Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1. Somme. NE of town. Records 1143 UK., 77 NZ., 69 Aust., 36 Can., 4 Newfld., 3 SA., 1 Guernsey, 2 Ind., 2 BWI., and 13 German burials.

Grave in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1 of Brigadier-General Harry Townsend Fulton, CMG DSO GOC 3rd New Zealand Brigade New Zealand Division. Died of Concussion 29th March 1918. During the day 28th March 1918 there had been a marked increase in enemy artillery as well as machine gun fire. The 1st Canterbury’s trenches had been pounded from close range. In the evening an unlucky 5.9 inch shell secured a direct hit on the cellar which was the NZ Brigade HQ in Colincamps (Northern Somme). The whole place was wrecked and the occupants completely buried. Major Purdy was killed and Captain Dailey with the signals and intelligence officers was wounded. General Fulton who had arrived back on the 27th succumbed later to the effects of concussion.

Grave in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1 of Major Robert Gleadow Purdy MC NZ Rifle Brigade killed on the 28th March 1918 in the incident referred to above.

Grave in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1 of RSM Walter Goody MC MM Order of Leopold II of Belgium 7th Battn Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 6th April 1918. Husband of Harriet Mary Goody of Southgate Street Long Melford Suffolk.

Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 2. Begun in March 1918 during German advance when Extension No. 1 was filled. Records 320 UK., 27 NZ., 23 Can., 2 SA., 1 Aust., 1 Chin. And 86 German burials.

Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 2.

Grave in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 2 of 2nd Lieut. Harold Augustus Boyd Oliver Irish Guards attached 4th Battn. Guards Machine Gun Regiment. Died of Wounds 26th May 1918 aged 34. Served as Norman King. Youngest son of Reverend George and Alice Oliver, Holland Park London. Actor. Joined in 1914 85th Field Ambulance serving in France and Salonika, invalided home with malaria and afterwards received a commission in the Irish Guards.

Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme. 1 mile W of Fricourt on Becourt road. Named Dartmoor at request of Devon Regiment. Taken by Germans in March 1918, retaken by 12th Division in August. Records 632 UK., 71 Aust., 59 NZ., 4 Can., 1 Ind., and 1 unknown burials.

Dartmoor Cemetery

Grave in Dartmoor Cemetery of Private John J Sweeney 1 (Otago) NZ. He was born in Tasmania, worked as a Labourer and was aged 37 years at the time of death.Executed 2nd October 1916 for desertion. Enlisted in October 1914. Otago infantry embarked in December 1914 and arrived in Egypt. It is a fair assumption that he served in Gallipoli. On 17 July 1916 he was at Etaples reinforcement camp and was posted to 1st Otago Regiment, then serving near Armentieres. A week later he deserted but was not arrested until September 1916 when he rejoined his battalion.  The Court Martial took place shortly thereafter and he was sentenced to death.  

Grave and next plot to above in Dartmoor Cemetery of Private G W Cooper MM 37th Field Ambulance RAMC died 4th October 1916 aged 18 years.  Son of Harry and Mary Cooper 24 Woodstock Road, Shepherds Bush, London. 

Grave and next plot to above in Dartmoor Cemetery of Private John James Sidders MM 37th Field Ambulance RMAC died 4th October 1916 aged 23 years. Son of Henry and Hannah Sidders of 10 Edgar Road Dover. 

 Graves in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt of 71939 Corporal Robert Fredrick  Lee and his father 6029 Sergeant George Lee killed on the 5 September 1916 whilst serving in the same London Artillery unit, "A" Battery, 156th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Robert was 19 and his father 44: widow and mother Frances Lee of 16 Talfourd Road, Peckham, London.

 Grave in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme of No. 12639 Private James Miller V.C. 7th Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) died of wounds 30th July 1916. 

James Miller was born in 1890 at Taylors Farm Houghton near Preston Lancashire, son of George and Mary Miller.  Prior to enlisting in 1914 he worked in a Paper Mill.

