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 23rd and 24th 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, 21st August 1914) and last soldier (Private G. L. Price, Canadian Infantry, 11th November 1918), to be killed during the 1914-1918 war. This cannot, however, be confirmed.

 

CEMETERIES CONCENTRATED INTO ST. SYMPHORIEN MILITARY CEMETERY:

Gembloux Communal Cemetery

Havre Old Communal Cemetery

Noirchain Churchyard

Obourg Churchyard

Spiennes Communal Cemetery

St. Symphorien Churchyard

St. Symphorien Communal Cemetery

Wasmes-en-Borinage Communal Cemetery

 

VICTORIA CROSS: Lieutenant Maurice James Dease, VC, 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, killed in action  23/08/1914, Plot 5 . B.  2.

 

More views of this cemetery 

 

CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 227; Canada 2; Germany 284; Total Burials: 513

 

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