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Ervillers is a village and commune
in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, between Arras and Bapaume and
almost midway between Mory and Courcelles-le-Comte. It was occupied
by British troops in March, 1917, evacuated a year later after an obstinate
defence by the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, and retaken by the 2nd
Division on the following 23rd August. It has been "adopted"
by the Country Borough of Oldham.
Two cemeteries were made by the Germans
at Ervillers. The first which is the present Military Cemetery, contained
the graves of some British prisoners and was carried on by the British
troops in 1917. The second, begun in the garden of the Mayor's house
in March, 1918, has been removed.
The Military Cemetery is in the South-western
part of the village. The German graves, 141 in number, have been removed
and it now contains the graves of 66 soldiers from the United Kingdom
and one from Australia. The unnamed graves are 15 in number.
The cemetery covers an area of 484
square metres and is enclosed by a flint wall.
Number of burials by Unit
| Royal Warwickshire
Regt. |
8
|
|
Royal Field Artillery |
7
|
| Gordon Highlanders |
6
|
|
Royal Engineers |
4
|
| King's Own Yorkshire
Light Infantry |
3
|
|
Devonshire Regt. |
2
|
| King's Own Royal Lancaster
Regt. |
2
|
|
Manchester Regt. |
2
|
| Royal
Army Medical Corps |
2
|
|
Royal
Flying Corps |
2
|
| South Staffordshire
Regt. |
2
|
|
West Yorkshire Regt. |
2
|
| Australia |
1
|
|
Duke of Wellington's
- West Riding Regt. |
1
|
| East Yorkshire Regt. |
1
|
|
Honourable Artillery
Company |
1
|
| King's Liverpool Regt. |
1
|
|
Machine Gun Corps
- Infantry |
1
|
| Queen's - Royal West
Surrey Regt. |
1
|
|
Royal Army Service
Corps |
1
|
| Royal Dublin Fusiliers |
1
|
|
Royal Garrison Artillery |
1
|
| Identified burials
|
52
|
|
|
|
| Unidentified UK
burials: |
15
|
|
|
|
| Total burials |
67
|
|
|
|
Plan of the Cemetery
Included in the burials are:-
Pte. Hugh Robb Anderson, 2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders. Died of
accidental injuries 31st July 1917, aged 31. Born at Laurencekirk. E.10
2nd Lt. Robert Thomas, 21st Bn. Manchester Regt. Died of wounds
received in action at Croisilles, 2nd April 1917, aged 24. A.2
Capt. Herbert Spanner, 27th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps. Killed
whilst flying, 28th Dec. 1916, aged 23. His parents were from Toronto,
Canada. D.4
Bmdr. Ben Whitaker, 786116, "D" Bty. 312th Brig. Royal
Field Artillery. Killed in action 5th April 1917, aged 27. Son of John
Henry and Mary Elizabeth Whitaker, of 43 Guycroft, Otley, Yorks. Born
at Otley. B.1.
Dvr. Fred Whitaker, 786117, "D" Bty. 312th Brig. Royal
Field Artillery. Killed in action 5th April 1917, aged 25. Son of John
Henry and Mary Elizabeth Whitaker, of 43 Guycroft, Otley, Yorks. Born
at Otley. B.1.
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