MASNIERES BRITISH CEMETERY
Marcoing
Nord
France
General Directions: Marcoing is a village 7 kilometres south-west of Cambrai and the village of Masnieres is 5 kilometres south-east of Marcoing. Masnieres British Cemetery is 3 kilometres due east of Marcoing in the middle of fields with access by a small track.
Masnieres was captured by the 29th Division on the 20th November, 1917, the first day of the Battle of Cambrai. On the 30th November and the 1st December, Masnieres was held by the same Division against repeated attacks, but it was evacuated, under orders, on the night of the 1st-2nd. It was retaken on the 29th September, 1918, by the 62nd (West Riding) Division. Masnieres British Cemetery was made by the 3rd Division Burial Officer in October, 1918.
Victoria Cross:
Lance Serjeant, Thomas Neely, VC, MM of the 8th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, he died on 01/10/1918 aged 21 and is buried in plot II.B.21., Son of James H. and Agness Neely, of 91, Claudia St., City Rd., Walton, Liverpool.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31067, dated 13th Dec., 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery during operations at Flesquieres on 27th September, 1918. His company was held up during the advance by heavy machine-gun fire from a flank. Cpl. Neely, realising the seriousness of the situation, at once, under point-blank fire, dashed out with two men and rushed the positions, disposing of the garrisons and capturing three machine guns. Subsequently, on two successive occasions, he rushed concrete strong points, killing or capturing the occupants."
Casualty Details: UK 147, New Zealand 19, Germany 59, Total Burials: 225
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