VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY and
MEMORIAL
Villers-Bretonneux
Somme
France
Many more images of the cemetery and memorial
General Directions: Villers-Bretonneux is a village 16 kilometres east of Amiens on the straight main road to St Quentin. The Cemetery is about 2 kilometres north of the village on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.
Villers-Bretonneux became famous in 1918, when the German advance on Amiens ended in the capture of the village by their tanks and infantry on 23 April. On the following day, the 4th and 5th Australian Divisions, with units of the 8th and 18th Divisions, recaptured the whole of the village and on 8 August 1918, the 2nd and 5th Australian Divisions advanced from its eastern outskirts in the Battle of Amiens. Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from other burial grounds in the area and from the battlefields. Plots I to XX were completed by 1920 and contain mostly Australian graves, almost all from the period March to August 1918. Plots IIIA, VIA, XIIIA and XVIA, and Rows in other Plots lettered AA, were completed by 1925, and contain a much larger proportion of unidentified graves brought from a wider area. Later still, 444 graves were brought in from Dury Hospital Military Cemetery.
The following were among the burial grounds from which British graves were taken to Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery: Card Copse Cemetery, Marcelcave, on the road to Fouilloy, where 35 Australian soldiers were buried by the 2nd Australian Division in July and August, 1918. Dury Hospital Military Cemetery, under the wall of the Asylum near the West side of the Amiens-Dury road. From August, 1918, to January, 1919, this building was used intermittently by British medical units, and a cemetery was made next to an existing French Military Cemetery. The British cemetery contained the graves of 195 Canadian and 185 United Kingdom soldiers and airmen; 63 Australian soldiers; one man of the Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport Corps; and one French and one American soldier.
High Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec, on the road to Ville-sur-Ancre, where 18 United Kingdom and eleven Australian soldiers were buried in June-August, 1918. Kangaroo Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec (on the Ville-sur-Ancre road, but nearer Sailly), where 13 Australian soldiers were buried by the 41st Battalion in March-April, 1918, and 14 of the 58th (London) Division by their comrades in August, 1918. Lamotte-en-Santerre Communal Cemetery Extension. The village was captured by Australian troops on the 8th August, 1918, and the Extension contained the graves of 56 Australian and twelve United Kingdom soldiers who fell in August and September. La Neuville-les-Bray Communal Cemetery, containing the grave of one Australian soldier who fell in August, 1918.
Le Hamelet British Cemetery (behind the Church), containing the graves of 25 Australian soldiers who fell in April-July, 1918; and the Communal Cemetery Extension, in which 27 Australian soldiers and one from the United Kingdom were buried in July and August, 1916. Midway Cemetery, Marcelcave, 1,500 yards North-West of Marcelcave Church, made by the Canadian Corps and containing the graves of 53 Canadian and three United Kingdom soldiers who fell in August, 1918. Vaux-sur-Somme Communal Cemetery, containing three Australian graves of March-April, 1918, and two United Kingdom of 1916 and 1917; and the Extension, made in May-August, 1918, and containing the graves of 130 Australian soldiers and 104 soldiers (mainly 58th Division and Artillery) and one airman from the United Kingdom. Warfusee-Abancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, in which five Australian soldiers were buried by the 12th Australian Field Ambulance in August, 1918.
Within the cemetery stands the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, the Australian national memorial erected to commemorate all Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium during the First World War, to their dead, and especially to those of the dead whose graves are not known. The 10,700 Australian servicemen actually named on the memorial died in the battlefields of the Somme, Arras, the German advance of 1918 and the Advance to Victory. The memorial was unveiled by King George VI in July 1938.
Victoria Cross: Lieutenant John Brillant, VC. 22nd Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment), 10/08/1918. Son of Joseph Brillant, of Rimouski, P.Q., Canada. Plot VIA. B. 20.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette" No. 30922, dated 27th Sept., 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and outstanding devotion to duty when in charge of a company which he led in attack during two days with absolute fearlessness and extraordinary ability and initiative, the extent of the advance being twelve miles. On the first day of operations shortly after the attack had begun, his company's left flank was held up by an enemy machine gun. Lt. Brillant rushed and captured the machine-gun, personally killing two of the enemy crew. Whilst doing this, he was wounded but refused to leave his command. Later on the same day, his company was held up by heavy machine-gun fire. He reconnoitred the ground personally, organised a party of two platoons and rushed straight for the machine-gun nest. Here 150 enemy and fifteen machine-guns were captured. Lt. Brillant personally killing five of the enemy, and being wounded a second time. He had this wound dressed immediately, and again refused to leave his company. Subsequently this gallant officer detected a field gun firing on his men over open sights. He immediately organised and led a "rushing" party towards the gun. After progressing about 600 yards, he was again seriously wounded. In spite of this third wound, he continued to advance for some 200 yards more, when he fell unconscious from exhaustion and loss of blood. Lt. Brillant's wonderful example throughout the day inspired his men with an enthusiasm and dash which largely contributed towards the success of the operations."
