 |
Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery France, Nord |
|
The Entrance Arch to the Military Burial Plots of the Hazebrouck Communal
Cemetery
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
From October 1914 to September 1917, casualty clearing stations were posted at Hazebrouck. The Germans shelled and bombed the town between September 1917 and September 1918 making it unsafe for hospitals, but in September and October 1918, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital was stationed there.
Commonwealth burials began in the communal cemetery in October 1914 and continued until July 1918. At first, they were made among the civilian graves, but after the Armistice these earlier burials were moved into the main Commonwealth enclosure.
During the Second World War, Hazebrouck was garrisoned and was on the western flank of the area occupied by the British Expeditionary Force until May 1940. The cemetery was used again, mainly for the burial of those killed in late May 1940 during the fighting which covered the retreat of the BEF to the Dunkirk-Nieuport perimeter
The cemetery now contains 877 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (17 of them unidentified) and 86 from the Second World War (20 of them unidentified).
The town of Hazebrouck contributed 20,000 francs for the construction of the Commonwealth plot.
Amongst the graves in Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery are 7 for soldiers who
served with the Yorkshire Regiment. One of these headstones is remarkable
in that it contains many more than the normal limited number of words of commemoration.
There are also several other graves of interest, - especially those where
private headstones have been erected in the Commonwealth plot. Photographs
of these are shown below.
We are very grateful to Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) who has provided photos of the cemetery and the headstones.
Select the thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.
|
|
Lance Corporal Samuel Evett. 1921.
5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Emmanuel George and Mary Evett, of Jersey, Channel Islands. Killed 28 April 1917. Aged 27. Born Jersey (C.I.), Enlisted Bridlington, Resided Gravesend (Kent). |
|
|
|
Private Albert George Heppell, 26734.
8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Isaac and Emma Heppell, of 31, Townend St., York. Killed 18 February 1917. Aged 24. Born Lancaster, Enlisted York. (Birth recorded as "George Alfred Heppell", b. Lancaster Q4 1892.) " WORTHY OF EVERLASTING ...." |
|
|
|
Private Thomas Jowett. 22927. 8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Eli and Phoebe Jowett; husband of Mary Eliza Jowett, of I0, Smalewell Rd., Pudsey, Yorks. Killed 19 June 1917. Aged 41. Born Bradford, Enlisted Leeds, Resided Pudsey. "UNTIL THE DAY DAWNS"
|
|
|
|
Lance Corporal Archibald James Paterson.
1442. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Archibald and Elizabeth Paterson, of 106, Parliament Rd., Middlesbrough. Killed 25 May 1915. Aged 24. Born Garston (Liverpool), Enlisted Middlesbrough. (name spelled as "Patterson" in SDGW) Headstone shared with Private J Carter, 12522. Cheshire Regiment. 26 May 1915. |
|
|
|
Private Herbert Richardson. 1665.
4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Ralph Richardson; husband of Eva Richardson, of 6, Redcar Rd., Dunsdale, Guisborough, Yorks. Killed 27 May 1915. Aged 23. Born Guisborough, Enlisted Guisborough. "DEATH DIVIDES
BUT MEMORY CLINGS FOREVER" |
|
 |
Private Edward Rust.
1830. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the Rev. Edward Rust, of The Vicarage, Hamsteels, Co. Durham. Educated at Scorton Grammar School, Yorks. Killed 30 April 1915. Aged 19. Born Gateshead-on-Tyne, Enlisted Catterick, Resided Hamsteel (Durham). "SERIOUSLY WOUNDED WHILE
ADVANCING WITH HIS REGIMENT IN THE FIGHTING NEAR ST JULIEN SAT APRIL 24 1915 HE WAS TAKEN TO THE FIELD HOSPITAL BUT WAS SO EAGER TO UPHOLD THE HONOUR OF HIS REGIMENT AND TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY THAT HE RETURNED NEXT DAY TO THE FIRING LINE AND REMAINED WITH HIS COMRADES UNTIL THEY WERE RELIEVED AND DIED ON APRIL 30TH COURAGEOUS TO THE END AND BELOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM." |
|
 |
Private James Henry Skelton.
34677. 9th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, formerly 20566 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Jane Skelton, of Cleaton, Skipsea, Seaton, Hull. Killed 30 May 1917. Aged 29. Born North Frodingham (Yorks), Enlisted Beverley (Yorks), Resided Hull. |
The Cross of Sacrifice and Rear Wall, Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery
"MCMXIV FIGHTING AS ONE IN DEATH NOT DIVIDED MCMXVIII"
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
The
Commonwealth Burial Plot, Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
French
War Graves (1), Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
French
War Graves (2), Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
The Headstone for Lieutenant T V G Elliot, Royal Field Artillery
"IN / MEMORY OF / LIEUT T V G / ELLIOT
1ST NORTHUMBRIAN / BRIGADE R.F.A.
WHO DIED ON THE / 16TH OCTOBER 1915.
------------
ERECTED BY HIS / BROTHER OFFICERS.
-------------
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
The Headstone for Private R C Walker, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
"IN / LOVING MEMORY / OF / OUR DEAR AND ONLY SON
PTE R.C. WALKER / 11TH QUEEN'S R. W. S.
AGED 19
WHO ENTERED INTO REST / DECEMBER 23 RD 1916.
HE DID HIS DUTY / REST IN PEACE
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
The Headstone for Sepoy Daya Singh, 2355, 14th King George's Own Ferozepore
Sikhs
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)