Grove Town Cemetery, Méaulte (Somme)

Meaulte is the next village and commune below Albert, on the left bank of the Ancre, in the Department of the Somme. A main road and a secondary road lead from it South -West to Bray-sur-Somme and Grove Town Cemetery is about halfway along the secondary road. The Cemetery is about 3 miles from Albert.

In September, 1916, the 34th and 2/2nd London Casualty Clearing Station, were established at this point (called locally " la demie-lieue," and by the British Grove Town), to deal with casualties from the Somme battlefields. They were moved in April, 1917, and except for a few burials in August and September 1918, the Cemetery was closed. There were buried in it 1,366 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 14 from Australia, 11 from Newfoundland and 1 from New Zealand, 1 French Soldier, and 34 German prisoners.

Number of burials by Unit

Royal Field Artillery
83
  Grenadier Guards
65
Middlesex Regt.
55
  Coldstream Guards
53
Rifle Brigade
47
  King's Royal Rifle Corps
46
Durham Light Infantry
41
  Royal Garrison Artillery
37
Royal Engineers
34
  Essex Regt.
34
West Yorkshire Regt.
29
  Machine Gun Corps - Infantry
25
Green Howards - Yorkshire Regt.
25
  Royal Fusiliers - City of London Regt.
24
Worcestershire Regt.
23
  Irish Guards
23
Cameronians - Scottish Rifles
23
  Scots Guards
23
Border Regt.
23
  King's Liverpool Regt.
22
Lincolnshire Regt.
22
  Royal Warwickshire Regt.
21
Sherwood Foresters - Notts. & Derbys. Regt.
20
  Duke of Wellington's - West Riding Regt.
20
Ox. & Bucks. Light Infantry
19
  Lancashire Fusiliers
19
Royal Army Medical Corps
19
  King's Shropshire Light Infantry
18
Norfolk Regt.
17
  Devonshire Regt.
17
King's Own Scottish Borderers
17
  Hampshire Regt.
16
Dorsetshire Regt.
16
  Royal Welsh Fusiliers
16
Australian burials
14
  Welsh Guards
14
Bedfordshire Regt.
14
  York & Lancaster Regt.
13
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
13
  King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt.
13
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
13
  Somerset Light Infantry
13
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
12
  Royal Army Service Corps
12
Highland Light Infantry
11
  Royal Newfoundland Regt.
11
East Surrey Regt.
11
  Suffolk Regt.
11
Seaforth Highlanders
10
  East Lancashire Regt.
9
Manchester Regt.
9
  1/9th Bn. London Regt. - Queen Victoria's Rifles
9
1/2nd Bn. London Regt. - Royal Fusiliers
9
  Northamptonshire Regt.
8
Royal Irish Fusiliers
8
  Buffs - East Kent Regt.
8
1/1st Bn. London Regt. - Royal Fusiliers
7
  Northumberland Fusiliers
7
Queen's - Royal West Surrey Regt.
7
  Royal Berkshire Regt.
7
1/4th Bn. London Regt. - Royal Fusiliers
6
  Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
6
1/5th Bn. London Regt. - London Rifle Brigade
6
  1/3rd Bn. London Regt. - Royal Fusiliers
6
South Staffordshire Regt.
6
  1/16th Bn. London Regt.-Queen's Wesminster Rif.
6
1/12th Bn. London Regt. - The Rangers
6
  South Wales Borderers
6
Royal Horse Artillery
6
  East Yorkshire Regt.
6
Cheshire Regt.
6
  Monmouthshire Regt.
5
Royal Irish Rifles
5
  Welsh Regiment
5
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
5
  Leicestershire Regt.
5
Gloucestershire Regt.
4
  1/14th Bn. London Regt. - London Scottish
4
1/13th Bn. London Regt. - Kensington
3
  Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force
3
1/24th Bn. London Regt. - The Queen's
2
  1/6th Bn. London Regt. - London Rifles
2
East of India Lancers
2
  Royal Sussex Regt.
1
2/17th Bn. London Regt. - Poplar & Stepney Rifles
1
  Household Bn.
1
2/2nd Bn. London Regt. - Royal Fusiliers
1
  1/10th Bn. London Regt. - Hackney
1
2nd Dragoon Guards
1
  2nd King Edward's Horse
1
1/22nd Bn. London Regt. - The Queen's
1
  Leinster Regt.
1
1/17th Bn. London Regt. - Poplar & Stepney Rifles
1
  New Zealand burials
1
Tank Corps
1
  Canadian burials
1
16th Lancers
1
   
1
Identified burials
1390
     
Unidentified UK burials:
2
     
Total burials
1392
     

Those with awards in this cemetery

Sgt. John Francis Albutt M.M., 12th Bn. The Rifle Brigade. Died 9th Oct. 1916 aged 23. 1.J.14

