ONTARIO CEMETERY
Sains-les-Marquion
Nord
France
General Directions: Sains-les-Marquion is a village in the Department of the Pas de Calais, about 2 kilometres south of Marquion, which lies on the main Arras to Cambrai road, 14 kilometres Cambrai. Ontario Cemetery is 1 kilometre due south of the village on the road to Havrincourt (D15).
This cemetery was started at the end of September and the beginning of October, 1918, after the capture of Sains-les-Marquion (on the 27th) by the Canadian Division. It contained, in its original form, the graves of 144 soldiers from Canada and ten soldiers (or sailors of the Royal Naval Division) from the United Kingdom; the majority of the Canadian graves belonged to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions, all of which were raised in Ontario. It was enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves, partly from the battlefields, but mainly from the neighbouring German cemeteries.
Of the cemeteries concentrated into Ontario Cemetery: Aubencheul-au-Bac German Cemetery, in the Chateau wood at Aubencheul, contained the graves of 12 soldiers from the United Kingdom and from Australia, who died as prisoners in 1917 and 1918, in addition to those 94 Germans and one Russian. Bantigny Communal Cemetery and German Extension contained, besides the graves of 563 German soldiers, those of eight soldiers from United Kingdom and four from Australia who died as prisoners. Epinoy German Cemetery, on the East side of Epinoy Church, contained the graves of five soldiers from the United Kingdom, who died as prisoners in April, 1918, six Italian soldiers, who died as prisoners in December, 1917, and January, 1918, and 200 German soldiers. Flesquieres Communal Cemetery German Extension contained the graves of three unknown British and 350 German soldiers. Flesquieres German Cemetery No. 2, which adjoined Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, contained the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, who died as prisoners in October and November, 1916. Graincourt-les-Havrincourt Communal Cemetery German Extension contained the graves of five unknown British soldiers, one Australian soldier who died as a prisoner, one Russian prisoner and 487 German soldiers. Inchy-en-Artois Churchyard contained the graves of one soldier from the United Kingdom, who died as a prisoner, and 50 German soldiers. Longavesnes German Cemetery, on the road from Longavesnes to Tincourt, contained the graves of 726 German soldiers. Of the 29 graves of British prisoners of war, 20 were taken to Tincourt New British Cemetery. Oisy-le-Verger German Cemetery, at the East end of the village, contained the graves of 24 prisoners of war from the United Kingdom, six from Italy and three from Russia, and 247 German soldiers. Palluel Communal Cemetery German Extension contained the graves of nine prisoners of war from the United Kingdom, who died in 1918, and 91 German soldiers. Sauchy-Lestree Communal Cemetery German Extension contained the graves of 23 prisoners of war from the United Kingdom and 303 German soldiers.
Casualty Details: UK 186, Canada 145, Australia 9, New Zealand 1, Total Burials: 341
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