Le Touret Military Cemetery and the Le Touret Memorial, Richebourg l'Avoue, Pas de Calais, France

Le Touret Military Cemetery

and

Le Touret Memorial

Richebourg L' Avoue

Pas de Calais

France

General Directions: From Bethune follow the signs for Armentieres until you are on the D171. Continue on this road through Essars and Le Touret village. Approximately 1 kilometre after Le Touret village and about 5 kilometres before you reach the intersection with the D947, Estaires to La Bassee road, the Cemetery lies on the right hand side of the road. Located at the east end of the cemetery is Le Touret Memorial, which commemorates over 13,000 servicemen who fell in this area before 25 September 1915 and who have no known grave.

The Cemetery was begun by the Indian Corps (and in particular by the 2nd Leicesters) in November, 1914, and it was used continuously by Field Ambulances and fighting units until March, 1918. It passed into German hands in April, 1918, and after its recapture a few further burials were made in Plot IV in September and October. The grave of one Officer of the London Regiment was brought in in 1925 from a position on the Estaires-La Bassee road near "Port Arthur", and the 264 Portuguese graves of March, 1917 and April, 1919 were removed to Richebourg-L'Avoue Portuguese National Cemetery after the Armistice.

Victoria Cross: The following four soldiers are commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial within the cemetery:

Victoria Cross: Private Abraham Acton, VC, "B" Coy. 2nd Bn. Border Regiment, died 16/05/1915.

Victoria Cross: Corporal William Anderson, VC, 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Regiment, killed in Action 13/03/1915.

Victoria Cross: Private Edward Barber, VC, 1st Bn. Grenadier Guards, presumed to have died on or since 12/03/1915.

Victoria Cross: Private Jacob Rivers, VC, 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), killed in action 12/03/1915.

Shot at Dawn: 5919 Private E. Tanner, 1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment, executed for desertion 27/10/1914.

Shot at Dawn: L/14164 Private F. Sheffield, 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment, executed for desertion 12/01/1915.

Shot at Dawn: L/14232 Private J. Ball, 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment, executed for desertion 12/01/1915.

Shot at Dawn: 2222 Private T. Cummings, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, executed for desertion 28/01/1915.

Shot at Dawn: 3379 Private A. Smythe, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, executed for desertion 28/01/1915.

Shot at Dawn: 5231 Private J. Briggs, 2nd Bn. Border Regiment, executed for desertion 06/03/1915.

Shot at Dawn: 6584 Private J. Duncan, 1st Bn. Cameron Highlanders, executed for desertion 07/03/1915.

Shot at Dawn: 70304 Driver J. Bell, 57 Battery, Royal Field Artillery, executed for desertion 25/04/1915.

More views of this cemetery

Casualty Details: UK 891, Canada 11, India 9, Germany 4, Total Burials: 915

Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial:

Corporal William Anderson, VC.

"The London Gazette" 21st March 1915 records the following:

For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve-Chapelle on 12th March 1915, when he led three men with bombs against a large party of the enemy who had entered our trenches, and by his prompt and determined action saved, what otherwise might have become a serious situation. Cpl Anderson first threw his own bombs, then those in the possession of his three men (who had been wounded) amongst the Germans, after which he opened rapid rifle fire upon them with great effect, notwithstanding that at the time he was quite alone.

