Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Bellicourt British Cemetery (France, Aisne)

Bellicourt British Cemetery - 1
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)

The Canal de St. Quentin passes under the village of Bellicourt in a tunnel 5 Kms long, built under the orders of Napoleon I. The Hindenburg Line ran west of the village, and the barges in the tunnel were used to shelter German reserves. About 5 Kms south of Bellicourt, where the canal is open, is the village of Bellenglise, where another great tunnel or dug-out was made by the Germans. On 29 September - 2 October 1918, the Battle of the St. Quentin Canal was fought. The 46th (North Midland) Division stormed the Hindenburg Line at Bellenglise and captured 4,000 prisoners and 70 guns. The 30th United States Division captured Bellicourt and Nauroy, which were cleared by the 5th Australian Division. The North Midland and Australian dead of this engagement fill most of the graves in Bellicourt British Cemetery. The cemetery was made after the battle, when 73 dead were buried in what is now Plot I. It was greatly enlarged after the Armistice, when graves were brought from the surrounding battlefields and several smaller cemeteries.

Bellicourt British Cemetery now contains 1,204 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 313 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 21 casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

Amongst the graves are those of 2 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

We are very grateful to Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) and Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) for having taken the photos of the cemetery and the headstones.

Click on the thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.

		Private George Thomas Brabrook. 266232. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, transferred to (610832) Labour Corps. Son of John and Margaret Brabrook, of Bury St. Edmund's. Killed 24 October 1918. Aged 20. Born Walthamstow (Essex), Enlisted Bury St. Edmund's (Suffolk). (SDGW gives Yorkshire Regt No as 21270.) "TILL WE MEET" Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

Lance Corporal George E Palmer, MM. 34761. 2nd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, formerly 3148 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. C. Palmer, of 11, Yeoman Terrace, Marske-by-the-Sea, Yorks. Killed 30 September 1918. Enlisted Margrove Park. "TO PART WITH HIM WE LOVED SO DEAR REST IN PEACE" Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)

Bellicourt British Cemetery - 2
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)

Bellicourt British Cemetery - 3
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)

Bellicourt British Cemetery - 4
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

Bellicourt British Cemetery - An Unknown Yorkshire Regiment Soldier
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

Bellicourt British Cemetery - The Headstone of a A Chinese Labour Corps Soldier
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)