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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt (France, Pas de Calais) |
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Arras
Road Cemetery, Roclincourt (1)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>).
Roclincourt was just within the British lines before the Battles of Arras, 1917; the 51st (Highland) and 34th Divisions advanced from the village on the 9th April, 1917, and the 1st Canadian Division attacked on their left, across the Lens road.
Arras Road Cemetery was begun by the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade soon after the 9th April, 1917, and until the Armistice it contained only the graves (now at the back of the cemetery) of 71 officers and men of the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion (British Columbia Regiment) who fell in April, May and June, 1917; but in 1926-29, it was enlarged by the addition of 993 graves from a wide area, mainly North and East of Arras. Amongst these were graves from other burial grounds.
There are now over 1,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.
The cemetery covers an area of 4,084 square metres. It is enclosed on three sides by a stone rubble wall, and against the road by a retaining wall. Old dug-outs exist under the North-East corner and on the South-West boundary.
Amongst the graves is that of 1 soldier who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.
We are extremely grateful to Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) who has generously provided the photographs on this page.
Click on the thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.
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Lance Corporal John Wilson.
7559.
2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Richard and Harriet Wilson; husband of Mary Elizabeth Wilson, of 13, Saville Rd., Castleford, Yorks. Killed 18 October 1916. Aged 32. Born Leeds, Enlisted Leeds, Resided Castleford. |
Two other graves of interest in this cemetery are shown below;-
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Captain Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby,
VC, MC. Twice Mentioned in Despatches. 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. Only son of Sandford and Alice F. Kilby. Born at East Hayes, Cheltenham. Killed 25 September 1915. Aged 30. An extract from the London Gazette, dated 30th March, 1916, records the following (and it is known that a memorial of the event was erected by the enemy on the spot):- "For most conspicuous bravery. Captain Kilby was specially selected at his own request, and on account of the gallantry which he had previously displayed on many occasions, to attack with his Company a strong enemy redoubt. The Company charged along the narrow towpath, headed by Captain Kilby, who, though wounded at the outset, continued to lead his men right up to the enemy wire under a devastating machine gun fire and a shower of bombs. Here he was shot down, but, although his foot had been blown off, he continued to cheer on his men and to use a rifle. Captain Kilby has been missing since the date of the performance of this great act of valour, and his death has now to be presumed." |
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2nd Lieutenant Harry Alexander 1st Battalion the Grenadier Guards. Killed 17 October 1915. Wreath from the Birkenhead Park Football Club. "Captained England vs Wales on 11 January 1902." |
Arras
Road Cemetery, Roclincourt (2)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>).
The
Grave of an Unknown German Soldier Between the Graves of Two Unknown British
Soldiers
Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>).