Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz (Somme)

Details

Mametz is a village and commune in the Department of the Somme, four miles East of Albert. A little North of it is Mametz Wood, and a little East of Mametz Wood id the small plantation known to the Army as Flatiron Copse. North-East of Flatiron Copse are the wood and village of Bazentin-le-Grand, and Northward those of Bazentin-le-Petit. Flatiron Copse Cemetery is at the South end of the Copse.

The ground was cleared by the 3rd and 7th Divisions on the 14th July, 1916, and an Advanced Dressing Station was established at the Copse. The cemetery was begun about the 20th July, and it remained in use until April 1917. It was used again for two burials in August, 1918; and after the Armistice, 1,149 graves were brought in from smaller cemeteries and from neighbouring battlefields. Almost all the concentrated graves are those of men who fell in the summer and autumn of 1916.

The cemetery now contains the graves of 1,475 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 30 from New Zealand, 17 from Australia, and one from South Africa. The unnamed graves are 416 in number, and special memorials are erected to 36 soldiers from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of nine soldiers from the United Kingdom buried in Mametz Wood Cemetery, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.

The following were among the burial grounds concentrated into Flatiron Copse Cemetery :-

Caterpillar Cemetery, Montauban, in "Caterpillar Wood". It contained the graves of 21 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in July, 1916, and of whom 12 belonged to the 6th and 7th Gordons.

Cross Roads Cemetery, Bazentin, near the cross-roads at the North end of Bazentin-le-Grand. Here were buried 15 soldiers from the United Kingdom and four from New Zealand who fell in 1916-1917.

Mametz Wood Cemetery, outside the Western edge of Mametz Wood, in which 18 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried in 1916.

Quadrangle Cemetery, Bazentin, between Bottom Wood and Mametz Wood, named from a small rectangular copse. Here were buried in 1916, 32 soldiers from the United kingdom and three from Australia, of whom 22 were artillery.

Valley Cemetery, Montauban, between the Briqueterie and Maltzhorn Farm, in which 72 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried in August and September, 1916.

Villa Wood Cemeteries No. 1 and No. 2, Contalmaison, near a small copse North of Mametz Wood. They contained the graves of 62 soldiers from Untied Kingdom who fell in 1916.

Number of Burials by Unit

Royal Field Artillery
173
  Welsh Regiment
70
Middlesex Regiment
38
  Northumberland Fusiliers
36
Gordon Highlanders
33
  South Wales Borderers
33
Machine Gun Corps
32
   Royal Scots - Lothian Regiment
32
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
32
   Royal Engineers
31
Highland Light Infantry
29
   King's Royal Rifle Corps
28
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
27
   New Zealand Burials
27
Durham Light Infantry
27
   Leicestershire Regiment
25
Rifle Brigade
24
   Royal Army Medical Corps
24
King's Liverpool Regiment
23
   Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
21
West Yorkshire Regiment
21
   Black Watch
19
Australian Burials
18
   1st/24th Bn. London Regiment - The Queen's
17
Green Howards - Yorkshire Regiment
17
   Gloucestershire Regiment
14
Cameronions - Scottish Rifles
13
   Royal Garrison Artillery
13
Royal Scots Fusiliers
13
   Royal Warwickshire Regiment
13
Cameron Highlanders
12
   Manchester Regiment
12
Devonshire Regiment
11
   Royal Fusiliers - City of London Regiment
11
King's Own Scottish Borderers
10
   Cheshire Regiment
9
Royal Munster Fusiliers
9
   East Surrey Regiment
8
East Yorkshire Regiment
8
   York & Lancaster Regiment
8
North Staffordshire Regiment
7
   Northamptonshire Regiment
7
Royal Berkshire Regiment
7
   Seaforth Highlanders
7
Border Regiment
5
   East Lancashire Regiment
5
King's Shropshire Light Infantry
5
   Royal Sussex Regiment
5
Suffolk Regiment
5
   18th Bn. London Regiment - London Irish Rifles
4
1st/22nd Bn. London Regiment - The Queen's
4
   King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
4
Lancashire Fusiliers
4
   Royal Irish Fusiliers
4
Notts. & Derbyshire Regiment
4
   South Staffordshire Regiment
4
Wiltshire Regiment
4
   12th Bn. London Regiment - Rangers
3
Queen's - Royal West Surrey Regiment
3
   Royal Irish Regiment
3
South Lancashire Regiment
3
   Canadian Burials
2
14th Bn. London Regiment - London Scottish
2
   15th Bn. London Regiment - Civil Service Rifles
2
17th Bn. London Regiment - Poplar & Stepney Rifles
2
   21st Bn. London Regiment - First Surrey Rifles
2
23rd Bn. London Regiment
2
   6th Bn. London Regiment - Rifles
2
6th Dragoon Guards
2
   Essex Regiment
2
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
2
   North Irish Horse
2
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
2
   10th Bn. London Regiment
1
3rd Hussars
1
   Artists Rifles
1
Buffs - East Kent Regiment
1
   Dorsetshire Regiment
1
Duke of Wellington - West Riding Regiment
1
  Irish Guards
1
Lincolnshire Regiment
1
   Norfolk Regiment
1
Royal Horse Artillery
1
   Somerset Light Infantry
1
South African Burials
1
   Worcestershire Regiment
1
Identified burials
1155
      
