DUD CORNER CEMETERY and THE LOOS MEMORIAL
Loos
Pas de Calais
France
Many more pictures of the memorial and cemetery
General Directions: Loos-en-Gohelle is a village 5 kilometres north-west of Lens. Dud Corner Cemetery is located about 1 kilometre west of the village, to the north-east of the N43 the main Lens to Bethune road. The Loos Memorial forms the side and back of Dud Corner Cemetery and commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay.
The name "Dud Corner" is believed to be due to the large number of unexploded enemy shells found in the neighbourhood after the Armistice. The only burials here during hostilities were those of four Officers of the 9th Black Watch and one Private of the 8th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, close to Plot III, Row B; the remainder of the graves were brought in later from small cemeteries and isolated positions near Loos and to the North. The regimental memorials brought to the Cemetery included those of the 10th Scottish Rifles and the 17th London Regiment, dating from the Battle of Loos, and those of the Royal Montreal Regiment and the Royal Highlanders of Canada, dating from the Battle of Hill 70 in August, 1917. Special memorials are erected in this Cemetery to twelve soldiers of the 2nd Welch Regiment, killed in action on the 12th October, 1915, and buried in Crucifix Cemetery, Loos, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The more important of the small cemeteries concentrated into Dud Corner Cemetery were the following: Tosh Cemetery, Loos, on the North side of the village, close to the communication trench called Tosh Alley. It contained the graves of 171 soldiers from the United Kingdom (118 of whom were Irish) and five from Canada. It was used from October, 1915, to September, 1917. Crucifix Cemetery, Loos a little West of Tosh Cemetery. It was used from September, 1915, to May, 1916, and it contained the graves of 53 soldiers from the United Kingdom. Le Rutoire British Cemetery, Vermelles, close to Le Rutoire Farm, which is on Loos Plain, near the village of Vermelles. It was used in 1915, and contained the graves of 82 soldiers from the United Kingdom and six French soldiers.
Victoria Cross: VII.F.19 Captain Anketell Moutray Read, VC, Royal Flying Corps and Northamptonshire Regiment, he died on 25th September 1915. Plot VII. F. 19.
Victoria Cross: L/8088, Serjeant Harry Wells, VC of the 2nd Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment, he was also killed on 25th September 1915. Plot V. E. 2.
Casualty Details: UK 1784, Canada 28, Total Burials: 1812
The Loos Memorial
The Loos Memorial forms the side and back of Dud Corner Cemetery, and commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay. Loos-en-Gohelle is a village 5 kilometres north-west of Lens, and Dud Corner Cemetery is located about 1 kilometre west of the village, to the north-east of the N43 the main Lens to Bethune road.
Dud Corner Cemetery stands almost on the site of a German strong point, the Lens Road Redoubt, captured by the 15th (Scottish) Division on the first day of the battle. The name "Dud Corner" is believed to be due to the large number of unexploded enemy shells found in the neighbourhood after the Armistice. On either side of the cemetery is a wall 15 feet high, to which are fixed tablets on which are carved the names of those commemorated. At the back are four small circular courts, open to the sky, in which the lines of tablets are continued, and between these courts are three semicircular walls or apses, two of which carry tablets, while on the centre apse is erected the Cross of Sacrifice.
No. of Identified Casualties: 20596
Victoria Cross: R/11941, Rifleman George Peachment, VC. 2nd Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps, killed in action 25/09/1915, aged 18. Panel 101 and 102.
Victoria Cross: Lieutenant Colonel Angus Falcolner Douglas-Hamilton, VC. Commanding 6th Bn. Cameron Highlanders, killed in action 26/09/1915, aged 52. Panel 119-124.
Victoria Cross: Second Lieutenant, Frank Bernard Wearne, VC. 3rd Bn. Attached 10th Bn. Essex Regiment, died of wounds 28/06/1917, aged 23. Panel 85-87.
