BRAINE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Braine
Aisne
France
Photos on this page courtesy of Michelle Young - replace our original image
General Directions: Braine is a small town 18 kilometres east of Soisson and 9 kilometres south of Vailly-sur-Aisne, and the Communal Cemetery is located on the north side of the town. The town of Braine can be reached from the direction of Vailly-sur-Aisne via the D14. Following the D14 will take you through the village of Chassemy. After several kilometres of scenic road the town of Braine can be seen. On arriving at Braine, via the street called Avenue Du President JF Kennedy, turn left onto the D1320, Boulevard Des Danois. After 300 metres the cemetery will be found on the left side of the road. Within the cemetery the Commonwealth War Graves Plot will be found at the front right side of the cemetery.
Braine was captured by dismounted units of the 1st Cavalry Brigade on 12 September 1914 and No. 5. Casualty Clearing Station was then posted in the town. It was retaken by the Germans on 28 May 1918 and recovered in the following July. All the burials here date from September and October 1914. 68 of the casualties are named on special memorials because the exact positions of their graves in the Commonwealth plot are not known.
Victoria Cross: Captain Harry Sherwood Ranken, VC, Royal Army Medical Corps, died of wounds 25/09/1914. Row A. 43., Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France), for gallant conduct during the operations from 21st to 30th August 1914. Son of the Rev. Henry Ranken and Helen Morton Ranken, of The Manse, Irvine, Ayrshire. Native of Glasgow.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 28976, dated 13th Nov., 1914, records the following:-"For tending wounded in the trenches under rifle and shrapnel fire at Hautevesnes on 19th September and on 20th September continuing to attend to wounded after his thigh and leg had been shattered. (He has since died of wounds.)"
Casualty Details: UK 78, Total Burials: 78
Latest additions to the site | Belgian Cemeteries WW1 Index | French Cemeteries WW1 Index | Turkish Cemeteries WW1 Index
British Cemeteries Index | Other Countries WW1 Index | Belgian Cemeteries WW2 Index | French Cemeteries WW2 Index
Other Countries WW2 Index | Memorial Index | Architects | Roll of Honour Dedications | Roll of Honour
Cemeteries with Victoria Cross burials | Cemeteries with "Shot at Dawn" burials | Regimental Badge Archive
Information on how to submit a photograph or image to the site | Book Reviews | About Us and our task | Links
Site Map | Miscellaneous articles | WW1 Battles Index