aubignycomext

graves

IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

The visit of Commonwealth graves in Communals Cemeteries & Churchyards in Belgium & France

AUBIGNY Communal Cemetery Extension (Pas de Calais France)

Page 1 The Pictures

Page 2 List of Casualtie


Pte Angus Ferguson McPhee 17/05/1917 aged 21


Pte Henry (Jack) John Marshall DoW 10/04/1917 aged 24 This portrait was taken at No Man's Land Fort in Spithead, Portsmouth, Hampshire at Christmas 1916, shortly before he left for France. for his great niece Maureen Lister


Pte Hezekiah Towle 25/03/1893 - 07/04/1917 He was born in the township of Strong, Parry Sound District, Ontario Canada, the son of Thomas Towle and Alberta Quirt. He was former lumberman and enlisted 09/06/1916 for Ann Cullen


Coy Sjt Mjr Percy John Bouskill 08/05/1917 aged 26


Gnr Cecil Haggart Shaver MM 02/09/1918 aged 21



Pte Harry Bruton Scuffham c 1895 - 17/04/1917 Son of James William and Sarah Ann Scuffham, Harry was christened on 10/06/1896 in Barnsley, St John the Baptist Parish. He lived at 23 Westgate Barnsley, Yorks and enlisted in 1915 aged 20.

The brothers William Francis Hill and Henry Thomas Hill. Who also served in the Army Service Corps and survived the war. The play was performed in France 1915 & 1916 it was called “Yes, I think So” for William's great daughter Debra Buchanan
These photos are property of Mrs Debra Buchanan and can not be reproduced for any use without her written permission. The webmaster thanks her for her permission to use them for this site.
If you have any information about the two others unidentified men, please contact me.


Able Seaman Walter Carroll 25/04/1917 for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Pte Ernest Yates 25/04/1917
Ernest was a married man residing at 9, Mount Street, Walsall with his wife and child and was employed as a tailor for Moore and Company of Hill Street, Walsall.
Enlisting in the Army at Walsall he was drafted to France in 11/1916.
Reportedly wounded in action on Tuesday 24/04/1917 during the Battle of Arras, Ernest was removed to 30th Casualty Clearing Station at Aubigny-en-Artois where he succumbed the next day.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Pte Walter Yard 06/06/1916
Walter enlisted in the Army at Birmingham in 12/1915 at that time being employed in the tailoring department of John Shannon and Son Limited of George Street, Walsall.
Drafted to France in 03/1916, he was wounded shortly afterwards.
On Wednesday 17/05/1916 his bn moved into trenches near Roclincourt in the Arras sector.
Two days later the Germans exploded a mine under the positions and on Sunday 04/06/1916 the bn fought off a German attack.
At some stage during their stay in this sector Walter was wounded and removed to hospital at Aubigny where he succumbed to his injuries.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

L/Cpl Alfred George Tyler 09/05/1917 aged 24
Born in Northampton, Alfred was a married man who resided with his parents at 73, Cecil Street, Butts and was employed as a warehouse clerk for E.J. Parkes and Company, Hatherton Works, Holtshill Lane, Walsall.
Alfred enlisted in the Army on Tuesday 19/10/1915 and was drafted to France on Wednesday 08/11/1916.
Wounded during the Battle of Arras, Alfred was removed to hospital at Aubigny where he succumbed to his wounds.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Gnr Vincent Lester 27/04/1917 aged32
A single man, Vincent was the son of John and Emma Lester of 2, Mount Pleasant, Bloxwich.
At the time of his enlistment in the Army at Walsall on Wednesday 0504/1916 he was engaged on ‘war work’ in the area.
Serving four months at the front, Vincent was wounded during the Battle of Arras and removed to 42nd Casualty Clearing Station at Aubigny where he succumbed.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Pte James Yates 06/05/1917 aged22
James was the son of George and Sarah Elizabeth Yates of 63, Portland Street, Walsall.
He enlisted in the Army at Walsall in 09/1914 and was drafted to France on Tuesday 25/05/1915.
James was seriously wounded during an attack on Oppy Wood on Saturday 28/05/1917 and removed to Aubigny for treatment but succumbed to his injuries.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Pte David Thomas Gee 04/04/1916
David was a married man residing at 7, Foster Street, Blakenall with his wife and five children. Employed at the Wood Farm Colliery, David enlisted in the Army at Walsall in early 1915, being drafted overseas on Monday 28/06/1915.
Newspapers of the period intimate that David was killed in an explosion of a mine that occurred during Sunday 02/04/1916.
Removed to Aubigny for treatment he succumbed two days later.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall


Sjt Ian "John" McLeod 10/04/1917 for his great grandson Jesse MacLeod


Pte James Reynolds Moran 14/04/1916 aged 20 for Margaret Anton

Pte William Henry Baker 02/09/1918 aged 36
Employed at the Old Brewery, Sandford Street, Lichfield as a wagonner, he married Ruth Mileham at Lichfield in late 1905 and then resided at 24, Gaia Lane, Lichfield.
There was 1 child to the marriage.
he was killed during attacks on the Drocourt-Queant Line near Monchy.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Lichfield

