RUE-DU-BOIS MILITARY CEMETERY

Fleurbaix

Pas de Calais

France

General Directions: The village of Fleurbaix is approximately 5 kilometres south-west of Armentieres and Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery is 3 kilometres south-west of the village.

The village was in Allied hands during the greater part of the war but it was captured by the Germans on 9 April 1918 after a very gallant defence by the 12th Suffolks. It remained within the German lines until the following September. The original Rue-du-Bois Cemetery, now comprising Plot I and Rows A and B of Plot II, was begun in November 1914 and used until December 1916. It was reopened in January 1918, and again in October. The majority of the graves were Australian, and Plot I, Row B, contained the graves of 27 soldiers of the 5th Australian Division who died in the Attack at Fromelles (19-20 July 1916). The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from certain small cemeteries.

Casualty Details: UK 597, Australia 241, New Zealand 5, India 1, Germany 1, Total Burials: 845

Back