Unidentified burials
416
      
Total Number of burials
1571
      

Awards

Capt. Albert Baswitz M.C., Twice mentioned in Despatches, 1st/22nd Bn. London Regiment, KIA 16th Sept. 1916 aged 24. I. E. 13

Sgt. John Henry Burton M.M., 1st/7th King's Liverpool Regiment, died of wounds 11th Aug. 1916 aged 23. VI. A. 3

Lt. Charles Joseph Cadman M.C., 150th Inf. Brig. Signal Service, Royal Engineers, died 26th Jan. 1917 aged 24. I. E. 1

2nd Lt. John Beausire Copeland Capper M.C., "A" Bty., 70th Brig. Royal Field Artillery, KIA 27th Sept. 1916 aged 20. II. F. 4.

Capt. Groves Edwards Daniell M.C., Mentioned in Despatches, New Zealand Field Artillery, KIA 4th Oct. 1916 aged 27. Also served in Egypt and Gallipoli
Cpl. E. Dwyer V.C., Cross of St. George (Russia),
1st Bn. East Surrey Regiment. Died 3rd Sept. 1916. Grave III. J. 3
An extract from the "London Gazette" dated 21st May 1915, records the following: "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at "Hill 60"( Ypres Salient) on the 20th April 1915. When his trench was heavily attacked by German grenade throwers he climbed on to the parapet and, although subjected to a hail of bombs at close quarters, succeeded in dispersing the
enemy by the effective use of his hand grenades. Private Dwyer displayed great gallantry earlier on this day in leaving his trench, under heavy shell fire, to bandage his wounded comrades"

Capt. George Leonard Goodes M.C and Bar, 4th Bn. London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers. KIA 6th Oct. 1916 aged 35. VII. I. 5

Capt. Walter Robert Goodrick M.C., 7th Pioneer Bn. Durham Light Infantry, died 1st Jan. 1917 aged 25. I. C. 25

Lt. Col. Arthur Percival Hamilton M.C., The Queen's, att to 19th Bn. London Regiment. Died 15th Sept. 1916 aged 32. VII. I. 2

Capt. Charles Edward Piercy Henderson M.C., Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, KIA at Martinpuich 17th Nov. 1916 aged 29. Grave IV. J. 6. Educated at Summerfields, Oxford, Radley College, Oxford and Woolwich Academy. Joined R.F.A. I906: invented an anti-aircraft gear in 1913. Was a balloonist and held a Royal Aero Club certificate.

