BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
Boulogne
Pas de Calais
France
General Directions: Boulogne-sur-Mer is a large Channel port. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, one of the town cemeteries, lies in the district of St Martin Boulogne, just beyond the eastern (Chateau) corner of the Citadel (Haute-Ville). The cemetery is a large civil cemetery, split in two by the Rue de Dringhem, just south of the main road (RN42) to St Omer. The Commonwealth War Graves plot is located down the western edge of the southern section of the cemetery, with an entrance in the Rue de Dringhen. Car parking is available along the Rue de Dringhen.
Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August when the Allies were forces to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas. Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de l' Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen.
Further Information: This cemetery is subject to restricted opening hours, from 1st October to 15th March: 08.00 - 18.00 From 16th March to 30th September: 08.00 - 19.00, the cemetery is open 7 days a week.
Victoria Cross: Captain Frederick William Campbell, VC, 1st Bn. Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment), died of wounds 19/06/1915, plot II. A. 24.
Shot at Dawn: Private G Mills, 2nd Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, executed for desertion 29/09/1915, plot 8. B. 81. Lance Bombardier F S Arnold, 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, executed for desertion 25/ 07/1916, plot 8. A. 137. Private J W Roberts, 2nd Bn. Canadian Mounted Rifles, executed for desertion 30/07/1916, plot 8. A. 154. Acting Corporal J R Short, 24th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, executed for mutiny 04/10/1917, plot 8. I. 43.
Casualty Details: UK 4735, Canada 442, Australia 307, New Zealand 74, South Africa 15, India 5, Total Burials: 5578
|
|
|
||
|
Private 5274 John Forsyth A Company, 1st Bn. Cameron Highlanders Died of wounds 17/11/1914. Husband of Marion Blackley Forsyth, of 2, East George St., Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. Plot III. A. 48.
Image courtesy of Joe O'Raw and William Kilgour
|
S/4384 Private Robert Bell Rankin 10th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 29/05/1916, aged 19. Son of James and Jane Ferguson Rankin. Born at Bellshill, Lanarkshire. Plot VIII. A. 118 Picture courtesy of David C. Fitzpatrick of Clydebank |
Used with permission www.cwgc.org
Latest additions to the site | Belgian Cemetery Index | French Cemetery Index
Other Cemeteries and Memorials around the world | British Cemeteries and Memorials |
Cemeteries with Victoria Cross burials | Cemeteries with "Shot at Dawn" burials | Regimental Badge Archive | Roll of Honour
Information on how to submit a photograph or image to the site | Book Reviews | About Us and our task | Links
Contact Us (We always reply) | Site Map | Miscellaneous articles