HEM FARM MILITARY CEMETERY
Hem-Monacu
Somme
France
General Directions: Monacu and Hem-Monacu are two villages about 13 kilometres south-east of Albert, a little south of the road from Albert to Peronne and north of the River Somme. 16 kilometres from Albert on the D938 (Albert-Peronne), turn south on to the D146 to Hem-Monacu. After 500 metres turn west onto the D1 to Curlu. Continue for 1.2 kilometres and then turn south. Hem Farm Military Cemetery can be seen next to a large farmhouse 300 metres down this road. Hem Farm Military Cemetery lies to the west of the village of Hem.
Hem-Monacu was captured by French troops in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and taken over by British troops later in the year. Hem Farm Military Cemetery was begun by British troops in January, 1917, and used until the following March, and again in September, 1918; and these graves now form part of Plot I, Rows E, F and G. It was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields on both sides of the Somme.
The following were among the burial grounds from which British graves were removed to this cemetery: Achille British Cemetery, Flaucourt, on a trench named Achille Alley, about 1 kilometre East of Flaucourt. This cemetery, begun by French troops, was continued in February and March, 1917, by units of the 48th (South Midland) Division, and contained the graves of 55 soldiers from the United Kingdom. Clery-sur-Somme French Military Cemetery, near the road to Marrieres Wood, where seven soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Canada were buried in January-March 1917. (The present French National Cemetery is on the Maricourt road). Clery-sur-Somme German Military Cemetery, midway between Hem and Clery, which contained the graves of two R.A.F. Officers. Curlu French Military Cemetery, midway between Curlu and Hem Farm. Curlu was captured by the French on the 1st July, 1916, and again by the 3rd Australian Division on the 28th August, 1918, and the cemetery contained the graves of 46 Australian soldiers who fell in August and September, 1918, and seven from the United Kingdom, all but one of whom fell in the same months. Thirty-two of these graves were taken to Hem Farm and 21 to Suzanne Military Cemetery No. 3. Feuilleres British Cemetery, in the South part of the village, containing the graves of 27 Australian soldiers who fell in August and September, 1918. Frise French Military Cemetery, Feuilleres, on the South bank of the Canal, midway between the two villages, in which one soldier from the United Kingdom was buried in April, 1917. Meudon British Cemetery, Flaucourt, called also Meudon Quarry Cemetery, near the North-East corner of Meudon Wood. This cemetery was made by the 1st Division in February and March, 1917, and contained the graves of 22 soldiers from the United Kingdom. Needle Wood Cemetery, Clery-sur-Somme (called also Andover Place) between Clery and Rancourt, which contained the graves of 18 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the winter of 1916-17.
Victoria Cross: Second Lieutenant George Edward Cates, VC, 2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade, died 11/05/1917, plot I. G. 15.
Victoria Cross: Private Robert Mactier, VC, 23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, killed in action 01/09/1918, plot II. J. 3.
Casualty Details: UK 368, Canada 4, Australia 138, South Africa 88, Total Burials: 598
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