ST. SYMPHORIEN
MILITARY CEMETERY

Mons

Hainaut

Belgium

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: The cemetery lies 2km east of Mons on the N90 a road which leads to Charleroi. On reaching St. Symphorien a right turn from the N90 leads onto the Rue Nestor Dehon. The cemetery lies 200m along this road.

Access and parking are easy, although the cemetery is quite hilly and may be difficult to walk around for some; there is also a flight of steps at the entrance to the cemetery.

This cemetery was started by the Germans after the Battle of Mons in 1914. The site was an artificial mound, on the highest point of which, a grey granite obelisk, 23m high was erected, with a German inscription which reads; "In memory of the German and English soldiers who fell in the actions near Mons on the 23^rd and 24^th August 1914"

Originally, the Germans buried 245 of their own soldiers and 188 British soldiers here; another 27 British graves were moved here after the armistice. Subsequently additional British, Canadian and German graves were brought in from other burial grounds, bringing the total number of burials to over 200.

Further Information: This cemetery is also believed to contain the graves of the first (Private J. Parr, Middlesex Regt, 21^st August 1914) and last soldier (Private G. L. Price, Canadian Infantry, 11^th November 1918), to be killed during the 1914-1918 war. This cannot, however, be confirmed.