Pte. Ernest Anderson D.C.M., 3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards. Died of wounds 17th Sept. 1916 aged 24. 1.D.35

C.S.M. F. W. Barker M.C
., 9th Bn. Norfolk Regt. Died 20th Oct. 1916 of wounds received on the Somme, aged 44. Also served in the Ashanti and South African Campaign. 1.N.34

Capt. James Dacres Belgrave M.C. and Bar
. 2nd Bn. Ox. & Bucks. Light Inf., attd. 60th Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Killed in aerial combat 13th June 1918 aged 21. Son of Dalrymple J.Belgrave (Barrister at law, Inner Temple) 3.A.19

Capt. Hugh Henry Burn M.C
., 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards. Died of wounds 16th Sept. 1916 aged 20. 1.C.17

R.S.M. John Chalmers M.C., D.C.M., Long Service and G.C.M., Medal of St. George (1st Class) Russia. 2nd Bn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Died of wounds 24th Oct. 1916 aged 39. Native of Aberdeen. Also served in the South African Campaign. 1.P.16

Bty. S.M. Alfred John Cottridge D.C.M
., 115th Hvy. Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds 24th Jan. 1917 aged 33. 2.M.15

Lt. Robert Davison M.C., 12th Bn. King's Liverpool Regt. Died 8th Oct. 1916 of wounds received at Gueudecourt, aged 20. 1.O.4

C.S.M. George William Dunn M.M., 3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards. Died of wounds 18th Sept. 1916 aged 30. Native of Mickleover, Derby. 1.D.26

Sgt. Harold Charles Dyer M.M
., 1st Bn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Died of wounds 29th Oct. 1916 aged 30. Native of London. 2.D.23

Lt. James Duncan Ferguson, Mentioned in Despatches
. 11th Bn. Essex Regt, died of wounds 27th Oct. 1916 aged 21. 1.B.14

Gnr. Peter Fergusson M.M
., "B" Bty. 78th Brig., Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds 16th Jan. 1917 aged 21. 2.L.28

Gnr. Christopher French, Médaille Militaire (France)
. 117th Hvy. Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds 11th Jan. 1917 aged 22. 2.L.20

C.S.M. Thomas David Gage M.C., 1st Bn. Norfolk Regt. Died 27th Sept. 1916 aged 23. 1.G.15

L/Cpl. George Gouldburn, Serbian Medal
. 1st Bn. Border Regt. Died of wounds 4th Feb. 1917 aged 21. 2.N.22

Sgt. Albert William Griffin M.M., 12th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps. Died of wounds 28th Feb. 1917, aged 23. 3.C.11

Cpl. Albert Harris M.M., 1st Bn. Devonshire Regt. Died 28th Sept. 1916 aged 31. 1.G.44

Sgt. Sidney Hayter M.M
., 12th Bn. The Rifle Brigade. Died 21st Sept. 1916 aged 22. 1.F.49

2nd Lt. Henry Hess, Mentioned in Despatches. Adjt. 5th (Special Reserve) attd. 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regt. Died of wounds 28th Oct. 1916 aged 21. 2.D.42

Lt. Col. Charles James Willoughby Hobbs D.S.O
., 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. & Derbys. Regt.) Died of wounds 16th Oct. 1916 aged 40. 1.B.6

Pte. Andrew Jones M.M., 1st Bn. Welsh Guards. Died of wounds 18th Sept. 1916 aged 21. 1.D.38

Lt. Arthur McWilliam Lawson-Johnston M.C., 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards. Died of wounds 2nd Feb.1917 aged 32. B.A. Trinity (Cambridge). 3.A.6

L/Cpl. Herbert Thomas Matthews M.M., 1st Bn. Royal Irish Rifles. Died of wounds (gas) 12th Nov. 1916 aged 21. 2.H.11

C.S.M. Percy Joseph Mayo D.C.M
., 2nd Bn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Died of wounds 29th Oct. 1916 aged 36. 2.D.4

Pte. Arthur Moore M.M.
, 1st Bn. Border Regt. Died 23rd Feb. 1917 aged 21. 4.B.26

Lt. Col. (Bt. Major) Thomas Herbert Morris Picton M.C., Mentioned in Despatches
. 9th Bn. The Rifle Brigade, died 18th Sept. 1916 of wounds received at the battle of the Somme, aged 33. Educated at Eton and Sandhurst. Served in the South African Campaign. 1.C.42

Lt. John Kingsford Mylius, Mentioned in Despatches. 1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Inf. Died of wounds 12th Oct. 1916 aged 21. 1.B.2

Capt. Cuthbert Pease, Mentioned in Despatches. 1st Bn. Irish Guards. Died 18th Sept. 1916 of wounds received at Courcelette. Aged 24. 1.C.41

