Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart (Somme)

Details

Mesnil-Martinsart is a commune in the Department of the Somme, containing the villages of Mesnil and Martinsart. Mesnil is on the West side of the river Ancre, immediatley North of Aveluy Wood; and Martinsart is South-West of it, divided from the river by the Wood. Knightsbridge Cemetery is about 5 miles from Albert , due North or Mesnil village.

The Cemetery, which is named from a communication thrench, was begun at the outset of the Battles of the Somme, 1916. It was used by units fighting on that fron until the German retreat in February, 1917; and it was used again by fighting units from the end of March to July, 1918, when the German adavance brought the front line back to the Ancre. After the Armistice, 112 graves in Rows G, H and J were added by the concentration of bodies from isolated positions on the battlefields of 1916 and 1918 round Mesnil.

The Cemetery now covers an area of 2,915 square yards, and contains the graves of 425 soldiers, airmen, and sailors and marines of the Royal Naval Division, from the United Kingdom, 39 from Newfoundland, 18 from New Zealand, one from Australia and 65 whose unit could not be ascertianed. The unnamed graves number 141. The 4th Bedfords erected a memorial in the cemetery to seven of their Non-Commisioned Officers who fell on the 13th November, 1916, in the capture of Beaumont-Hamel.

Number of burials by Unit.

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment
41
 Cheshire Regiment
30
King's Royal Rifle Corps
29
 Royal Navy Division - infantry
28
Essex Regiment
27
 Royal Newfoundland Regiment
23
King's Own Scottish Borderers
19
 Royal Dublin Fusiliers
19
New Zealand burials
18
 Bedfordshire Regiment
16
Cambridgeshire Regiment
16
 Black Watch
12
Lancashire Fusiliers
11
 Worcestershire Regiment
11
Hertfordshire Regiment
10
 Hampshire Regiment
9
Royal Field Artillery
9
 Royal Sussex Regiment
6
Royal Engineers
6
 Manchester Regiment
5
Monmouthshire Regiment
5
 Royal Fusiliers - City of London
5
Gloucestershire Regiment
4
 Machine Gun Corps
4
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
4
 Border Regiment
3
East Yorkshire Regiment
3
 Grenadier Guards
3
Royal Irish Rifles
3
 Royal Army Medical Corps
3
West Yorkshire Regiment
3
 Durham Light Infantry
2
Gordon Highlanders
2
 Northumberland Fusiliers
2
Rifle Brigade
2
 Army Cyclist Corps
1
Australian burial
1
 East Lancashire Regiment
1
General List & 3rd Sqdn R.A.F.
1
 Honourable Artillery Company
1
Highland Light Infantry
1
 Leicestershire Regiment
1
Leinster Regiment
1
 Middlesex Regiment
1
Norfolk Regiment
1
 Northamptonshire Regiment
1
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1
 Royal Welsh Fusiliers
1
Suffolk Regiment
1
Identified burials
407
      
Unidentified burials
141
      
Total burials
548
      

Awards

Lt. Arthur Alison McDonald Arnot M.C., General list & 3rd Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Died 12th April 1918 aged 19. C. 41,

Pte. Percy Berry D.S.M. Mentioned in Despatches. R.M.L.I., 1st R.M. Bn., Royal Navy Division. Died 8th Nov. 1916 aged 32. F. 62.

Capt. E. G. Clarke. Mentioned in Despatches. 7th Bn. Royal Fusiliers. K.I.A. 13th Nov. 1916 aged 38. C. 39.

Lt. Leonard Terry Despicht M.C., Mentioned in Despatches. Adjt. 4th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment, K.I.A. at the Battle of the Ancre, 11th Feb. 1917 aged 26. B. 37.

Lt. Bartle Laurie Stuart Frere, Mentioned in Despatches.4th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment. K.I.A. 13th Nov. 1916 aged 20. B.35.

Sgt. George Frederick Hawkins M.M. Mentioned in Despatches. 2nd Bn. Royal Fusiliers. K.I.A. 1st July 1916 aged 33. D.35.

Sgt. Ernest Samuel Makeham M.M., 12th Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Inf.). Died 26th May 1918. aged 21. F. 75.

Notes

Two brothers are buried in this cemetery, they are :-
Private A.E. Holman, 19534 1st Btn Essex Regt. Killed in action 5th July, 1916 aged 22,. H. 31 and
Private T.A.A. Holman, 19533 1st Btn Essex Regt. Died of wounds 12th July, 1916 aged 18. B. 14.