ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION
Rouen
Seine-Maritime
France
General Directions: St Sever Cemetery and extension is a large communal cemetery situated on the eastern edge of the southern Rouen suburbs of Le Grand Quevilly and Le Petit Quevilly.
OPENING TIMES:
1 March - 1 November:
Monday-Saturday : 0815 - 1745
Sundays/Public Holidays : 0815 - 1745
2 November - 28 February:
Every Day: 0815 - 1645
If approaching Rouen from the north, head for the centre of town and cross over the river Seine, following signs for Caen. Follow this route until you get to the 'Rond Point des Bruyeres' roundabout (next to the football stadium), then take the first exit into the Boulevard Stanislas Girardin. The cemetery is 150 metres down this road on the left.
If approaching Rouen from the south, follow the N138 (Avenue des Canadiens) towards the centre of town. At the 'Rond Point des Bruyeres' roundabout (next to the football stadium), take the fourth exit into the Boulevard Stanislas Girardin. The cemetery is 150 metres down this road on the left.
If arriving on foot, take the metro to St Sever Metro Station, then follow the Avenue de Caen until you get to the Avenue de la Liberation, then take this road and follow this, which will become the Boulevard du 11 Novembre. At the end of this road is the 'Rond Point des Bruyeres' roundabout. Take the first exit from this into the Boulevard Stanislas Girardin. The cemetery is 150 metres down this road on the left.
During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were
stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the
3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.
Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the
whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British
Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of
the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great
majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it
was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place
in April 1920.
During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the
extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many
of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.
The cemetery extension contains 8,346 Commonwealth burials of the First
World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the
Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign
National burials here.
The extension was designed by
Sir Reginald Blomfield
Victoria Cross: The Rev. Theodore Bailey Hardy, VC. DSO. MC. Chaplain 4th Class, Army Chaplains' Dept. Attached 8th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment, Appointed Chaplain to His Majesty, 17th Sept., 1918. died 18/10/1918. Plot S. V. J. 1.
Citation: An extract from the London Gazette, No. 30790, dated 9th July, 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on many occasions. Although over 50 years of age, he has, by his fearlessness, devotion to men of his battalion, and quiet unobtrusive manner, won the respect and admiration of the whole division. His marvellous energy and endurance would be remarkable even in a very much younger man, and his valour and devotion are exemplified in the following incidents: An infantry patrol had gone out to attack a previously located enemy post in the ruins of a village, the Reverend Theodore Bailey Hardy (C.F.) being then at company headquarters. Hearing firing, he followed the patrol, and about four hundred yards beyond our front line of posts found an officer of the patrol dangerously wounded. He remained with the officer until he was able to get assistance to bring him in. During this time there was a great deal of firing, and an enemy patrol actually penetrated between the spot at which the officer was lying and our front line and captured three of our men. On a second occasion when an enemy shell exploded in the middle of one of our posts, the Reverend T. B. Hardy at once made his way to the spot, despite the shell and trench mortar fire which was going on at the time, and set to work to extricate the buried men. He succeeded in getting out one man who had been completely buried. He then set to work to extricate a second man, who was found to be dead. During the whole of the time that he was digging out the men this chaplain was in great danger, not only from shell fire, but also because of the dangerous condition of the wall of the building which had been hit by the shell which buried the men. On a third occasion he displayed the greatest devotion to duty when our infantry, after a successful attack, were gradually forced back to their starting trench. After it was believed that all our men had withdrawn from the wood, Chaplain Hardy came out of it, and on reaching an advanced post asked the men to help him to get in a wounded man. Accompanied by a Serjeant he made his way to the spot where the man lay, within ten yards of a pill-box which had been captured in the morning, but was subsequently re-captured and occupied by the enemy. The wounded man was too weak to stand, but between them the chaplain and the Serjeant eventually succeeded in getting him to our lines. Throughout the day the enemy's artillery, machine-gun and trench mortar fire was continuous, and caused many casualties. Notwithstanding, this very gallant chaplain was seen moving quietly amongst the men and tending the wounded, absolutely regardless of his personal safety."
Shot at Dawn: 52081 Gunner W. E. Lewis, 124th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, executed for mutiny 29/10/1916. Plot O. 1. M. 8.
Shot at Dawn: 24/1521 Private J. Braithwaite, 2nd Bn. Otago Regiment (N. Z. E. F.), executed for mutiny 29/10/1916. Plot O. 1. K. 10.
Shot at Dawn: 5884 Coolie F. Y. Wan, Chinese Labour Corps, executed for murder 15/02/1919. Plot S. 1. E. 2.
Shot at Dawn: 97170 Coolie C. M. Hei, Chinese Labour Corps, executed for murder 21/02/1920. Plot S. 1. F. 1.
Shot at Dawn: 44340 Coolie C. H. K'ung, Chinese Labour Corps, executed for murder 21/02/1920. Plot S. 1. F. 6.
