The Auchonvillers Military Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Somme region of France commemorating British and Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Somme in World War I. The cemetery contains soldiers who died manning the Allied front line near the village of Auchonvillers.[1]

Auchonvillers Communal Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
Auchonvillers Military Cemetery
Map
Details
EstablishedJune 1915
Location
Auchonvillers, France
TypeMilitary
No. of graves528
Websitecwgc.org

Location

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The cemetery is located on the outskirts of Auchonvillers, which is approximately 20 kilometers south of Arras, France. The two towns are linked by the D919 road. The coordinates of the cemetery are 50°04′50″N 2°37′36″E / 50.08059°N 2.62674°E / 50.08059; 2.62674.[2]

Establishment of the Cemetery

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History

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Between the beginning of the war and mid-1915, the front was held by French troops, who started the cemetery in June 1915. From 1915 until the German retreat in February 1917, the cemetery was used by Commonwealth units including the 51st Highlanders and military hospitals, who referred to it as "Ocean Villas".[3] The cemetery was seldom used after 1917. After the Armistice agreement ended hostilities in the Great War, 15 more graves were created for soldiers who died in the area east of the cemetery. French graves have since been moved to separate burial grounds. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and William Cowlishaw.[1][2]

Statistics

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Cemetery Plan for Auchonvillers Cemetery[4]

Currently, 528 Commonwealth soldiers are buried in the cemetery. 487 soldiers are identifiable, including 457 British, 8 Canadians, and 2 New Zealanders.[2]

Identified Burials by Nationality[2]
Nationality Number of Burials
United Kingdom 457
Canada 8
New Zealand 2
Identified Burials by Unit[5]
Lancashire Fusiliers 47 Border Regiment 33
Royal Dublin Fusiliers 25 Middlesex Regiment 23
New Zealand burials 22 Royal Sussex Regiment 18
Black Watch 17 Royal Fusiliers - City of London Regiment 16
Royal Engineers 15 Royal Field Artillery 15
Duke of Wellington - West Riding Regiment 13 Worcestershire Regiment 13
Royal Warwickshire Regiment 12 Seaforth Highlanders 12
Gordon Highlanders 11 Hampshire Regiment 11
Lincolnshire Regiment 11 Royal Irish Rifles 11
Royal Irish Fusiliers 9 Essex Regiment 8
Gloucestershire Regiment 8 Royal Irish Regiment 8
Royal Newfoundland Regiment 8 Royal Scots 8
South Wales Borderers 8 Suffolk Regiment 8
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 7 East Yorkshire Regt. 7
Highland Light Infantry 7 King's Own Scottish Borderers 7
East Lancashire Regiment 6 French burials 6
Royal Garrison Artillery 6 West Yorkshire Regiment 6
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 5 Machine Gun Corps 5
Northumberland Fusiliers 5 Rifle Brigade 5
Hertfordshire Regiment 4 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 4
Manchester Regiment 4 Royal Navy Division - Infantry 4
Bedfordshire Regiment 3 Monmouthshire Regiment 3
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment 3 King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 3
South Lancashire Regiment 3 York & Lancaster Regiment 3
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2 Royal Welsh Fusiliers 2
Buffs - East Kent Regiment 1 King's Liverpool Regiment 1
King's Royal Rifle Corps 1 King's Shropshire Light Infantry 1
Norfolk Regiment 1 Queen's - Royal West Surrey Regiment 1
Royal Berkshire Regiment 1 Royal Scots Fusiliers 1

References

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  1. ^ a b "Cemetery Details | CWGC". www.cwgc.org. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  2. ^ a b c d "Auchonvillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France (CWGC)". WW1 Cemeteries.com - A photographic guide to over 4000 military cemeteries and memorials. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  3. ^ "First World War.com - The Western Front Today - Auchonvillers Cemetery". www.firstworldwar.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  4. ^ Canada, Veterans Affairs (2019-02-20). "Auchonvillers Military Cemetery - The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada". www.veterans.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  5. ^ "Auchonvillers Military Cemetery". silentwitness.freeservers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.