Casualty Details: UK 1089, Canada 267, Australia 779, New Zealand 2, South Africa 4, Total Burials: 2141
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1140 Private Roderick Hugh Humphris 53rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 13/05/1917, aged 20. Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Son of
Willoughby and Minnie Humphris, of Sawyers
Picture with permission of AWM
www.awm.gov.aus
Lieutenant James Glen Mcdonald 19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 07/04/1918, aged 27. Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Son of
James Wilson McDonald and Anna McDonald, of
Picture with permission of AWM
www.awm.gov.aus
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15646 Private William Henry Wilson 8th Bn. Duke of Wellington's Regiment. 29/09/1916, aged 24. Son of Charles Herbert and Jessie Wilson, of 50, Markfield Rd., Tottenham, London. Plot XIIIA. A. 11.
Picture courtesy of Graham Luxford, great nephew of this soldier
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1101 Private Joseph Sanderson (Known as Toby) "G" Coy. 1st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 09/04/1917, aged 26. Born 20/12/1890 in Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia, he was killed in the battle for the town of Demicourt on 09/04/1917.
Picture courtesy of Bruce Smith, Huon Creek, Victoria Australia
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4905 Private D'Arcey Richard Nottingham Shaw 15th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 01/02/1917, aged 19. Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Shaw, of Brisbane, Queensland. Born at Irvingdale, Queensland.
and his brother
4907 Lance Corporal Frank Albert Percy Shaw 15th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 05/04/1918, aged 21. Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Shaw, of Brisbane, Queensland. Born at Irvingdale, Queensland.
A third Shaw brother is buried in Rue-du-Bacquerot 13th London Graveyard
Pictures courtesy of Carmel McMullen
Private 13130 James Nulty "A" Coy. 9th Bn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers 09/09/1916, aged 36.
James was born in Prescot, near
Liverpool, in 1881, the eldest son of Patrick & Katherine Nulty. Patrick
had migrated from Co. Meath, Ireland in the 1860's and had married
Katherine in 1874. She was the daughter of James Skelly, a native of
Longford, Ireland, who had also migrated in the 1860's. James was one of
4 brothers who fought in the war, and the only one to be lost. His other
brothers were Patrick, Anthony and Thomas (my grandfather).
The following is an account from the war diary of the 9th Bn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, of the action during which James Nulty was killed:
"9th September 1916
Pictures and information courtesy of
Stephen Nulty, great nephew of this soldier
3157A Private Joseph Emanuel Parish 26th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 08/08/1918, aged 23. Son of Fred and Elizabeth Ann Parish, of Juandah, Queensland. Born in Australia. Plot III. D. 4. (Cemetery)
Killed on the 8/08/1918 by friendly artillery fire whilst he manned a machine gun post located within a shell hole. He was the son of Fred and Elizabeth Parish and he came from a small Queensland rural community called Juandah (later renamed Wandoan).
Picture courtesy of David Amiet, great nephew of this soldier
6150 Private Albert John Townsend 10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 18/09/1918, aged 21. Son of Alexander and Marion Townsend, of Renmark South Australia. Born at Aldridge, Staffs, England.
Killed in action at Jeancourt, France Buried by Chaplain Haydon (12th Bn A. I. F.) Grave No.1759. 1,700 yards south-south-east of Hargicourt and 3/4 miles north-north-west of Maissemy The following is an extract from Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence letter dated 21/7/1922 "Although exhaustive searches and investigations have been made with the object of locating the grave of the above named, it has not been possible to locate his actual burial place or obtain information which might indicate his probable original or present resting place." Albert John Townsend is now remembered at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France. This memorial was erected to commemorate all Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium during the First World War, to their dead, and especially to those of the dead whose graves are not known. The 10,770 Australian servicemen actually named on the memorial died in the battlefields of the Somme, Arras, the German advance of 1918 and the Advance to Victory.
540A Private Leslie George Bursill 5th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 16/06/1918
Private Leslie George Bursill of Maryborough, Victoria, was a labourer before enlisting in May 1916. Pte Bursill formed part of the 4th Reinforcements of the 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion in January 1917. Pte. Bursill took part in a three-man raid on the German positions at Strazeele near Hazebrouck on the morning of 16 June 1918, dressed in captured German uniform and equipment. He was seen to have taken cover in a shell hole close to the German lines once the raid was discovered, and drew heavy grenade and machine-gun fire. Despite attempts to rescue the raiders from No Man’s land, Pte Bursill was never seen again, leaving behind a wife and a newly born daughter whom he never met. Private Leslie Bursill was nominated for the Military Medal for his actions. Picture courtesy of great niece, Rowena Gough
4190 Private Herman Albert Fisher 5th Bn Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 25/07/1916, aged 22. Killed in action at Pozieres. Panel 43
Picture courtesy of Harry Willey
3011 Corporal Stratford George Bird, MM. 34th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 10/08/1918 Son of Richard John Albert Bird and Mary Bird, of Spring Gully, Scone, New South Wales. Plot III. F. 4.