Sapper 2214 John Dunlop 1st Lowland Field Company, Royal Engineers KIA 09/05/1915, aged 22. Son of Hugh and J.S.M. Dunlop, of 116C, Deedes St., Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Le Touret Memorial, Panel 1. Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour	Lance Corporal 1225 George McKee 1st Lowland Field Company, Royal Engineers. KIA 09/05/1915, aged 27 Son of John McKee, of Forest St., Airdrie; husband of Isabella Smith McKee, of 1H, Buchanan St., Airdrie. Le Touret Memorial, Panel 1. Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour
Sapper 2057 Alexander Arthur 1st Lowland Field Company, Royal Engineers KIA 09/05/1915 Le Touret Memorial Panel 1 Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour	Private 8149 John Findlay 2nd Bn. Highland Light Infantry KIA 17/05/1915 Le Touret Memorial Panel 37 & 38 Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour
Private S/5039 Allan Gillespie 2nd Bn. The Black Watch KIA 08/05/1915, aged 26 Husband of Elizabeth Gillespie, of 61, Deedes St., Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Le Touret Memorial Panel 24 & 26 Image courtesy of Joseph O'Raw and William Kilgour	5179 Private John Campbell 2nd Bn. Border Regiment Killed in action at Festubert 16/05/1915, aged 33. Son of Mary Campbell, of 48, Sterne St., West Derby Rd., Liverpool, and the late Henry Campbell. Le Touret Memorial Panel 19 and 20 Picture Courtesy of Ian Campbell of Rochdale
9092 Corporal Albert Slack 2nd Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 27/10/1914 Le Touret Memorial Panel 1. Picture courtesy of John Barker	10471 Private Sydney Lucas "C" Coy. 2nd Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers Killed in action at Festubert 17/05/1915, aged 23. Le Touret Memorial Panel 12 & 13 Son of Henry & Jessie Lucas of Reading, Berkshire, Sydney born in 1891 had a twin brother William Lucas and was one of eleven children. Picture courtesy of Peter Thompson
4426 Private John Murray 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 13/03/1915, aged 20. Son of John and Bridget Murray, of 49, Canal Parade, Newport, Mon. Panel 13 & 14. Lovingly remembered always by his family in Wales and Australia Picture courtesy of Ali Gibbs	6152 Private William Avons 1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment 26/10/1914, aged 32. Son of F. C. and Annie Avons, of Dymott Square, Hilperton, Trowbridge. Panel 33 and 34. William joined the 3rd Wilts. in 1900 and was posted to St Helena to guard Boer prisoners, he was mobilised the day the first world war broke out. Picture courtesy of John Birch, great nephew of this soldier
8718 Private William George Grinstead 2nd Manchester Regiment Killed in action at the Battle of La Bassee, 29/10/1914. Panels 34 and 35 Picture courtesy of his granddaughter; Judy Norman	22 Company Quartermaster Serjeant Joseph Harry George Sheen 1st/24th Bn. London Regiment (The Queen's) 26/05/1915, aged 29. Son of Mr. and Mrs. George William Sheen, of 323, Church Rd., Merton Abbey, London; husband of Elsie Mary Sheen, of Boughton Rd., Stoke Ferry, King's Lynn. Panels 46 and 47 Picture courtesy of Ian White, grandson of this soldier
1681Private Thomas Rawsthorne 1st/9th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 09/05/1915. Panels 6 to 8 Picture courtesy of Brian Pillier, great nephew of this soldier	5696 Private Samuel Welch 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 16/05/1915. Panel 13 and 14 "With love, from your son Sam" Picture courtesy of Roy Hughes
7960 Private John Thomas Emmett 2nd Bn. Border Regiment 25/11/1915, aged 29. Husband of Hannah Caroline Flood (formerly Emmett), of 5, Globe Court, Ethelred St., Kennington, London. Plot III. C. 9. My grandfather John Thomas Emmett who was known as Jack Emmett served as a regular soldier in the Boer Wars and eventually retired after serving his full term of service. He was recalled to the colours at the outbreak of the Great War and was in the Border Regiment when he was killed during the First Battle of Ypres in 1915. He had a fine singing voice and played the concertina. It was while entertaining his comrades that he was shot by a sniper and died shortly afterwards. He was very popular and my grandmother was told his death - and the circumstances in which it occurred - had devastated morale. I still have some of his things including the blood-stained cord and identity tag that he was wearing when shot in the throat. Picture courtesy of Stephen May, grandson of this soldier.	83554 Gunner Samuel Floyd 88th Bde. Royal Field Artillery. 03/10/1915, aged 28. Son of Richard Floyd and Mary Floyd, nee Capel. Born in Llansamlet, South Wales. Plot II. H. 23. Picture courtesy of Stacey O'Brien, Great, great granddaughter of this soldier
	126222 Private Cain Garrett 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment 01/08/1915 Panel 17 and 18 Picture courtesy of Bill Richards
1301 Corporal Frederick Scott 1st/24th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 26/05/1915, aged 20. Son of Thomas Angelo & Sophia Scott of Newington Southwark husband of Florence Ellen Kings Picture courtesy of great niece Catherine Hunt	1445 Private Magnus Nicol 2nd Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 27/11/1914, aged 22. Son of the late Alexander Nicol, of 8, Bute Wynd, Kirkcaldy Panels 24 to 26 Picture courtesy of great, great nephew, Barry Nicol
8633 Serjeant John A. J. Stephen 1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders 24/10/1914 Panel 39 to 41, Le Touret Memorial Born St Nicholas, Aberdeenshire, enlisted Aberdeen, Scotland Husband to Maggie Coutts of Aboyn, Scotland Picture courtesy of granddaughter Maggie McGregor	12972 Private James William Gregory 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards 24/12/1914 Panel 2, Le Touret Memorial James William was born in in 1883 in Morrison, Jefferson County, Colorado, U.S.A where his parents had moved a short time earlier. After his father died, his mother moved back to England with her infant son. James joined the Grenadier Guards in 1906 and after serving for three years he was placed on the reserve. He was among the first to be called up in 1914 and was with the 2nd Bn. in December 1914 at Festubert. After a German attack the battalion were sent to relieve an Indian Corps. The position was impossible to hold with water up to their waists in some trenches and eventually the order was given to withdraw. James never came out of the trenches. Picture courtesy of grandson, Graham Freeman
9117 Corporal Charles Smith 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 12/03/1915, aged 29. Son of Joe and Sarah Smith, of 14, Birken Avenue, Nottingham; husband of Elizabeth Ann Thompson (formerly Smith), of 40, Garden St., New Radford, Nottingham. Panel 26 & 27 Le Touret Memorial Picture courtesy of granddaughter Gillian Whitbread	9176 Private Ernest Clarence Phillips 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment 10/03/1915, aged 22. Panel 21 & 22 Le Touret Memorial Picture courtesy of Bob Shaw
8836 Private Samuel Dryhurst Roberts 4th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 16/05/1915, aged 25. Son of Thomas and Susannah Roberts, of Liverpool; husband of Susan Roberts, of 32, Clifton St., Liverpool. Panels 6 to 8, Le Touret Memorial Picture courtesy of grandson Rob Roberts	1418 Corporal Christopher Noel Borrett 4th Bn. Suffolk Regiment 05/02/1915, aged 19. Much loved son of Charles Edgar and Esther Borrett. Plot I. A. 13. Died of wounds received near Neuve-Chapelle while serving alongside his brother Private Stanley Borrett. Picture courtesy of niece, Marjorie Wrightson and great, great nephew Keith Robson