The 7th King’s Own was a Service Battalion formed at Lancaster in September 1914 and as part of 56th Brigade, 19th Division landed in France 16th/18th July 1915.  The Brigade was on the left in the attack at Loos in Sepember 1915 but in contrast to other Brigades did not sustain heavy losses and spent the remainder of 1915 and the early part of 1916 in Trench Warfare in the sector south of the Lys River going south to the Somme sector in May 1916.

On the 1st July 1916 the Battalion was in support in the attack on Ovillers and then on the 4th July participated in the attack to clear La Boiselle.
 
 On 29th July 1916 the Battalion took over front line NE of Bazentin-le-Petit.  At 4 p.m. on the 29th previous to going into the line the 57th Brigade with the 7th King’s Own attached was ordered to attack and capture the German intermediate line between Pozieres and High Wood along the Brigade front.  “Zero” hour for the attack was 6,10 p.m. on the 30th. The 7th King’s Own was on the extreme right next to the 10th Royal Warwickshire Regiment with 10th Worcesters and 8th Gloucesters next. The capture of a communication trench leading north was the task allotted to the Battalion. At 6.9 p.m. an intense barrage by field guns was put down on the enemy’s trenches, under cover of which the first wave of the King’s Own and Royal Warwicks crept out under the barrage and lay down in No Man’s Land waiting for the guns to lift. The second line advanced and lay down simultaneously in rear. At 6.10 the guns lifted and the attackers in both lines got up and rushed forward.  So far as the King’s Own and Warwicks were concerned they were into the German line before the Boche had time either to man his trenches or bring his machine-guns into action; thus the two right battalions reached their objectives quickly but the other Battalions were stopped after 100 yards by terrific flanking machine-gun fire and had to fall back to their original line.  Aided by 81st Field Company Royal Engineers and the Pioneers consolidation proceeded rapidly. The line taken up was about 50 yards in advance of the captured position.  This proved to be a wise decision, as the enemy shelled his old position heavily, so the move forward avoided exceptionally heavy casualties.  The 5th South Wales Borderers assisted in the consolidation by digging a communication trench from the left of the captured position back to the old front line.  A feature of the operation was the success with which telephone communication was established and maintained with the front line.  A wire and telephone were run out as soon as the psoition was taken and although the wire was broken fom time to time linesmen repaired it without delay and battalion headquarters were practically never out of touch with the front line. The Battalion was consolidating its position after capturing part of the Intermediate Trench when Private Miller was ordered to take an important message and bring back a reply at all costs.  To do this he had to cross the open under heavy shell and rifle fire.  On leaving the trench he was shot almost immediately in the back, the bullet coming out through his stomach and causing a portion of his bowel to protrude.  In frightful agony yet mindful of his mission Private Miller compressing his stomach with his hand successfully delivered his message and returned with the answer, falling in a state of collapse at the feet of the officer to whom he delivered it.  He died the same day from the dreadful wound.

 Extract from the London Gazette records “For most conspicuous bravery.  His Battalion was consolidating a position after its capture by assault.  Private Miller was ordered to take an important message  under heavy shell and rifle fire and to bring back a reply at all costs.   He was compelled to cross the open and on leaving the trench was shot almost immediately in the back the bullet coming out through his abdomen.   In spite of this with heroic courage and self sacrifice he compressed with his hand the gaping wound in his abdomen delivered his message staggered back with the answer and fell at the feet of the officer to whom he delivered it.  He gave his life with a supreme devotion to duty.” 

The Battalion lost 7 officers and 113 other ranks killed, wounded or missing 

Nineteen other ranks were killed in action that day and none have a known grave and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.  As well the Battalion Medical Officer Captain Henry Rylands Knowles M.C. and 2nd Lieut. Henry May Clue were killed in action that day and neither of these has any known grave and likewise are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

(Next Image shows area where he won his VC).  

 

View of High Wood from a sunken lane known to the British troops as Upper Road.   Photograph taken by climbing up the bank from lane.  From here many attacks were made towards Martinpuich (village about 1 mile from  left of High Wood in photograph) and a long German trench known as Switch Line or Switch Trench which ran from Martinpuich to the north west corner of High Wood (left in photograph).  The trench commanded the ground shown in this photograph.