The mass pardon of 306 British Empire soldiers executed for certain offences during the Great War was enacted in section 359 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, which came into effect on royal assent on 8 November 2006.
Casualty Details: UK 6754, Canada 321, Australia 782, New Zealand 134, South Africa 84, India 271, Total Burials: 8346
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163257 Sergeant Joseph Smith 75th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) Died of wounds 02/12/1916, aged 26 Plot O. III. K. 2 Son of Joseph H. and Marie Louise L'Amy Smith; husband of Laura Dorothy Smith, of 259, Macpherson Avenue, Toronto.
His grandson Jesse T. Smith adds: He was a Sergeant with the 75th Battalion (Jolly 75th), #163257. He was born January 11th, 1890 in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. He moved to Canada in 1911, Married Laura Smith and had a son (my Grandfather) in 1914. He was severely wounded on November 18th 1916 during an attack on Desire Trench. He was moved to the No. 1 Australian General Hospital in Rouen where he died of his wounds December 2nd, 1916.
Thanks to Jesse T. Smith of Vancouver B. C. Canada, for supplying the photo |
11328 Lance Corporal George Saxby 1st Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) Formerly 4014, 17th Lancers. Died of wounds 08/11/1916, received 3rd/4th/11/1916. Plot O. I. H. 4.
156635 Gunner William James Spalding 69th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. 11/11/1918, aged 26. Son of Richard and Louisa Spalding, of 62, Richmond Park Rd., Kingston-on-Thames. Plot S. II. GG. 3.
Picture Courtesy of Mike Spalding, great nephew of this soldier. |
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127141 Private John Henry Alderton 38th Bn. Machine Gun Corps. (Infantry) 18/09/1918, aged 19. R. III. L. 24. The only son of Charles & Edith Annie Alderton (Nee Chittock) of Ilford, Essex, UK. Edith having been widowed after only two years later married James Jennings. Edith was my Great Aunt.
Picture courtesy of Derek Miller
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36687 Corporal Joe E. Peters D C M 8th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment 05/11/1918, aged 29. Plot S. III. H. 27. Joe Peters was born in 1887 at Cammers Green, Berrow, and pre-war worked as a carpenter making carts and building houses, he built his own house at Cammers Green and a relative still lives in the property making carts in Birtsmorton, Worcs. He was married to Ellen on 2nd November, 1909 and they ran the Post Office, which was located at his house. He joined the Worcestershire Regiment before war broke out and originally travelled to France as part of the 7th Bn. He was later transferred to the 8th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment as part of a draft of 80 men, this happened sometime before December 1917. By 1918 he was serving in “D” Company, 8/Royal Berks. when the German offensive started on 21 March. The unit were at La Guingette Farm, 6 miles south of La Quentin when he earned his DCM. The citation [published LG 3 Sept. 1918] reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He volunteered to accompany an officer over the top of the trench to tackle an enemy sniper who was doing much execution amongst our men. Under heavy fire he rushed the sniper and took him back to the trench”. The Battalion War Diary amplifies this: 12 March. Bn. takes over front line trenches, B and C Companies in the front line, A Company along the St. Quentin Road, and D Company in the Quarry. 20 March. Notice of impending attack received during the evening. 21 March. The enemy put down a heavy barrage which included much gas shelling. All communications were destroyed almost immediately. At 11.00 the enemy advanced in a thick line to attack the trench west of Bn. HQ. Owing to the mist they were able to reach 50 yards from our trench, but were then shot down almost to a man. One sniper, in a shell hole about 50 yards in front, was particularly active. Lieut. N. Williams, having located him, climbed over the parapet, accompanied by his servant 36678 Pte. J.E. Peters, rushed him with the bayonet and took him prisoner. When returning to the trench this Officer was killed. By this great act of gallantry he undoubtedly saved many lives. About this time the mist began to lift and the leading enemy troops were seen advancing towards la Fontaine. The remainder of the battalion was ordered to withdraw down Seine alley, towards the Battle Zone. 26 July L.-Cpl. J. E. Peters, “C” Company, who was awarded the DCM in May, was presented with the medal ribbon by the Corps Commander He was not destined to survive the war, however, as he was wounded on 23 October, serving with “C” Company. The battalion had assembled for an attack in the railway cutting north of the Halt near Le Cateau: Cpl. Peters was amongst the many such casualties from enemy artillery fire during the assembly. [source: Battalion War Diary] He died of his wounds 13 days later, and was buried in St. Sever Extension in Plot III, Row H, Grave 27. His widow remarried in 1921.
Picture and text courtesy of Philip Wadley, grandson of this soldier |
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E/254453 Private Ernest George Summers Army Service Corps (Canteens) 12/12/1916, aged 29. Left a widow, Ada and son Eric Ernest Garner Summers Plot O. III. P. 6.
