 |
Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec (France, Somme) |
|
Dive
Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec - 1
Photo : Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>)
In June 1916, before the Somme offensive, the ground north of the cemetery was chosen for a concentration of field ambulances, which became the XIV Corps Main Dressing Station. Dive Copse was a small wood close by, under the Bray-Corbie road, named after the officer commanding this station.
Plots I and II were filled with burials from these medical units between July and September 1916. In the spring of 1918, the cemetery was lost during the German advance; Plot III contains the graves of 77 men who died in August 1918 when it was retaken. This plot also contains graves brought in from scattered sites and small cemeteries in the neighbourhood
Dive Copse Cemetery now contains 589 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 29 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 10 casualties known to be buried among them.
3 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are buried in this cemetery.
We are extremely grateful to Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) who has generously provided the photographs of the cemetery and the headstones on this page.
Click on the thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.
|
Private Edwin Johnson.
18990. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Alfred and Mary Johnson. Killed 2 July 1916. Aged 22. Born Sleights (Yorks), Enlisted Whitby, Resided Sleights (Yorks). "FOR KING AND COUNTRY
HE NOBLY DID HIS DUTY" |
|
Private James Knowles,
11702. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 3 July 1916. Born Trimdon (Hartlepool), Enlisted Seaham Harbour, Resided Dawdon. |
 |
Private William Metcalfe.
10627. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mary Metcalfe, of 13, Forrestt St., Meanwood Rd., Leeds. Killed 8 July 1916. Aged 27. Born Leeds, Enlisted Leeds. |
Dive
Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec - 2
Photo : Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>)