The lane or track is to the North of Bazentin running slightly North East towards High Wood.  Photograph taken from a point with Death Valley to the right.  8th King's Own was attacking astride a track (now just a footpath) known as Lower Road about half a mile south of Upper Road. 

Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, Somme. 3 miles S of Albert, W of village. Used from September 1915 to August 1916 and again in the retreat of March 1918. Records 124 UK and 3 Aust. Burials. 88 UK and I German grave in the cemetery.

Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme. NW of Communal Cemetery. 3rd Casualty Clearing Station was here in March 1918, was evacuated on March 26th and remained in enemy hands until recapture by 12th Division and 33rd U.S.A. Division August 9th 1918. Records 1503 UK., 418 Aust., 51 NZ., 33 SA., 8 Can., 5 Ind., 1 BWI, 112 unknown, 3 Chinese, 3 German burials and 30 special memorials.

Grave in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension of No G/358 Sergeant Thomas James Harris VC MM 6th Royal West Kents. Born Upper Halling, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone. Son of William John and Sarah Ann Harris of 6 Manor Terrace Halling Rochester Kent. Killed on 9th August 1918 attacking a German machine-gun post at Morlancourt a mile south of the cemetery. An extract from the London Gazette records “For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack when the advance was much impeded by hostile machine-guns concealed in crops and shell-holes. Sergeant Harris led his section against one of these, capturing it and killing seven of the enemy. Later, on two successive occasions, he attacked single handed two enemy machine-guns which were causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance. He captured the first gun and killed the crew but was himself killed when attacking the second one. It was largely due to the great courage and initiative of this gallant N.C.O. that the advance of the battalion was continued without delay and undue casualties. Throughout the operations he showed a total disregard for his own personal safety and set a magnificent example to all ranks."

Grave in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension of No 5041 Private Thomas Henry Scorer Northumberland Fusiliers. Enlisted Whitley Bay. Died of wounds 2nd October 1916, In Visitors Book was a photograph of Private Scorer in uniform taken between July and October 1916 with his wife holding a baby, 3 sons and a daughter.

Delsaux Farm Cemetery, Beugny, Pas de Calais.  The cemetery is about half a mile South of the village on the road to Haplincourt, the village itself being about 20 miles South West of Cambrai on the RN 30 Bapaume – Cambrai road.  Delsaux Farm was a point on the German defensive system known as the Beugny – Ytres line reached by Commonwealth troops on the 18th March 1917.  The farm was lost on the 23rd March 1918 after the defence of Beugny by the 9th Welsh Regiment and their withdrawal. The Germans made a cemetery at the cross roads and in it buried 103 Commonwealth and 82 German dead.  Delsaux Farm was retaken by the 5th Division on 1st September 1918 and the next day the Division occupied Beugny village.  The site was extended in October – November 1918 by the 29th and 46th Casualty Clearing Stations who made the present cemetery and a little later the German graves of March 1918 were removed and the 103 Commonwealth dead reburied in Plot I Row J, Plot II Row A and Plot III Rows B, C and D.  The rest of the cemetery was made when graves were later brought in from the battlefield.  Records 482 U.K., 6 N.Z.,3 Can., 2 Aust., and 2 B.W.I.  burials, 61 of the burials are unidentified.

Grave in Delsaux Farm Cemetery of No. 9382 Company Sergeant Major Edward Frank Jones, D.C.M., M.M., “A” Company 1st Battalion Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire Regiment), died of wounds on the 8th October 1918 aged 25 years.

Citation in the London Gazette dated 15th November 1918 for the Distinguished Conduct Medal records “For conspicuous gallantry during an attack.  He reorganised and led on his platoon which had been temporarily held up by machine gun fire.  He personally captured the enemy machine gun and brought it into action against two other machine guns, silencing them and allowing the rest of the line to continue the advance and capture the objective.  He showed fine courage and devotion to duty throughout.”

