VARENNES MILITARY CEMETERY

Varennes

Somme

France

General Directions: Varennes is a village 11 kilometres from Albert and 18 kilometres from Amiens. Take the D938 from Albert to Doullens. In Hedauville turn left on the D47E towards Varennes. 2 kilometres further on you will come to a crossroads in the village of Varennes where you should turn right. About 300 metres further, turn left following the CWGC sign, and the Cemetery will be found about 500 metres further on the right.

The cemetery was laid out by the 39th Casualty Clearing Station in August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, but the first burials were made during August and September by more mobile divisional field ambulances. The 4th and 11th Casualty Clearing Stations then used the cemetery from October 1916, joined by the 47th from December 1916, but by May 1917 Varennes was deserted and remained so until the Germans launched their offensive in this quarter in April 1918. The cemetery was then extended by the 17th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions by the addition of plots II and III, and at the beginning of September 1918, the 3rd Canadian and 59th Casualty Clearing Stations arrived at Varennes.

Casualty Details: UK 1192, Canada 5, Australia 2, New Zealand 16, South Africa 4, Russia 1, Total Burials: 1220

771988 Gunner

George Caine

317th Bde. Royal Field Artillery

07/09/1918

Son of George and Isabella, born at North Shields, Tyneside

Plot 4. A. 60.

Picture courtesy of Cameron R. Crawford, great nephew of this soldier

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