Boulogne Eastern
Location
Boulogne-sur-Mer is a large Channel port. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, one of the town cemeteries, lies in the district of St Martin Boulogne, just beyond the eastern (Château) corner of the Citadel (Haute-Ville). The cemetery is a large civil cemetery, split in two by the Rue de Dringhem, just south of the main road (RN 42) to St Omer.
The Commonwealth War Graves plot is located down the western edge of the southern section of the cemetery, with an entrance in the Rue de Dringhen. Car parking is available along the Rue de Dringhem.
Coming in from the A16 autoroute, come off at St Martin-Boulogne (You will see numerous eateries and the swimming pool - which is very good). Continue down the hill towards Boulogne town.
Almost at the bottom of the hill - but before the roundabout - you will see a turn to your left for the cemetery. Keep going round to the left as the next sign is not overly visible and you will see the parking bays and entrance to your right.
From Boulogne drive up the hill towards the Basilica (which is well worth visiting) and around the old fortifications whilst following the signs for St Omer. At the top of the hill take left at the wee roundabout (Ibis Hotel) and then right at the next roundabout. The cemetery will be signposted on your right as above.
When leaving either turn around or continue up the hill following the one-way system between the row of houses, this brings you back out onto the main road you initially came down.
Visiting Information
This Cemetery is open 7 days a week, all year round.
From 1 October to 15 March: 08:00 - 18:00
From 16 March to 30 September: 08:00 - 19:00
British and Polish Pilots from the Second World War
Historical Information
The Portuguese Monument
Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War.
It was closed and cleared on the 27 August when the Allies were forces to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas.
Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetière de l'est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right hand edge of the cemetery.
In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen.
Terlincthun British Cemetery
During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940.
The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944.
Boulogne East Cemetery contains 5 577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War.
The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.
There are a number of French graves within the cemetery and these are unusual in their design as they bear the Boulogne sur Mer Coat of Arms.
Portuguese Memorial and Cemetery
Within the cemetery you will also find a small plot for Portuguese Soldiers and a memorial to them.
The Portuguese Expeditionary Force
Captain Frederick Campbell VC
1st Bn Canadian Infantry
Western Ontario Regiment
Died on 19th June 1915 aged 48
Only son of Ephraim and Esther Campbell, of Mount Forest
Husband of Margaret Annie Campbell, of Mount Forest, Ontario
Served in the South African War
How sleep the brave
Who sink to rest
By all their country's
Wishes blest
London Gazette No 29272 dated 20th August 1915, records the following:
For most conspicuous bravery on 15th June 1915, during the action at Givenchy. Lieutenant Campbell took two machine-guns over the parapet, arrived at the German first line with one gun, and maintained his position there, under very heavy rifle, machine-gun and bomb fire, notwithstanding the fact that almost the whole of his detachment had then been killed or wounded.
When our supply of bombs had become exhausted, this Officer advanced his gun still further to an exposed position, and, by firing about 1 000 rounds, succeeded in holding back the enemy's counter-attack. This very gallant Officer was subsequently wounded, and has since died.
Grave: II A 24
Squadron Leader Gerald Close GC
59 Sqdn Royal Air Force
Died on 9th May 1941 aged 27
Husband of Pamela Close
Flight of 30th December 1937, in connection with the Waziristan operations: For Gallantry
Pilot Officer G Close, RAF was duty pilot on the Miranshah aerodrome when an aircraft laden with bombs crashed and burst into flames. This officer, despite the explosion of a bomb and small arms ammunition, made persistent attempts to extinguish the flames and rescue the crew, until stopped by a superior officer.
Grave: XIII A 5-7
Captain Julian Grenfell DSO
1st (Royal) Dragoons
Died on 26th May 1915 aged 27
Son of Lord and Lady Desborough of Taplow Court, Taplow, Bucks
One of the war poets and author of Into Battle.
His brother Gerald (Billy) a 2nd Lieutenant in 8th Bn Rifle Brigade was killed in July 1915 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
His cousin Francis won the Victoria Cross and is buried in Vlamertinge.
Grave: II A 18
Menin Gate Ieper
Vlamertinhge Military Cemetery
Major The Rt Hon John Rolls
Baron Llangattock
Royal Field Artillery
Died on 31st October 1916 aged 46
2nd Baron Llangattock
Son of the late John Rolls, 1st Baron Llangattock and Lady Georgiana of The Hendre, Monmouth
Died from wounds
Received on the Somme
His younger brother was Charles Rolls - pioneer in motor veicles along with Frederick Royce. Charles was the first Briton to be killed in an air crash (1910). On John's death in 1916 the male line of the family became extinct.