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Picture Courtesy of Ralph Davidson of Milnrow, Rochdale |
Private Harry MARRIOTT 2nd Bn. Border Regiment 25/09/1915 Service No: 10769 Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 68 and 69. Commemorated on the : Loos Memorial
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Harry Marriott was killed in action 25th September 1915 aged 18, at Loos. He enlisted in Bury during April 1914, the second son of John William and Naomi Marriott of 13 Belfield Lane, Firgrove he was born on 28th January 1897 and employed at Gale Printworks Littleborough. He is commemorated at St Ann's Belfield and on the Loos Memorial, his father was head mixer at R. Barnes and Sons, Firgrove. He is one of three brothers killed during the war. |
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Picture Courtesy of Robert Harrison of London, David Harrison was his Great Uncle. |
Lance Corporal David HARRISON 1st/5th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment 13/10/1915 Service No: 3593 Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 103 to 105. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial
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He was born on 15 October
1895, the youngest son of Robert and Eve Harrison of Hanley, Stoke on
Trent. He was killed on 13 October 1915 on the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt at the very end of the battle of Loos and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery. The family had a strong boxing tradition and one of his elder brothers, Tom Harrison, was to become the British and European Boxing Bantamweight Champion, 1921-23.
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Private S/3173 John B. Allan 8th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders KIA 25/09/1915, aged 20 Son of James Allan, of 9, Callon St., Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Loos Memorial Panel 112-115
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour |
Lance Corporal S/4536 John Neil 9th S/Bn. The Black Watch KIA 25/09/1915. aged 19 Son of Thomas Clark Neil and Mary Neil, of "Cairnvue", Woodburn Avenue, Airdrie. Loos Memorial Panel 78-83 Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour |
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R/11941 Rifleman George Peachment VC. 2nd Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps. Killed in action 25/09/1915, aged 18. Son of Mrs. Mary Peachment, of The Nook, Hilda Avenue, Tottington, Bury, Lancs. Loos Memorial Panel 101 and 102. Picture courtesy of Ann Lloyd |
Citation for Rifleman George Peachment VC. reads: An extract from "The London Gazette", dated 18th Nov., 1915, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery near Hulluch on 25th Sept., 1915. During very heavy fighting, when our front line was compelled to retire in order to re-organise, Pte. Peachment, seeing his Company Commander, Captain Dubs, lying wounded, crawled to assist him. The enemy's fire was intense, but, though there was a shell hole quite close, in which a few men had taken cover, Pte. Peachment never thought of saving himself. He knelt in the open by his Officer and tried to help him, but while doing this he was first wounded by a bomb and a minute later mortally wounded by a rifle bullet. He was one of the youngest men in his battalion and gave this splendid example of courage and self-sacrifice."
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R11941 Rifleman George Stanley Peachment, 2nd Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps (2nd Brigade, 1st Division). Born Parkhills, Fishpool, Bury, Lancashire on 5th May 1897. His parents were George Henry and Mary. Educated at Parkhills United Methodist Church School. St, Chad’s and Bury Technical School. He was an apprentice fitter engineer at Ashworth & Parker of Elton, Bury and later another Bury firm J. H. Riley. George enlisted 18th April 1915, in 5th K.R.R.C falsely giving his age as 19 years and one month, although he was only 17 years and 11 months. He then went absent from 7.30p.m. on 2nd July until 8.10a.m. on 5th July 1915 and for this he was fined seven days pay. Eventually George transferred to the 2nd Battalion on posting to France 27th July 1915. He was later confined to barracks for three days on 19th September 1915, for having a dirty sword (bayonet) whilst on guard mount parade. George Peachment won his VC near Hulluch, France on 25th September 1915, and his citation appeared in The London Gazette of 18th November 1915.He had been killed in action at Hulluch, France on 25th September 1915 during the action