Maj. Hugh B. H. Johnston D.S.O., 21st Heavy Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery, Died 27th Oct. 1916 aged 39. II. H. 4

Capt. Thomas Aloysius Kelly M.C., 24th Bn. London Regiment, KIA 2nd Oct. 1916. II. H. 7

Maj. G. E. Kidd D.S.O. "A" Bty. 70th Brig. Royal Field Artillery. Died 26th Sept. 1916. II. F. 5

Pte. J. Lindsay M.M., 1st Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Inf.). KIA 18th Aug. 1916. X. F. 5.

Capt. P. A. C. Maginn M.C., London Irish Rifles, died 15th Sept. 1916. I. H. 37.

Lt. L. W. Mobberley M.C., 24th Bn. London Regiment. Died 11th Sept. 1916 aged 22. II. H. 8

Lt. Col. James Mortimer C.M.G., 5th Green Howards, Yorkshire Regiment. Died 15th Sept. 1916 IV. J. 5

Pte. C. Sims M.M., 2nd Field Amb. Royal Army Medical Corps. Died 9th Sept. 1916 aged 30. I. F. 60

Bty. S. M. H. Squelch D.C.M., 114TH Bty. Royal Field Artillery. Died 25th July 1916. X. J. 3

Capt. E. C. Squires M.C., West Yorkshire Regiment, died of wounds 18th Aug. 1916 aged 27. III. I. 5

Maj. J. R. Trinder M.C., London Irish Rifles. Died 15th Sept. 1916. VIII. J. 2.

Bmdr. J. Walker M.M., "D" Bty. 104th Brig. Royal Field Artillery. Died 6th Aug. 1916. VII. E. 2

Sgt. Samuel Wallwork M.M., 7th Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Died 14th July 1916. I. I. 19.

Lt. Frederick Vivian Ward-Jones M.C., 1st Bn. South Wales Borderers, attchd. To 9th Bn. died 16th July 1916 aged 30. VIII. G. 8

Rfn. A. Watson M.M., 16th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps. Died 13th Aug. 1916. I. B. 42.

Sgt. P. Whitehead M.M., 6th Bn. First Surrey Rifles. Died 13th Sept. 1916 aged 23. II. G. 9

Pte. W. B. Worsfold D.C.M., 1st Bn. Devonshire Regiment, died 11th Sept. 1916. VII. A. 2

Capt. T. Wort M.M., 8th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment, died 1st Sept. 1916. VIII. D. 3

Those buried in this cemetery

There are three pairs of brothers buried in this cemetery, they are :-
Lance Corporal H. Harwidge
20649, 15th Btn Welsh Regiment died 11th July 1916, VIII F.5
Corporal T. Harwidge,
26634, 15th Btn Welsh Regiment died 11th July 1916, VIII. F. 6.

Private Ernest Philby,
5290 1/8th Btn Middlesex Regiment, died 21st August, 1916, I. D.35
Private Herbert Philby,
5291, 1/8th Btn Middlesex Regiment, died 21st August, 1916, I. D. 36.

Lieutenant Arthur Tregaskis,
16th Btn Welsh Regiment, killed in action at Mametz Wood, 7th July, 1916, aged 32. Son of George Henry and Julia Anne Tregaskis, of 1, Stuart Villas, Millbrook, Jersey.VI. G. 1,
Lieutenant Leonard Tregaskis,
16th Btn Welsh Regiment, killed in action at Mametz Wood, 7th July, 1916, aged 33. Son of George Henry and Julia Anne Tregaskis, of 1, Stuart Villas, Millbrook, Jersey. VI. G. 2.

 

Gnr. Thomas Joseph Greenan, 6950. 22nd Bde. Australian Field Artillery. Killed in action 31st July, 1916. Aged 25. Born in Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Son of Peter and Ellen Greenan of 12, Loretto Terrace, Springfield Rd., Belfast Ireland VII G.5.