RUE-PETILLON MILITARY CEMETERY
Fleurbaix
Pas de Calais
France
General Directions: Fleurbaix is a village 5 kilometres south-west of Armentieres on the D22. Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery will be found by taking the D175 from Fleurbaix towards Fauquissart, then the D171 towards Petillon. The cemetery is on the south side of the road from Petillon to La Boutillerie.
The cemetery was begun in December, 1914, and used by fighting units until March, 1918. In April, 1918, it fell into enemy hands, but one further burial was in September, 1918, after the German retreat. It consisted at the Armistice of twelve Battalion burial grounds, made by units which had occupied the Headquarters and Dressing Station at "Eaton Hall", adjoining the cemetery. It was enlarged later by the concentration of graves from other cemeteries and the battlefields over a wide area round Fleurbaix. Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery is irregularly arranged, because of the conditions under which it was made; and the groups of concentrated burials are among the original groups of graves. It covers area is 5,983 square metres and is enclosed by a low red brick wall.
The following were among the burial grounds from which British graves were brought to this cemetery: Bersee Churchyard (now closed), in which three soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried in October, 1918. Cuthbert Farm Cemetery, RIichebourg-l'Avoue, on the road from Neuve-Chapelle to Pont-Logy, containing the graves of 44 soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from India who fell in 1914-15. Don German Cemetery, Allennes-les-Marais, at the Chateau-du-Bois, containing the graves of nine soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from India who fell in 1914-18. Eighth Canadians Cemetery, Lens, 2.4 kilometres North of the centre of Lens, containing the graves of 15 soldiers of the 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, who fell in August, 1917. Gondecourt Communal Cemetery German Extension, in which were buried about 650 German soldiers and ten soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom. Halpegarbe German Cemetery, Illies, in the hamlet of Halpegarbe, which contained the graves of eight soldiers from the United Kingdom. (There was another on the South side of the hamlet.) Hantay Communal Cemetery German Extension, containing the graves of one soldier from the United Kingdom and one from India. Herrin Churchyard and German Extension; the Germans buried five soldiers from the United Kingdom in the Churchyard in 1915 and two in the Extension in 1918. Illies Churchyard, where the Germans buried one soldier from the United Kingdom in 1914. La Bassee Communal Cemetery German Extension, used by the Germans for the burial of seven soldiers from the United Kingdom and by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division in October, 1918, for the burial of 29 of their men.
Lambersart Communal Cemetery German Extension, which contained the graves of 1,016 German soldiers, 32 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and two soldiers from Australia; and Lambersart German Cemetery, a permanent cemetery of 5,045 burials on the North-West side of the village. Le Petit Mortier German Cemetery, Steenwerck, which contained the graves of 86 German soldiers and two from the United Kingdom. Merris Convent German Cemetery, in which one Australian soldier was buried in May, 1918. Rue Masselot (2nd Lincolns) Cemetery, Laventie, 800 metres North of Fauquissart, where 54 soldiers from the United Kingdom including 37 of the 2nd Lincolns) were buried in 1915 and 1918 in an orchard. In May-August, 1918, the Germans made two considerable cemeteries (now removed), almost surrounding it. Salome Churchyard German Extension, containing the grave of an officer of the H.L.I. The German graves were taken to Salome Communal Cemetery German Extension (now containing 2,374 burials), from which twelve British graves were removed to Rue-Petillon. Verlinghem Churchyard German Extension(now removed), containing the graves of three British soldiers. (Verlinghem German Cemetery, on the South-West outskirts of the village, is permanent, and contains 1,152 burials.) Wervicq-Sud German Cemetery (now removed), on the road to Le Blaton, where 23 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried in November, 1914, and April, 1918; five graves were removed to Rue-Petillon and 18 to Messines Ridge British Cemetery.
Casualty Details: UK 1136, Canada 55, Australia 292, New Zealand 24, India 1, Germany 12, Total Burials: 1520
 Picture and death notice courtesy of Phil Smith |
4251 Private Harold Smith 2nd Bn. Border Regiment 16/02/1915, aged 23. Son of Charles and Sarah Jane Smith, of 17, Forshaw Avenue, St. Annes, Lytham; husband of Rhoda Smith, of 16, Kirkgate, Burnley, Lancs. Born at Burnley. Plot I. M. 26.
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This is the original death notice for Harold Smith, from his family:
IN LOVING MEMORY of Private Harold Smith (4251) Killed in action, February 16th 1915 in his 23rd year.
A loving husband and Daddy, None breathed more true and kind, But tis sweet to know we meet again, Where parting is no more, And that our loved one has only gone before, So sad, but so true, we cannot tell why, The best are the first who are called to die, God took him home, it was his will, But in our hearts he liveth still. 25 Brunswick St, Burnley.
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