L/Cpl Alfred Arnold "Alf" Simpson 12/03/1916
Alfred was born in New Smithy on the 01/02/1895.
He was the eldest son of Moses Simpson, a farmer and stonemason, and Sarah Simpson (formerly Hallam).
In March 1901, at the time of the Census, the family were living at Deacons (also known as Dakins) farm.
The family comprised Moses (aged 29), Sarah, (27), Alf (6), Lilian (4), John (3), and Harold (1).
By 1911, the family had moved to School Houses in New Smithy, and Alf had an additional brother and sister, George (Stewart Simpson's grandfather), then aged 9, and Agnes, 6.
Alf was working as a cloth dyer and tenter.
On the 06/03/1914, Alf enlisted into the 6th (Territorial) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, at Chapel-en-le-Frith.
He gave his occupation as belt stacker for J. Welch & Sons, and he was described in his service papers as being 5 feet 3½ inches in height with good vision and fair physical development.
Alf was attending his first annual Territorial camp when war broke out and, along with the rest of the Battalion, was mobilised and sent for training to prepare them for being sent to France, which they were in 02/1915.
In 1915, the 6th Foresters saw much action around Ypres, in particular in the trenches at Kemmel and Sanctuary Wood, and in October it was involved in operations during the Battle of Loos, in particular at the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
After a short spell in Marseilles in 01/1916, during an abortive move to the Middle East, the 6th Foresters returned to the Western Front at the end of that month.
On the 12/02/1916, Alf, who had just turned 21, was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
On the 09/03, the Battalion took over trenches near Mont St. Eloi from the 125th Regiment of French Infantry. Alf is recorded as having died of wounds three days later at a Casualty Clearing Station near Aubigny, a village near to Arras.
The circumstances in which Alf were wounded are not recorded in any of the official records, but the story that came through the family is that Alf had been operating as a sniper and that the Germans had located the area from which he had been firing and shelled it, and that it was this shelling that caused the wounds from which he died shortly thereafter.
Alf’s personal effects were returned to his father, and comprised an ID disc, purse, 2 shoulder titles, buttons, belt, bible, note book, 3 photos and a letter.

The following story ran in The Reporter on Saturday 25/03/1916:
CHINLEY TERRITORIAL
Dies of Wounds in Hospital in France
SCOUT AND FOOTBALLER
For several months past the Territorials do not appear to have been in the front firing line.
Now, however, they have returned to the position of honour, and news of casualties is beginning to come through.
On Saturday Mr. Moses Simpson, of New Smithy, received a letter from Colonel Goodman, announcing the death of his son, Lance-Corporal Alfred Arnold Simpson.
The letter read:
“I am very sorry to have to tell you of the death of your son, Lance-Corporal A. A. Simpson, who was dangerously wounded by shrapnel on Sunday morning, the 12inst, and died the same evening in hospital at 9-20 p.m.
He was, I believe, unconscious all the time and would not suffer pain.
You will, in time, be told of his burial.
Your son did his duty well, and has died for his country.
Assuring you of the deep sympathy of the officers and men, I am, yours faithfully, G. D. Goodman, Lieutenant-Colonel.”
“Alf” as he was popularly known, was the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Moses Simpson, of New Smithy.
He celebrated his 21st birthday on February 1st, while he was serving King and country in France.
He joined the Territorials in the summer of 1914, and was attending his first camp when war was declared, and the Territorials were mobilised for active service.
He was in France over a year, and had a brief furlough at the New Year.
Shortly after his return to the front he was promoted to the rank of lance-corporal – the clearest evidence of his efficiency as a soldier.
Alf was one of those daring young fellows who did not know what fear meant, and he has served his country with great bravery and courage.
Prior to the war he was employed at the Whitehall Bleachworks.
A popular footballer, he played for Hayfield during their successful career in the North Derbyshire league.
Alf was fond of sport and physical exercise, and had for some years been associated with the Chinley Boy Scouts, ultimately becoming the assistant-scoutmaster.
He was also a member of the Chinley Conservative Club.
A scholar all his life at the Chinley Independent Sunday School, he was, too, a valued member of the chapel choir.
When the Chinley Lads Club was in existence Lance-corpl. Simpson was a member.
He was also associated with the Chinley Male Choir.
Whatever he did he undertook most willingly, which made him a great favourite.
The loss of such a useful young man, and one of so much promise, is greatly deplored, and the greatest sympathy is expressed with the family in the loss of so brave and patriotic a son and brother.
On Sunday afternoon, a memorial service was held at Chinley Independent Chapel.
There was a large assembly of relatives, personal friends and Boy Scouts.
An appropriate sermon, in which eulogistic references were made to the gallant soldier, was delivered by the Rev. R. Shuttleworth.
Suitable hymns, including “O God Our Help” and “Nearer, My God, To Thee,” were sung, and at the close of an impressive service Mr. Jno. Waterhouse played the “Dead March” on the organ, the congregation reverently standing.

Alfred is also commemorated on the war memorials in Chinley, Derbyshire and at Chinley Independent Chapel.
for his great nephew Stewart Simpson

2 778 casualties

IF You have a casualty picture, please send me a copy, I'll be glad to show it on this page.

IF You want a king size copy of this picture (300/900 ko - 2592/1944 pixels) please e-mail me.

Casualties informations come usualy from Commonwealth War Graves Commission, see links for more informations