THE Commune of Mesnil-Martinsart, in the Departtnent of the Somme, includes the two villages of Mesnil and Martinsart. Mesnil is a little West of the Amiens-Lille main railway line and the River Ancre; and Martinsart, further South-West, is divided from the railway by Aveluy Wood. The nearest considerable railway station is Beaucourt-Hamel, but the light railway from Doullens to Albert has a station at Mesnil village. Both villages were close to the British front line until September, 1916, and again from March to August, 1918.

MESNIL COMMUNAL CEMETERY is on the road between Mesnil and Martinsart, near the North-West corner of Aveluy Wood, and the EXTENSION is on the South side of it. The Extension was begun in July, 1916, and used again as a front-line cemetery in 1918 ; but it was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of 244 graves from Mesnil Dressing Station Cemetery and from the battlefields of 1916 and 1918, North-East of Mesnil. It now contains the graves of 252 sailors, soldiers, Marines and airmen from the United Kingdom, seven from New Zealand; five from Canada, and 59 whose unit in our forces could not be ascertained. Ninety-three of the graves are unnamed.

Ten special memorials record the names of soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in Mesnil Dressing Station Cemetery, whose graves could not be found on concentration.

The cemetery covers an area of 1,402 square yards. It is enclosed by a thorn hedge, and (except where it touches the Communal Cemetery) by a wall. It is planted with thorns and cypresses. It lies in a valley, among cultivated fields.

MESNIL DRESSING STATION CEMETERY, now removed, was to the West of Mesnil village, across the light railway. It was used from June, 1916, to February, 191 7, and again from March to July, 1918, at both times very largely by the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division; and it contained the graves of 141 sailors, soldiers and Marines from the United Kingdom, five soldiers from Canada, and two German prisoners.

Number of burials by Unit

Plan of the Cemetery

Those having awards in this cemetery

Pte. Robert Campbell M.M., 7th Bn. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.). Killed in action 25th May 1918, aged 26. Parents from Auckland, New Zealand. Volunteered Aug. 1914. 1.B.29

2nd Lt. R. Harding M.C., 3rd, attd. 6th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt.). Killed in action 28th March 1918. 3.E.18

Sgt. James Farrow Maxwell M.M., 12th Bn. Highland Light Infantry. Died 26th April 1918, aged 22. 1.A.26

Ch.P.O. Archibald David Porter M.M., R.N.V.R. "Anson" Bn. Royal Naval Division. Killed in action 8th May 1918, aged 31. 3.A.5

Lt. Albert Victor Prosser D.C.M., Star of Kara George with Swords (Serbia). Killed in action 26th Nov. 1916, aged 41. 2.B.18

Pte. C. D. Tecter M.M., 7th Bn. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.). Died 26th May 1918. 1.B.30

Lt. Cyril Gordon Walker M.C., R.N.V.R. "Anson" Bn. Royal Naval Division. Killed in action 27th March 1918, aged 32. 1.A.6

Capt. George James Wharf M.C., 1st Bn. Royal Marine Light Infantry. Died 6th April 1918, aged 27. 1.A.5

A.B. C. Wilson M.M., R.N.V.R. "Anson" Bn. Royal Naval Division. Died 26th March 1918. 3.C.1

Others buried in this cemetery

2nd Lt. G. M. Allen, General List & Royal Flying Corps. Died 2nd Sept. 1916. 3.C.3

Gnr. Samuel Bacon, 152nd Heavy Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 29th July 1916, aged 28. Assistant Librarian, Stepney Borough Libraries, London. 3.D.6

Cpl. George William Hammond, 172nd Brig. H.Q. Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 12th July 1916, aged 36. Served in the South African Campaign with the Royal Munster Fusiliers. 3.D.2

2nd Lt. Ronald Wallace MacFarlane, 152nd Heavy Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action 3rd Sept. 1916, aged 25. Born at Melbourne, Australia.