.C., K.C.M.G., C.B. L. 1

Gnr. Joseph Dyson M.M., 1st Trench Mortar Bty. Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 31st Oct. 1916 aged 21. Q. 43

Pte. W. George D.C.M., 1st Bn. The Black Watch. Died 14th July 1916. J. 26

Lt. E. C. Harvey D.C.M., M.M., 3rd Bn. Canadian Inf. (1st Central Ontario Regt.). Died 8th Sept. 1916 aged 27. J. 1

Gnr. P. Hill M.M., 13th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 17th Sept. 1916. N. 3

2nd Lt. Herbert Josiah Hine M.M., 6th Bn. The Buffs. Died 25th Aug. 1918 aged 30. S. 10

Gnr. Joseph Lambert D.C.M., M.M., 83rd Bty. 11th Brig. Royal Field Artillery. Died 7th Aug. 1916 aged 25. N. 62

Lt. Col. James Atkinson Longridge C.M.G. Officer Legion of Honour. 43rd Erinpura Regt. Indian Army. Killed in action 18th Aug.1916 aged 41.. M. 9

Lt. John Angus MacDonald M.C., 47th Bn. Canadian Inf. (Western Ontario Regt.) Died 11th Nov. 1916 aged 31. E. 36

L/Cpl. G. Peacock D.C.M., Croix de Guerre (France), 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. Died 22nd Aug. 1918 aged 29. C. 4

Maj. Wilfred Ferrier Petermann, Mentioned in Despatches. 13th Bn. Canadian Inf. (Quebec Regt.) Died 26th Sept. 1916 aged 28. P. 27

Capt. Harold Price M.C., 26th (Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers. Killed in action 26th June 1916 aged 25. D. 33

Lt. John Percival Pringle M.M., 3rd Coy. 2nd Bn. Canadian Inf. (Eastern Ontario Regt.) Killed in action 9th Sept. 1916 aged 31. L. 3

Lt. Rex Pryce-Jones, Mentioned in Despatches. 50th Bn. Canadian Inf. (Alberta Regt.). Killed in action on the Somme 18th Nov. 1916 aged 20. Son of Col. A. W. Pryce-Jones, O.B.E. G. 34

Sgt. F. D. Rainbow M.M., 55th Field Amb. Royal Army Medical Corps. Died 25th Aug. 1918. B.20

Maj. T. Charles Richardson M.C., 185th Coy. Royal Engineers. Died 4th Feb. 1916 aged 31. F. 1

Act. Bmdr. H. E. Roach D.C.M., 107th Bty. 23rd Brig. Royal Field Artillery. Died 8th March 1917. C. 33

Pte. Charles Albert Snook M.M., 7th Bn. The Buffs. Died of wounds 26th Aug. 1918 aged 23. B.19

Pte. G. W. Taylor, Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, 7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. Died of wounds 25th Oct. 1916 aged 36. Served in the South African War. Q. 61

Sgt. Ivar Thoren, Mentioned in Despatches. 2nd Australian Pioneers. Died of wounds 30th July 1916 aged 32. L. 33

Bmdr. Percival Vine M.M. & Bar, "Y" 1st Trench Mortar Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 31st Oct 1916 aged 27. Q. 46

Maj. Charles Blair Wilson, Mentioned in Despatches. 42nd Bn. (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Canadian Inf. (Quebec Regt.) Killed in action on the Somme 15th Sept. 1916 aged 21. Born Clerkington, Scotland. Educated at Horris Hill and Winchester. M. 2

Others buried in this cemetery

Bernard Ernest Wellum, Imperial War Graves Commission (formerly served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Died 11th July 1921 aged 25. S. 1A