Bazentin-Le-Petit Military Cemetery (Somme)

Details

Bazentin is a commune in the Department of the Somme, to the North-East of Albert, containing the villages of Bazentin-le-Grand and Bazentin-le-Petit. The Military Cemetery is behind a group of cottages on the west side of the village.

Bazentin was in German hands until 14th July, 1916, when the 3rd and 7th Divisions captured the two villages and the Communal Cemetery and held them against counter-attacks, and the 21st Division captured Bazentin-le-Petit Wood. (The 7th Division erected a commemorative oak cross at the North end of Bazentin-le-Petit.) The ground was lost in April, 1918, but recaptured on the following 25th August by the 38th (Welsh) Division.

The Military Cemetery was begun at the end of July, 1916, and used until May, 1917, as a front line cemetery. It contains the graves of 116 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 55 from Australia and 10 from South Africa. Fifteen of the graves are those of unidentified soldiers. Thirty-three German graves were removed in 1923.

Number of burials by unit

Australian burials
56
   Royal Field Artillery
15
Durham Light Infantry
11
   Royal Garrison Artillery
10
Welsh Regiment
9
   South African Infantry
8
Cameron Highlanders
6
   Cameronians - Scottish Rifles
5
Northumberland Fusiliers
5
   Machine Gun Corps
4
Royal Army Medical Corps
4
   Royal Army Service Corps
4
Black Watch
3
   East Yorkshire Regiment
3
Gloucestershire Regiment
3
   Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
2
Gordon Highlanders
2
   Royal Engineers
2
Royal Scots - Lothian Regiment
2
   Duke of Wellington - West Riding Regiment
1
Green Howards - Yorkshire Regiment
1
   King's Own Scottish Borderers
1
King's Royal Rifle Corps
1
   Lancers 16th
1
Leicestershire Regiment
1
   Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
1
Northamptonshire Regiment
1
   Royal Horse Artillery
1
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1
   Seaforth Highlanders
1
South African Heavy Artillery
1
   South Wales Borderers
1
Identified burials
167
      
Unidentified British burials
15
      
Total burials
182
      

Those with awards buried in this cemetery

Sgt. Ernest Jones M.M., 6th Bn. Welsh Regiment, died 10th Dec. 1916 aged 24. E. 19.

Capt. Harold Oscar Teague. Mentioned in Despatches. 11th Bn. Australian Infantry. K.I.A. 14th Feb. 1917 aged 39. G. 11.

Sgt. Owen Thomas Thomas M.M., "D" Bty. Royal Horse Artillery. K.I.A. at Trones Wood 20th Oct. 1916. D. 7.