Grave: VII B 10
Lt Colonel John Morgan DSO
Army Service Corps
Died on 31st March 1917 aged 47
Son of the late Rev Canon Moore Morgan, LLD of Armagh
Grave: VII A 13
Private Arthur Wells 36441
11th Bn Suffolk Regiment
Died on 18th March 1918 aged 29
Only son of Ellen Townsend of Bleak Cottage, Steeple Morden, Royston, Herts, and the late Thomas Wells
He was first to volunteer in this village
Only good-night dear boy
Not farewell
Grave: VIII I 163
Private James Whyte S/13358
1st Bn Gordon Highlanders
Died on 2nd May 1916 aged 16
Son of William and Nancy Whyte, of Old Custom House, Regent Quay, Aberdeen
Grave: VIII A 105
Gunner Malcom McKenzie 85292
18th Anti-Aircraft Section
Royal Horse Artillery
Died on 28th June 1915 aged 19
Son of Malcolm and Agnes McKenzie, of Moor Cottage, Longtown, Cumberland
Grave: VIII B 52
Gunner George Castleton 57529
75th Bty Royal Field Artillery
Died on 2nd May 1915 aged 24
Son of Thomas and Sarah Castleton, of 26 Powell St, Sheffield
Served four years in India
We little thought
When he left home
It was our last good-bye
Grave: VIII B 24
Lt Colonel Bertram Ward
1st Bn Middlesex Regiment
Died on 22nd October 1914 aged 50
Son of the late Major Edmund Ward and Kate Ward of Kirkley, Northumberland
Husband of Florence Ward, of Kilbyrne Cottage, Doneraile, Co Cork
Grave: I B 3
2nd Lieutenant Claude Mackay
2nd Bn Worcestershire Regiment
Died on 7th June 1915 aged 20
Born at Rajkot, Kithiawar, India
Son of Edward Vansittart Mackay and Nina Mackay, of 10 College Rd, Clifton, Glos
Love, Joy, Peace
Grave: II A 31
Shot at Dawn
There are four executed soldiers within the cemetery.
Lance Corporal Jesse Short 26/626
24th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers
Tyneside Irish
Died on 4th October 1917 aged 30
Son of William and Margaret Short
Husband of Dinah Short, of 11 Parkinson St, Felling, Co Durham
Mutiny at Étaples
Short had been soldiering since 1905 but without a great deal of success. He had been thrown out as being worthless a number of times and had only weedled his way back in again by lying to the recruiters. Son of a Welsh miner, he declared himself Scottish and joined an Irish regiment.
Short was transferred to the 24th Bn from his recruited 26th and arrived in France in early 1916 in time for the Battle of the Somme. At some stage in 1917 he found himself at the Étaples base and became embroiled in the famous mutiny.
On the afternoon of 9th September 1917 a Kiwi Gunner called Healy had crossed the Canche estuary to visit Le Touquet, which was out of bounds to soldiers in the training base. On returning he realised that the tide had come in and used the bridge, whereupon he was arrested by Military Police as a deserter. Other New Zealanders who witnessed the incident besieged the small police post until one of their number was allowed to inspect the cells and ascertain that Healy had already been released.
The crowd surrounding the post grew and the seeds of discord between the Depot Police and soldiers from the base began to show. Things turned nasty when one of the police, Private Reeve, drew a revolver and shot a Scots soldier dead (Corporal W Wood of the 4th Bn Gordon Highlanders) and wounded a civilian. A mini-riot ensued, and, with the police fleeing, a party went off in search of Brigadier General Thompson the base commander.
Corporal Wood is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery. Grave: XXV P 7A
About 80 of the soldiers got as far as the bridge between Étaples and Le Touquet where they were confronted by a picquet of 200 soldiers which they brushed aside despite the protests of the picquet's commander Captain E Wilkinson.
At 2115 hours the party returned back through the picquet and the Captain again urged his men to take action. One of the returning soldiers - Corporal Short - harangued the picquet suggesting that they should throw the officer into the Canche river with a stone tied around his neck. That didn't happen and the Captain made certain that at the first opportunity Short was arrested.
Although some acts of indiscipline continued throughout the week with men heading into town, the so called mutiny was over.
Short was tried together with three other ringleaders. Despite clear evidence to the contrary Short claimed that he had been drunk which impressed none of the officers on the board. Tried and convicted for attempted mutiny Short was not long in the waiting for Haig's confirmation of the sentence.
Stories of Percy Topliss and the monocled mutineer may have touched the public imagination but it is highly doubtful if Topliss was ever present and Short was the only person prosecuted for this incident.
From his grave's inscription it is evident that his wife was never properly informed of her husband's fate.
Duty Called
And he went forward
Ever remembered by
His wife and children
Grave: VIII I 43
Private George Mills 18603
2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Died on 29th September 1915 aged 21
Son of Mrs Pilling of 142 Mortlake Rd, Prince Regent's Lane, Custom House, London
Mills was a volunteer, joining up in February 1915. Whilst his battalion was in the front lines and he was working in the rear, he stole an officers uniform and money before going absent. He was found here in Boulogne pretending to be an officer.
He was the first soldier to be tried and executed away from the battlefields.
Grave: VIII B 81
Bombardier Frederick Arnold C/40124/A
Canadian Field Artillery
Died on 25th July 1916 aged 26
An American with previous service in his own army, Arnold had joined the Canadian Artillery and found himself near Ieper. In June 1916 there had been vicious fighting in and around the Canadian sector and Arnold went missing. He was located in civilian clothes in Boulogne. As with the case of Mills above he was not returned to his unit but tried and executed in the port.
Grave: VIII A 137
Private John Roberts 107526
2nd Bn Canadian Mounted Rifles
Died on 30th July 1916 aged 20
Roberts had gone absent from his unit earlier in the year and managed not only to get to Boulogne but had set up home with a local woman. Unfortunately he was stupid enough to continue drawing his pay so it was hardly surprising that eventually the authorities managed to catch up with him. He was tried on 15th July and shot at 0436 hours on the 30th.
Grave: VIII A 154