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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Cambrai East Military Cemetery (France, Nord) |
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Cambrai
East Military Cemetery (1)
Photo : Chris Cosgrove.
Cambrai was occupied by German forces on 26 August 1914 and it remained in German hands until 9 October 1918.
The 1917 Battle of Cambrai (20 November to 3 December) left the Allied line still eight kilometres from the city on the south-west side, and the German offensive of March 1918, drove it far to the west, but the 1918 Battle of Cambrai, the last of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, delivered the city into the hands of Commonwealth forces, though it was very severely damaged and the main square was still burning two days after the fight. Two Casualty Clearing Stations were later posted to the town, 30 CCS in October 1918 and 22 CCS in November 1918.
Cambrai East Military Cemetery was made by the Germans during their occupation and laid out with the greatest care, with monuments erected in it to the French, Commonwealth and German dead. On 11 August 1918, as an inscription in the cemetery records, the Bavarian Commandant handed over to the city the care and maintenance of the cemetery.
The graves have now been regrouped. The Commonwealth Plots are numbered I to VI, in the south-east corner, and Plot VII, near the north side, on the left of the entrance. Plots I to IV were made by Commonwealth troops after the capture of Cambrai. Plots V and VI contain 69 graves brought from the battlefields east and south of the city, and Plot VII contains the graves of Commonwealth prisoners.
The cemetery now contains 501 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 28 of the graves are unidentified but special memorials are erected to seven soldiers kown to be buried among them. Another special memorial commemorates a soldier buried by the Germans in CAUROIR COMMUNAL CEMETERY, whose grave could not be found.
Amongst the graves are those for five soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.
We are extremely grateful to Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) who has generously provided the photographs on this page.
Click on thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which open in a new window.
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Private George Alfred Clement.
47989. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 18152 5th T R Battn. Son of Frank B. and Emeline E. Clement, of Holly Farm, Preston, Uppingham, Rutland. Born at Castle Bytham, Lincs. Died of wounds 21 March 1919. Aged 20. Born Castle Bytham, Enlisted Bourne, Resided Uppingham (Rutland). (Name spelt "Clements" in SDGW. Not shown in GH Gazette database) "PEACE PERFECT PEACE" |
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Private Augustus Guest, MM.
42551. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 164321 R F A. Son of Sarah Guest, of Brookside, Etchingham, Sussex, and the late Joseph James Guest. Killed 2 November 1918. Aged 25. Born Hawkhurst (Kent), Enlisted Hastings, Resided Etchingham. "THY WILL BE DONE" |
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Private John Peverell. 18163.
2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 6 November 1918. Born Southchurch (Durham), Enlisted Darlington, Resided Southchurch. |
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Private Daniel Platt. 29812.
6th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 202603 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Platt, of Oldham; husband of Mary Platt, of 13, Castleton St., Werneth, Oldham. Killed 5 November 1918. Aged 40. Born Oldham, Enlisted Oldham. "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN" |
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Private Herbert Rudd. 34089. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 56975 Lincs Regt. Killed 3 February 1918. Born Nottingham, Enlisted Newark. |
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Cambrai
East Military Cemetery (2)
Photo : Chris Cosgrove.