VILLERS STATION CEMETERY

Villers-au-Bois

Pas de Calais

France

General Directions: Villers-au-Bois is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 11 kilometres north-west of Arras. The Cemetery is about 2 kilometres north-west of the village along a track from the Villers-au-Bois to Servins road (D65).

This cemetery was begun by the French but was used by Commonwealth divisions and field ambulances from the time they took over this part of the front in July 1916 until September 1918. It is associated particularly with the Canadian Corps whose headquarters were nearby and many of the graves in Plots V to X date from April 1917 and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. After the Armistice, a few graves were brought in from isolated positions in the neighbourhood and in June 1923, the French graves were removed, the great majority to Notre Dame-de-Lorette French National Cemetery.

Shot at Dawn: Private H. G. Carter, 73rd Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed for desertion 20/04/1917, plot 10. A. 7. 

Private E. Fairburn, 18th Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed for desertion 02/03/1918, plot 11. B. 23.

Private S. Fowles, 44th Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, executed for desertion 19/06/1918, plot 13. B.1.

Private F. Bateman, 1/4th Yorks & Lancs Regiment, executed for desertion 10/09/1918, plot 12. C. 4.

Casualty Details: UK 180, Canada 1008, South Africa 20, Total Burials: 1208

911406 Private

John Edward Lees

46th Bn. Canadian Infantry

(Saskatchewen Regiment)

03/05/1917, aged 21.

Born in Southport, Lancashire, England, on November 5, 1895, John moved to Canada at age sixteen with an elder brother and sister. He took teachers' training at Camrose Normal in Alberta and taught for a short time before joining the 196 Battalion C. E. F. on April 7, 1916.  Although he was studious when necessary, he was also known to have a keen sense of humour. Under his pen, everyday happenings became cartoons. He enjoyed hunting, swimming and hiking in the great outdoors. What a shame he wasn't able to come home to share his many talents and zest for life.   

Plot V. F. 11.

Picture courtesy of niece, Jane Gray

458270 Private

Michael Slattery MM

87th Bn. Canadian Infantry

(Manitoba Regiment)

14/08/1917, aged 20.

Son of Mrs. L. Slattery, of 437, Magdalen St., Point St. Charles, Montreal, and the late Patrick Slattery. Brother of Lieutenant Edward Slattery, Killed 1918 and buried at Valley Cemetery, Vis-en-Artois.

Plot VIII. F. 1.

Picture courtesy of niece, Geraldine Slattery-Ellis

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