ESTAIRES COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND EXTENSION
Estaires
Nord
France
General Directions: Estaires is a town and commune in the Department of the Nord, about 11 kilometres west of Armentieres. The Cemetery is on the eastern outskirts of the town and on the east side of the road to Bailleul. Leave the church and head north-east on the Avenue Kennedy. Take the second road on the left after 400 metres onto Rue de l'Egalite, which leads to the cemetery on the right hand side of the road.
Estaires town was occupied by French cavalry on the 15th October, 1914, and passed at once into British hands. On the 10th April, 1918 it was captured by the enemy, after an obstinate defence by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division; and it was finally retaken by British troops at the beginning of September, 1918. The town was a Field Ambulance centre as early as November, 1914, and later the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station was posted in it. It was later "adopted" by the County Borough of Plymouth. Estaires Communal Cemetery was used for British burials from the early days of November, 1914 to June, 1917, and two burials of September, 1918 are in Plot II, Row P. A German Plot of 63 graves, made on the North side during the enemy occupation in 1918, has been removed. Estaires Communal Cemetery Extension was used from April, 1917 to April, 1918, and again in September-November, 1918. The Plots are numbered IV and V, in continuation of the numbering for the Communal Cemetery. The Portuguese graves of June-August, 1917 and two French graves were removed after the Armistice.
Victoria Cross: Brigadier General, Sir John Edmond, Gough, VC, KCB, CMG, of the Rifle Brigade, the award was won in Somaliland in 1903, he died of wounds on 22/2/1915 and is buried in plot II. A. 7 (Communal)
Shot at Dawn: Private A. Troughton, 1st Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers, executed for desertion 22/04/1915, plot 3. D. 6.
Private A. Penn, 1st Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers, executed for desertion 22/04/1915, plot 3. D. 6. (Both soldiers are in the same grave).
Casualty Details: (Communal) UK 437, Canada 1, Australia 134, New Zealand 55, India 8, Germany 6, France 2, Total Burials: 673
(Extension) UK 228, Canada 5, Australia 5, New Zealand 1, India 1, Germany 5, Total Burials: 245
View a picture of the Extension
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Private 11271 Peter Manson 2nd Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Died of wounds 05/12/1915, aged 21 Son of Mrs. R. Manson, of 21, Craig St, Airdrie. Plot I. H. 5. Picture courtesy of Joseph O' Raw and William Kilgour |
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