Son of Edward and Annie Jones of 1 Church Street, Chiseldon, Swindon, Wiltshire.  Born Bristol, enlisted Reading whilst residing in Chiseldon.

Headstone bears inscription “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling.”

Grave in Delsaux Farm Cemetery of No. G/21501 Sergeant Miles John Sterry, D.C.M., M.M. and Bar, 7th Battalion The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), died of wounds on the 27th October 1918. 

Citation in the London Gazette dated 2nd December 1919 for the Distinguished Conduct Medal records “During the operations on 23rd October 1918 east of Le Cateau, he displayed conspicuous gallantry in the attack and handled his platoon with market leadership .  His coolness under heavy machine gun fire was most encouraging to the men and when the objective was reached he went forward and cleared the ground of enemy snipers.  He again showed conspicuous gallantry in a subsequent attack east of Bousies and although wounded he continued to lead his platoon until the objective was reached and the line organised.”

Born East Dean Gloucestershire enlisted Gloucester.  Served No. 5813 the Gloucester Regiment.

 Grave in Delsaux Farm Cemetery of No. 28006 Private Frederick Thornton 10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment died of wounds 30th October 1918.  Commemorated on the Pailton Village War Memorial.

 Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, Somme.
Longueval is a village about 7 miles east of Albert.  The Cemetery is east of the village and on the south side of the road from Longueval to Ginchy.
Delville Wood was a tract of woodland just under a mile square, the western edgeo f which touched Longueval village.  On the 14th July 1916 the greater part of Longueval village was taken by the 9th (Scottish) Division and on the 15th, the South African Brigade of that Division captured most of Delville Wood.  The wood the formed a salient in the line, with Waterlot Farm and Mons Wood on the south flank still in German hands, and, owing to the height of the trees, no close artillery support was possible for defence.  The three South African battalions fought continuously for six days and suffered heavy casualties.  On the 18th July they were forced back and on the evening of the 20th the survivors, a mere handful of men, were relieved.  On 27th July the 2nd Division retook the wood and held it until 4th August when the 17th Division took over.  On 18th and 25th August 1916 it was finally cleared of all German resistance by the 14th (Light) Division.  The wood was then held until the end of April 1918 when it was lost during the German advance but was retaken by the 38th (Welsh) Division on the 28th August 1918.

Delville Wood Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from a few small cemeteries and isolated sites and from the battlefields.

Almost all of the burials date from July, August and September 1916.  Commonwealth graves from the following were concentrated into Delville Wood Cemetery:- Angle Wood Cemetery, Ginchy was in Angle Wood to the north west of Maurepas with 27 burials mainly from the London Regiment;  Battery Copse Cemetery, Curlu was between Curlu and Maurepas and 17 British soldiers were brought from there;  Bazentin-le-Petit German Cemetery was at the south east end of the village and 5 British soldiers who died in March and April 1918 were brought in from there;  from Courcelette Communal Cemetery German Extension 3 British soldiers and one from Canada were concentrated and  Special Memorials record the names of 3 soldiers buried in this cemetery whose graves were destroyed by shell fire;   Ferme-Rouge French Military Cemetery, Curlu was close to Battery Copse Cemetery and one British soldier who fell in March 1917 was brought in;  Guillemont German Cemetery No. 1 at the west end of the village contained the graves of 7 British soldiers who fell in May and July 1918;  Lone Ridge Cemetery, Longueval was between Delville Wood and the centre of the village and contained the graves of 52 soldiers who fell at the end of August 1918;  Maricourt (De la Cote) German Cemetery on the south west side of the village contained the graves of 5 British soldiers and airmen;  Martinpuich German Cemetery No. 1 at the North East end of the village contained the graves of 6 British Soldiers and one sailor who fell in March 1918;  Martinpuich German Cemetery No. 2 to the west of No. 1 contained the grave of one British soldier.

There are now 5,523 burials and commemorations of the First world War in this cemetery, 3,593 of the burials are unidentified but there are memorials to 27 casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

Opposite the cemetery stands the South African National Memorial.       
 

