graves

 

 

 

IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

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

pierre.vandervelden@pi.be

Villers Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Somme France)

Page 1 The Pictures

Page 2 List of Casualties

Pte James Nulty 09/09/1916 Aged 36
for his Nephew Stephen Nulty
Pte William Joseph Charles Punshon 08/08/1918 aged 30
Cpl William James Wilson 31/05/1918 aged 28
Sgt Philip James Ball MM 28/03/1918 aged 21
Pte Robert Richard Kinnon 08/08/1918 aged 30
Pte Alan Lindsay Flower 29/07/1918 aged 23
Alan was born in Bangalow, NSW., son of Frederick Gregg Flower.
He was bank clerk prior to enlistment, 01/05/1916.
He embarked with the 4th Pioneer Btn on board HMAT Ayrshire on 24/01/1917.
He served with the 5th Pioneer Btn in France and DoW received in action at Morlancourt.
His brother Tpr James Herbert Flower, 7th Light Horse Regiment, DoW on 25/05/1915 at Gallipoli.
His sister Vera Emily Flower served in North Africa and France as a nurse with the 2nd Australian General Hospital.
for Glennys Gow 
Pte Arnold Curran 11/08/1918 aged 26
He enlisted in the 177th (Simcoe Foresters) Bn, 16/05/1916. He was single, former a Mechanic living in Orillia.
Born and raised in Rama (Sebright), a son of Mary Curran. His father died when he was just four years of age, then he relocated to Longford, with his mother and Uncle Edward Curran, who had been a father to the boy. About 1909, they moved to Orillia. He was the only support of his mother and aged uncle.
He arrived in England 14/05/1917, and joined the 4th Bn, in France 28/08/1917.
Arnold was wounded 08/08/1918, at the Battle of Amiens.
The CEF Burial records read " while advancing under heavy machine gun fire, he was hit in the head by several machine gun bulletts, stretcher bearers attended to him, and he was removed to No. 48 Casualty Clearing Station, where he succumbed to his wounds."
for the Ramara Historical Society http://ramarahistoricalsociety.net/
Pte Frank Flintham 18930- 10/08/1918 aged 25
He was born in Walsall to Charles and Louisa Kate (nee Balderston) Flintham of 104, Milton Street, Caldmore, his father being a dairyman by trade. It would appear that Louisa predeceased her son as in 1904 Charles married Hetty Marsland residing, in 1911, at 144, Milton Street, Walsall and then at 17, Thelma Street, Walsall.
Educated at Palfrey School, Frank was a regular soldier and had 7 years service to his credit when killed.
Drafted to the front on Saturday 15/08/1914, Frank was stationed at the home of Baron Epine, the Chateau de Prouzel, situated south of Amiens, during the winter of 1917. The chateau had been requisitioned as the general headquarters for the 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars and here Frank served as a batman to a Captain Chicester.
Working in the kitchens of the chateau was a young French lady called Blanche Mille. During the months that the Hussars were stationed at the chateau Frank and Blanche fell in love and they were shortly afterwards married at Beautin. They resided together for three months before Frank was posted elsewhere.
French newspaper articles reported that Frank was posted to Rouvroy on the Santerre plains near Fouquescourt.
It would appear that during the night of Friday 09/08/1918 an enemy aircraft dropped a bomb directly on the headquarters and the head of “A” Squadron. Frank and 3 others were killed outright and 12 wounded, one of whom later died. Also 21 horses were killed.
(The other men killed were Private 14366 William Henry Greenway from Worcester, Private 8365 Frederick Dawson from Witham, Essex and Private 255690 Edwin Cheshire from Leicester, all of whom are buried together in Fouquescourt British Cemetery)
(The soldier who later succumbed was Private 6089 William Thomas Tull from London who died on Sunday 11/08/1918. He is buried in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.)
After Frank’s death Blanche returned to work at the Chateau de Pouzel, now pregnant. She gave birth to a daughter, named Francoise, and Captain Chichester became the child’s godfather.
When the war was over Blanche went in search of her husband’s grave and after finding his remains she had them brought back and buried in the cemetery at Plachy-Buyon, near to the Chateau de Pouzel, 7 miles south west of Amiens. His is the only Commonwealth War Grave in the cemetery and his name was added to the town’s own war memorial.

Of his other brothers, Charles, who resided in London, served as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, Wesley served in the 4th Hussars and the Royal Irish Regiment and Herbert, attested in 1916.

Their father, Charles had a distinguished Army career. As a youth he enlisted in the 4th Hussars and was promoted to Corporal in 1886. In 1892 he served as a Corporal in the South Staffordshire Regiment and in 1900 he fought in the Boer War in the Worcestershire Yeomanry. At the outbreak of the Great War, although 55 years of age, he re-enlisted in he 4th Hussars and served in Ireland.

Although born and residing in Walsall, Frank is not commemorated on the Walsall roll of honour although his brother, John, is.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Pte Claverhouse Beresford Young 05/07/1918 aged 21
He was the youngest child of Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe Young and his wife Mary Meredith of Armagh St., Clayfield, Qld.
He attended Brisbane Grammar School, and enlisted at Brisbane, on 03/02/1916 when aged 18.
He intended to study law, as had 2 of his brothers.
His father had been a navigating Sublieutenant in the Royal Navy and his grandfather a Captain in the British Army 62nd Regiment of Foot.
Two of his brothers were also in the Great War; Rupert George Young and Walter Balls Headley Young, both of whom had been at Gallipoli.
Both survived the war.
Claverhouse was KiA at Le Hamel.
for Doug Young
Pte John Clarke 03/1889 - 11/08/1918
He is remembered on the St Peter's Old Woking G.W.M. Roll of Honour by Pete Smee
and the Surrey County Council Heritage Conservation Team
Pte Charles William Schoffield 11/08/1918 aged 23
for Mark Dinan

 

1 535 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

Inmemories.com © Pierre Vandervelden - Belgium