for which he won his medal and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. George was unmarried and the VC was presented to his mother by the King at Buckingham Palace on 29th November 1916. The officer saved by George Peachment was Captain Guy Rattray Dubs. He was born in 1890 and commissioned in the K.R.R.C on 15th July 1910. he became a temporary Captain on 10th September 1914 and Captain 9th November 1915. Later awarded the Military Cross and French Croix de Guerre. He was Brigade Major of 140th Infantry Brigade from July 1917 to May 1918. He was promoted Brevet Major 3rd June 1918, and attended Staff College in 1926, Promoted Major 21st October 1928 and retired from the Army about 1930. The 2nd K.R.R.C suffered particularly badly in an attack and, having failed to break into the enemy positions, was ordered to reorganise in the front line. As Rifleman Peachment retired he saw his company commander, Captain G. R. Dubs, lying wounded. The enemy fire was intense but in spite of this Peachment crawled to the officer’s assistance. Ignoring the danger he knelt over Dubs to attend to his wounds. Peachment was wounded by a bomb splinter but continued his work even though he could have sheltered in nearby shell-holes. A minute later a rifle bullet fatally wounded him. He was one of the youngest soldiers in the Battalion. Image and text courtesy of Ann Lloyd, niece of Rifleman Peachment VC. |
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S/3444 Private Robert Francis Brown King 8th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders Killed in action 25/09/1915, aged 22. Son of William and Agnes Brown King, of 7, Manse Place, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Loos Memorial Panel 112 to 115 Picture courtesy of Joe O' Raw and William Kilgour |
S/3949 Private Thomas Hegarty 9th Bn. The Black Watch Killed in action 25/09/1915, Son of Mary Hegarty, of Millars Place, Clark St., Airdrie, Lanarkshire, and the late James Hegarty. Loos Memorial Panel 78 to 83 Picture courtesy of Joe O' Raw and William Kilgour |
Lieutenant Edward Cedric Hooton 2nd/8th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment. 27/06/1916, aged 25. Son of Elisa Hooton, of I, Chepstow Rise, Croydon, and the late Edward Charles Hooton. Gazetted, Dec., 1914. Went to France, May, 1916. Loos Memorial Panel 22 to 25. |
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13315 Private John Millington "C" Coy. 9th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Killed in action 25/09/1915, aged 18. Son of Albert and Minnie Millington, of 7, Maude St., Connahs Quay, Chester. Panel 50 to 52
Picture courtesy of Geoff Taylor, nephew of this soldier. |
G/7849 Private Robert Wilkin 9th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment 25/09/1915 Loos Memorial Panel 69-73 Born in Godmanchester in 1894, the son of George and Rhoda Wilkin and was resident in Leagrave, Luton. Beds.
Picture courtesy of his nephew George Wilkin
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6097 Serjeant Michael O'Sullivan 2nd Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers 14/10/1915, aged 31. Panel 127 Loos Memorial Husband of Frances O'Sullivan, of 3, Rope Walk, Wises Hill, Cork. Picture courtesy of Ken Forde, great grandson |
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5353 Private John Edmund West 11th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers 28/11/1917. Panels 45 and 46.
Died of gun shot wounds to the stomach and thigh on a hospital ship in Malta, native of Colne, Lancashire, he was a railway carriage cleaner before enlisting.
Picture courtesy of David West, great nephew of this soldier
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7656 Company Quartermaster Serjeant Edward Coe 2nd Bn. Cheshire Regiment 03/10/1915, aged 27. Panels 49 and 50. Husband of Louisa Amy Read (formerly Coe), of 100, Canterbury Rd., Colchester.
"In loving memory" from Louisa, Ethel and Margaret Picture courtesy of Margaret Thomas |
Company Serjeant Major James T. Leahy 2nd Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers 25/09/1915 Plot VII. E. 11. Dud Corner Cemetery Eldest son of William D. Leahy (late Postal Telegraphic Service, G.P.O., Cork.) He is mentioned in 'The 2nd Munsters in France,' by Captain Jervis. He died attempting to rescue Maj J. W. Considine. Picture courtesy of great nephew David Ellis
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G/3072 Private Alfred George Gumbrell 9th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment 25/09/1915 Panel 69 to 73
Picture courtesy of Neil Bertram
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