Grave in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval  of No. 2815 Sergeant Albert Gill,  V.C. 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps killed in action 27th July 1916 aged 36 years.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1914 Star he landing in France on the 9th November 1914.

The Battalion landed in France on the 13th August 1914 and from December 1915 was in 99th Brigade, 2nd Division.  The Division was ordered to attack Delville Wood on the morning of the 27th July, a heavy artillery bombardment preceding the attack.  On the morning of the 26th July the artillery bombarded the Wood for about an hour and patrols from the Battalion went in to explore and observe the enemy’s trenches.  During the night of the 26th/27th the assaulting waves of the 2nd division’s units went into the assembly trenches so that when dawn broke the Battalion held the front-line trenches from Campbell Street to Rotten Row, the line running just to the North of Rotten Row.  At 6.10 a.m. the first bombardment opened and at 7.10 a.m. lifted to the second line and the assaulting troops advanced.  Many Germans cowed by the bombardment surrendered, those that did not were shot or bayoneted.   Following further advances positions were consolidated the line gained being between 250 and 750 yards from the start line and well past Princes Street.  The 1st Battalion was holding a line some way into the Wood when at about 9 a.m. the wood was swept by heavy German shell-fire catching particularly units of the 99th Brigade.   The 1st Battalion was hard pressed when parties of the enemy who had massed north of the wood began a heavy bombing attack.  The Commanding Officer reported “Fighting went on incessantly, chiefly sniping from shell-holes, the Germans trying all the time to creep in on my flanks between the various lines……  The German method of bomb attacks was to bomb up the new trench with snipers on each flank.”  It was during this attack that Sergeant Gill won the Victoria Cross.

An extract from the London Gazette dated 24th October 1916 records “For most conspicuous bravery.  The enemy made a very strong counter attack on the right flank of the battalion, and rushed the bombing post after killing all the company bombers.  Sergeant Gill at once rallied the remnants of his platoon, none of whom were skilled bombers, and reorganised his defences, a most difficult and dangerous task, the trench being very shallow and much damaged,  Soon afterwards the enemy nearly surrounded his men by creeping up through the thick undergrowth and commenced sniping at about twenty yards range.  Although it was almost certain death, Sergeant Gill stood boldly up in order to direct the fire of his men.  He was killed almost at once, but not before he had shown his men where the enemy were and thus enabled them to hold up their advance.  By his supreme devotion to duty and self-sacrifice he saved a very dangerous situation.”

Son of Harry and Sophia Gill of Birmingham and husband of Rosetta Gill (nee Smith).  Born and enlisted in Birmingham.

Headstone bears inscription “Peace, Perfect Peace.”

Grave in Delville Wood Cemetery of No. 35162 Sergeant Edward Richards 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers killed in action 28th August 1918. 

Headstone bears inscription “His Duty Done. RIP.”

For details of the action on the 28th August1918 see entry for Captain Ernest Dupres in Peronne Road Military Cemetery.

Grave in Delville Wood Cemetery of No. 79329 Private James Alfred Sharpless 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers killed in action 28th August 1918. 

For details of the action on the 28th August 1918 see entry for Captain Ernest Dupres  in Peronne Road Military Cemetery.

Graves in Delville Wood Cemetery of No. 79380 Private Charles Arthur Warren, No. 79359 Private Frederick Thomas Pellett, No.79321 Private Henry James Redgrave, No. 79338 Private William Frederick Woodhead No. 79346 Private William Brown and No. 79556 Private James Richardson, all of 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers killed in action 28th August 1918.

For details of th action on the 28th August 1918 see entry for Captain Ernest Dupres in Peronne Road Military Cemetery.

Graves in Delville Wood Cemetery of No 5796 Private N Colling 1st Regiment South African Infantry died 15th July 1916 aged 20.  Headstone bears inscription “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” (right) and A South African Soldier of the Great War.  Known unto God. (left).

Grave in Delville Wood Cemetery of Lieutenant A H Brown 4th Regiment South African Brigade died 20th July 1916.