Not Forgotten
Picture courtesy of grandson Vivian Summers |
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1958 Corporal John James Kelly 4th Div. Trench Mortar Bty. Australian Field Artillery 06/05/1917, aged 33. Son of John and Catherine Kelly. Native of Redcastle, Victoria, Australia. Plot P. I. J. 3B
Picture courtesy of Harry Willey
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61971 Private Robert Hawthorn 16th Bn. Cheshire Regiment 28.03/1918, aged 22. Son of Mr.
and Mrs. Hawthorn, of 31, Molyneux St., Derby Rd., Bootle Liverpool.
Picture courtesy of great niece, Margaret Isaacs |
2576 Private James Joseph Charlton 3rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 22/03/1917 Plot O. VIII. M. 2. James Joseph Charlton. Regiment 2576. 3rd Battalion 8th Reinforcement. Panel 35 on the Roll of Honour at A.W.M. Thank you Grandfather Charlton, we are all safe and well because of you and your sacrifice. You were the much loved husband of Ethel adoring father of Alma & Leslie, devoted grandchildren Wave William Edward & Lolo. in 2009 you have 15 respectful Great grandchildren , 23 Great, Great grandchildren , 5 Great, Great, Great grandchildren. Grandfather while mortally wounded, secured the safety of two fellow wounded soldiers from the battle area. Private J. J. Charlton died in France 22nd March 1917. Receiving the " British War Medal." & "Victory Medal." His adoring sister Mary received the condolences letter from the Empire Which broke her heart and she died the same year. the letter stated how he was a fine example and inspired his fellow men. He was described as having strict soldier qualities and the sterling qualities of a soldier and a man. He is buried at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France. His grave has been visited by family. James J. Charlton was the Grandson of William Charlton NSW Corps 1790, he sailed to Australia on Neptune 1789. Mentioned in the first "Land Grants Book" 1788-1809. William married Mary, a convict, he was a rum trader. William & Mary forged a life for their family, which his Grandson James had to defend to the death in WW1 . James J. Charlton enlisted and sailed on the SS Runic in 1915 to Suez and the war. James J. Charlton's Great grandson now a soldier wears your medals Anzac day every year. A Kelso born man loved adored respected and always remembered by your family. Lest We Forget WITHOUT THE HERO THERE IS NO EVENT.......................................................... Picture courtesy of Granddaughter Deborah Venet-Sanos |
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2704 Private John Henry Hector Wilson Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) 09/12/1917, aged 20. Son of
George Hector and Rosa C. M. Wilson, of 8, Marli St., Port of Spain,
Trinidad, British West Indies. He was born 18 Jan 1897. His name
appears on the War Memorial in Port-of-Spain.
Picture courtesy of nephew, Alan Wilson
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T4/083359 Driver Michael Foley Army Service Corps. attd. 7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's) 13/06/1918, aged 33. Son of Catherine Foley, of 21, St. Patrick's Cottages, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin. Plot Q. I. E/ 23.
Michael was obviously very ill judging by this photo as he looks unwell and is surrounded by Medical personnel. This building in background is probably the Hospital and we wonder if the statue with orator and admirer helps you to let me know precise location. We understand that a Spanish influenza was rampant at the time and claimed his life finally. He is mentioned by name in a play about Francis Ledwidge by Irish writer Dermot Bolger "Walking the road" By a strange co-incidence Ledwidge himself,as a youth was a shop boy in Michael's ''home district of Rathfarnham,South Co.Dublin.
Picture courtesy of Joe Walsh |
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51954 Gunner Edward James Townsend "A" Bty. 298th Bde. Royal Field Artillery 22/04/1918, aged 21. Plot P. IX. B. 7A. In Memory of Gunner Edward James Townsend Much loved Son of Thomas & Charlotte Townsend. He worked for the Railways before volunteering for the Army in 1914, joining the Medical Corps he later transferred to the Royal Artillery as he said he found it difficult recovering parts of his Comrades & would sooner shoot the Enemy. After being gassed in 1917 he was sent to home to recover, he wasn't obliged to go back but insisted he felt it was his duty to to fight for his Family (1 Brother & 8 Sisters) and his Country. He was gassed again in 1918 this was to be the last time. He lay dying of his wounds for six days in St Louis, U.S.A., Hospital, France and spent his 21st birthday there. My Grandmother never managed to visit his Grave but I his niece have been lucky enough to have managed to visit several times. We are eternally grateful for the Great Sacrifice he & his comrades made. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their hard work in keeping the Cemetery immaculate. We loved him in life, he is dear to us still, Although we must bend to God's Holy will. The loss is great and the grief hard to bear, But angels in Heaven will attend him with care. WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THEM Courtesy of his niece Valerie Phillips
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65313 Private Percy Whittam 1st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers 15/04/1918, aged 25. Plot P. XI. N. 5.A.
Son of Roderick and Isabella Whittam, of 188, Manchester Rd., Burnley; husband of Ethel Whittam, of 71, Rosehill Rd., Burnley. Remembered by Brent Whittam
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