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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - St. Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes (Pas de Calais) France |
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The village Haisnes was reached, or nearly reached, by the 9th (Scottish) and 7th Divisions on the 25th September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos; and parts of the commune were the scene of desperate fighting in the Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt (13th-15th October, 1915). No further advance was made in this sector until October 1918, when the enemy withdrew his line.
"St. Mary's Advanced Dressing Station" was established, during the Battle of Loos, and the cemetery named from it is at the same place. The cemetery was made after the Armistice, by the concentration of graves from the battlefield of Loos; the great majority of the graves are those of men who fell in September and October 1915.
The only defined burial ground from which graves were brought to this cemetery was:-
LOOS COMMUNAL CEMETERY, on the South-West side of the town, in which nine soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried in February 1916, and which was subsequently ruined by artillery fire.
There are now nearly 2,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this cemetery. Of these, over two-thirds are unidentified and Special Memorials are erected to 23 soldiers from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried among them. Six other special memorials record the names of soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in Loos Communal Cemetery, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
The cemetery covers an area of 6,097 square metres and is enclosed by a low rubble wall.
There was at one time a French cemetery of 800 graves on the opposite side of the road; but in 1922 these graves were removed to Notre Dame-de-Lorette French National Cemetery.
Amongst the graves in St. Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes, are two for soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment. One other notable grave is that of 2nd Lieutenant John Kipling, the son of Rudyard Kipling (although there is argument as to whether this grave is that of John Kipling).
We are very grateful to Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) who has provided photos of the cemetery and the relevant headstones.
A view of St. Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes (1)
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
 Select
the above image for a larger version which opens in a new window. |
Private Edward Hutchinson, 19285.
10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George and Elizabeth Hutchinson, of Hovingham, Malton, Yorks. Killed 28 September 1915. Aged 20. Born Hovingham (Yorks), Enlisted Malton. "PEACE PERFECT PEACE" |
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the above image for a larger version which opens in a new window. |
Lance Corporal George Leeves. 45970.
22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly 32745 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Horace and Rachel Leeves, of Heslington; husband of Jennie S. Leeves, of Heslington, York. Killed 14 September 1918. Aged 30. Born York, Enlisted York. "BLESSED ARE
.THE PURE IN HEART" |
A view of St. Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes (2)
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
The Official Grave of John Kipling in St. Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes.
Select the above image for a larger version which opens in a new window.
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
For further information on John Kipling, and discussion as to the authenticity
of his grave, read
this article.