Auchonvillers Military Cemetery &
Auchonvillers Communal Cemetery (Somme)

Details

Auchonvillers is a village and commune in the Department of the Somme, about six miles North of Albert and ten miles West of Bapaume. The Communal Cemetery is South-East of the village, on the raod to Hamel. The Military Cemetery is about 300 yards from the Church, at the end of a path leading North from the road to Mailly-Maillet.

From the outbreak of the War to the summer of 1915 the Ancre front was held by French troops, and French soldiers were buried in the North-West corner of the Communal Cemetery. Further along the North side, 13 Non-Commisioned Officers and men of the 1st Border Regiment were buried in April, 1916; and two other British soldiers who died in August, 1915, and August, 1918, are buried elsewhere in the cemetery. They are now buried altogether in one row (see below)

Those buried in Auchovillers communal Cemetery

Pte F.W. Ashdown, 22618. 1st Bn. Border Regt, died 6th April, 1916 aged 19. 10

Pte. D. Bell, 18002. 1st Bn. Border Regt, died 6th April, 1916. 12

Cpl. C. Cartlidge, 6069. 1st Border Regt., died 6th April, 1916, aged 24. 4

C.S.M. Albert Herbert Cormack, 5460, Long Service & Good Conduct Medals. 1st Bn. Border Regt., killed in action 6th April, 1916, aged 37. 6

Pte. T. Crompton. 20331. 1st Bn. Border Regt., died 6th April, 1916. 8

Lce. Cpl. John Edward Davis, 10791, "C" Coy. 1st Bn. Kings' Own (Royal Lancaster Regt)., died 12th August, 1915, aged 21.

Lce. Cpl. W. Fleming, 11840, 1st Bn. Border Regt. killed in action 6th April, 1916, aged 30. 3.

Pte. T.E. Goodman, 22934. 1st Bn. Border Regt., died 6th April, 1916. 1

Sgt. G.F. Hanson, 8370, 1st Bn. Border Regt., died 6th April, 1916. 5.

Pte. Dennis William Harnett, 22807. 1st Btn Border Regt. died 6th April, 1916, aged 21. 13.

Pte. T., Hughes, 19785. 1st Bn. Border Regt., died 6th April, 1916. 11

Pte. J.W. Jeffs., 7340, 1st Bn. Border Regt., died 6th April, 1916. 7.

Cpl. F., Rowlett, 7751. 1st Bn. Border Regt., died 6th April, 1916. 2

Lce. Cpl. E., Sugden, 307582, 10th Bn. West Yorkshire Regt., 24th August, 1918.

Pte. A., Townsend, 7406, 1st Bn. Border Regt., died 6th April, 1916, aged 33. 9

The Military Cemetery was begun by the French troops in June, 1915, and burials practically ceased with the German retreat in February, 1917. It was used by Field Ambulances and fighting units.

Fifteen of the graves (Plot II, row M, graves 4-18) were concentrated after the Armistice from scattered positions East of the Cemetery.

Auchonvillers Miltary Cemetery now contains 534 graves, of which 496 are those of soldiers from the United Kingdom, 24 of New Zealand soldiers, 8 of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and 6 French soldiers.

Number of burials by unit.

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
Identified burials
508
      
Unidentified U.K. soldiers
41
      
Wholly unidentifed
2
      
Total Unidentified
43
      
Total Burials
551
      

Those with awards buried in this cemetery.

Capt. Trevor Howard Beves M.C., 1st Bn. Border Regiment, K.I.A. at the Battle of Beaumont Hamel, 1st July 1916 aged 25. II. C. 2.

Pte. Bernard Edward Binks M.M., 7th Bn. Border Regiment, K.I.A. 8th June 1918 aged 20. II. I. 2.

L/Cpl. Arthur Thomas Cooke M.M., 11th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died 14th Nov. 1916 aged 24. II. J. 15.

L.S. William Henry Davies M.M & Bar. R.N.V.R. Drake Bn. Royal Navy Division, K.I.A. 13th July 1918 aged 21. II. M. 1

C.S.M. Albert Jacob Gibbon M.M., 14th Bn. Hampshire Regiment. Died 9th Oct. 1916 aged 40. II. H. 9.

Capt. Hamilton Moss M.C., 9th Bn. Duke of Wellington (West Riding Regiment). Died 31st May 1918 aged 26. II. M. 35.

Pte. Daniel Percival Ratcliffe M.M., 10th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. & Derbys Regt.). Died 7th June 1918 aged 32. II. L. 5.

2nd Lt. Thomas St. John D.C.M., 1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment, attd. 11th Coy. Machine Gun Corps. Died of wounds 2nd July 1916 aged 24. II. E. 37.

C.S.M. Harold Gibson Smith D.C.M., 7th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment, K.I.A. 6th June 1918 aged 33. II. L. 13.

Those buried in this Cemetery.

Pte Richard Dale Lovett, 2426. 16th Bn. Middlesex Regt. Killed in action at Beaumont-Hamel, 1st July 1916, aged 46. Youngest son of Col. Thomas Heaton Lovett, Shropshire. He left his coffee estate in India and returned to serve in the war. II. E. 5.