Picture courtesy of Harry Willey
769932 Private James Matchell Gordon 180th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) 08/08/1918, aged 21. Plot VI. F. 5.
Picture courtesy of Jim Walker
3971 Private Robert Stirzaker Holden 52nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 04/09/1916, aged 19. Son of Richard and Jane Holden. Born at Irishtown, Tasmania.
Robert
enlisted on the 16th July 1915 at Claremont in Tasmania, Australia. He
was last seen going "over the top" at 4pm on the 4/9/1916 in the
vicinity of Mouquet Farm, France. His remains were never found. His
brother Richard found his tattered pay book 6 months later, after the
snows had melted at about the same spot he was last seen. Picture courtesy of great niece, Margaret
5392 Private Reuben Alfred Russell 19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 31/08/1918, aged 28. Son of the late Isaac Alfred & Bessie Russell (nee Balsdon) of Bathurst, NSW. Reuben enlisted in the 1st A. I. F. on 10th March 1916 at Cootamundra, NSW. He was sent to Liverpool for training. In June, he was sent to the 14th Reinforcement Company of the 19th Battalion, 5thBrigade. The 14th Reinforcements departed Sydney on the "Wiltshire" on 22 August 1916. He arrived in Plymouth on 13th October 1916 and was sent to the 5th Training Battalion. He was sent to France on 6th December 1916 and joined the 19th Battalion on 19th January 1917. In February, he scalded his right foot and was sent back to England to recover. He rejoined the Battalion on 21st June 1917. He was killed in action near Ticker Copse close to Peronne on the Western Front on 31 August 1918. Picture courtesy of Andrew Graham, Sydney, Australia
2383 Private Robert Oliver Bowness 4th Australian Pioneers 05/07/1918, aged 22. From Bulimba, Brisbane, Queensland, killed at Hamel Picture courtesy of Jim Donald
1508 Private Thomas Blayden 4th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 05/05/1917, aged 24. Killed in action at Bullecourt
Picture courtesy of Harry Willey
1848 Lance Corporal Hercules George Leard 34th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. between 03/04/1918 - 05/04/1918 Son of James Brindley Leard and Mary Rose Leard, of Meaduligilah, Kars Springs, New South Wales. Killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux
Picture courtesy of Harry Willey
4470 Private Richard Carroll 52nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 04/09/1916
Picture courtesy of Patrick Lernout
2412 Private William Chapman 49th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 05/04/1918, aged 21.
Son of James and Mary Ann Chapman, of Wilson's Downfall
Picture courtesy of great niece, Jan Munro
310572 Serjeant Lewis Henry Thompson 5th Tank Bde. Signal Coy. Royal Engineers 30/11/1918, aged 28. Husband of Annie Thompson, of 74, Marshall St., Leicester. Plot XIIIA. BB. 8.
Picture courtesy of Beverley Taylor
4448 Private Charles Thomas Brandon 11th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 27/02/1917, aged 18. Villers-Bretonneux Memorial
Picture courtesy of great niece, Nola Baker
1810 Private Hermann (Harry) Berthold Frederick Fischer 2nd/27th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 04/08/1916, aged 23. Son of Mr and Mrs Johann Frederick Fischer, Murray Bridge, South Australia. Villers-Bretonneux Memorial My grandmother’s brother enlisted in the AIF at Keswick, South Australia on 20 May 1915, at the age of 22 years and 6 months. His occupation was given as labourer and his address as Millendilla, South Australia. He embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on the H.M.A.T. Kanowna on 23 June 1915. He left Alexandria in Egypt on 4 September 1915 to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli. He left Gallipoli when that campaign ended, and embarked from Mudros on the island of Lemnos, Greece on 10 January 1916 arriving in Alexandria, from where he embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force on 16 March 1916 arriving in Marseilles, France on 21 March 1916. He was killed in action on 4 August 1916.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Williams, great niece of this soldier.
1743A Sergeant John McDonald Stewart, MM 53rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 24/04/1918, aged 24. Plot I. C. 11. Son of Elizabeth Stewart
of Taree, Manning River, New South Wales, and the
405631 Corporal (Armourer) Ashton Bernard Madeley (Known as Bernard) 1st Bn. Canadian Infantry 19/08/1918, aged 26. Plot VIII. BB. 1.
Images and documents courtesy of Lisa Sharp, Ashton was her grandmother's uncle
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Regimental breakdown of burials within this cemetery
Compiled by Barry Cuttell
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Australian Infantry, A.I.F 603 8th
Bn. London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) 7
King's Liverpool Regiment 4
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2/10th Bn. London Regiment (Hackney) 2
Lincolnshire Regiment 2
Identified burials 1533
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