Lt. Alan Dale Wyndham Scott M.C., "T" Bty. 20th Brig. Royal Field Artillery. Died 26th Oct. 1916 aged 23. 1.B.13

L/Cpl. George Sheldon D.C.M., 6th Bn. King's Shropshire Light Inf. Died of wounds 12th Oct. 1916 aged 23. 1.O.38

Cpl. Arthur Southgate M.M., 12th Coy. Machine Gun Corps. Died of wounds 13th Oct. 1916 aged 23. 1.L.27

2nd Lt. Leicester Hulke Spreat M.C. "A" Bty. 91st Brig. Royal Field Artillery. Died 8th Oct. 1916 of wounds received at Lesboeufs the previous day, aged 19. 1.J.26

Capt. William Malcolm Stewart, Mentioned in Despatches. 23rd Bn. Machine Gun Corps. Died 27th Oct. 1916 of wounds received at the first Battle of the Somme. Aged 35. 1.B.15

Capt. Ralph Streatfield-James D.S.O. 1st Bn. East Surrey Regt. Died 7th Oct. 1916 of wounds received at Morval on 25th Sept. Aged 25. 1.O.1

Maj. Edmund Rochfort Street D.S.O., 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. & Derbys. Regt.) Died of wounds 15th Oct. 1916 aged 40. Born in London, Ontario. Gazetted 1898 Lieut. in Hampshire Regt., served in India and the South African Campaign. Resigned 1906. Gazetted Capt. in Sherwood Foresters Oct. 1914. 1.B.7

Capt. Hector John Sutherland, Mentioned in Despatches. 6th Bn. Ox. & Bucks. Light Inf. Died of accidental injuries 2nd Feb. 1917 aged 19. Native of Knaphill, Woking. 3.B.1

2nd Lt. Ronald W. A. Watts M.C., 13th attd. 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regt. Died of wounds 12th Nov. 1916 aged 23. Native of Lenton, Nottingham. B.A. (Queen's College, Cambridge) 1.A.4

L/Cpl. Hubert Woodfield M.M
., 7th Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Inf. Died 11th Feb. 1917 aged 24. 3.B.19


Others buried in this cemetery


Pte. Norman Wilson Chambers, 22nd Bn. Durham Light Inf. Died 26th Oct. 1916 aged 30. Late Assistant Master in Cockfield Council School. 1.P.47

2nd Lt. George Edwin Chapman
. 5th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regt.) Died 27th Sept., 1916 of wounds received at Morval on 25th Sept. Aged 20. Gold and Silver Medallist (Chemistry) University College, London; Goldsmid and Ellen Watson Scholar, University College; Mathematical Scholar, University of London. 1.G.30

Sgt. Leslie Coulson. 2/2nd Bn. London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers) attd. 12th Bn. London Regt. (The Rangers). Died of wounds 8th Oct. 1916 aged 27. Leslie was a journalist and poet, whose book (posthumous) "From an Outpost and Other Poems" is well known. 1.J.24

Tpr. Frederick George Part. Household Bn. Died of wounds 22nd Jan. 1917 aged 29. Native of Swindon. Previously served in 2nd Life Guards. 2.M.10

Lt. Raymond Peake. 1st Coy. 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards. Died 30th Sept. 1916 aged 20. Educated at Eton and Sandhurst. Gazetted Dec. 1914. 1.K.31

L/Cpl. Henry Francis Priest, 1/2nd Bn. London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers). Died 19th Sept. 1916 aged 21. Enlisted Sept. 1914. Also served in Malta, Egypt and Gallipoli. 1.C.22

Capt. Maurice Jeffery Savory, 9th Bn. Duke of Wellington's Regt. Died of wounds 3rd Feb. 1917 aged 22. Enlisted Sept. 1914. Severely wounded in April 1916. Returned to France Jan. 1917. 1.A.12

2nd Lt. Frank Lloyd Sharpin, 9th attd. 8th Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. Died of wounds received on the Somme 14th Oct. 1916. Aged 33. Volunteered for H.A.C. from the staff of the London County and Westminster Bank in Aug. 1914. Wounded March 1915 at St. Eloi. Gazetted 1915. Born at Bombay. 1.B.4

Capt. Alec Tait-Knight
, 22nd Bn. Durham Light Inf. Died 27th Oct. 1916 of wounds received at Gueudecourt on the previous day. Aged 34. B.A., educated at Mill Hill School and Magdalen College, Oxford. 1.B.16

Capt. Carrol Herbert Marston Whiteside
. Adjutant 7th Bn. Border Regt. Died of wounds 1st Nov. 1916 aged 24. Educated at Heversham School, Westmorland. B.A. Keble College, Oxford. Asst. Master, Stubbington House, Fareham, Hants. 1.B.20