Dud Corner
Location
Loos-en-Gohelle is a village 5 kilometres north-west of Lens. Dud Corner Cemetery, which stands almost on the site of a German strong point, the Lens Road Redoubt, captured by the 15th (Scottish) Division on the first day of the battle, is located about 1 kilometre west of the village, on the N43, the main Lens to Bethune road.
This is a very busy road and the cemetery and memorial are situated on the crest of the hill. There is a parking area in front of the cemetery but please do not even think about trying to accomplish a U-Turn. It is far safer to carry on further and come back again.
The cemetery is best approached from Loos/Lens as it will be on the right hand side of the road. If coming from Vermelles/Mazingarbe continue past and use the junctions for Loos to turn around.
Historical Information
The name Dud Corner is believed to be due to the large number of unexploded enemy shells found in the neighbourhood after the Armistice.
Four officers from the Black Watch, all killed on 25 September 1915
Lt Col M Henderson
Captain Donald Graham
Captain J Bell
2nd Lieutenant J Millar
The only burials here during hostilities were those of four Officers of the 9th Black Watch and one Private of the 8th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, close to Plot III, Row B.
The remainder of the graves were brought in later from small cemeteries and isolated positions near Loos and to the North.
The wall surrounding the cemetery is the Loos Memorial to the Missing and commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay.
The Loos Memorial
Battle of Loos 1915
There are now nearly 2,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over half are unidentified and special headstones have been erected to 15 soldiers from the United Kingdom who are believed to be buried among them.
The great majority of the dead buried here fell in the Battle of Loos, 1915; but some were killed in succeeding years.
The regimental memorials brought to the Cemetery included those of the 10th Scottish Rifles and the 17th London Regiment, dating from the Battle of Loos, and those of the Royal Montreal Regiment and the Royal Highlanders of Canada, dating from the Battle of Hill 70 in August 1917.
Special memorials are erected in this Cemetery to twelve soldiers of the 2nd Welch Regiment, killed in action on the 12th October 1915, and buried in Crucifix Cemetery, Loos, whose graves could not be found on concentration.
The cemetery now covers an area of 5,550 square metres, and is bounded by a low rubble wall except on the road side, where the War Stone is raised on a grass terrace and flanked by buildings.
From Dud Corner it is not so far to the Lighthouse on top of the Notre Dame de Lorette Hill
The British fought Loos as an aid to the French attacking Vimy
The more important of the small cemeteries concentrated into Dud Corner Cemetery were the following:
Tosh Cemetery, Loos, on the North side of the village, close to the communication trench called Tosh Alley. It contained the graves of 171 soldiers from the United Kingdom (118 of whom were Irish) and five from Canada. It was used from October, 1915, to September 1917.
Crucifix Cemetery, Loos, a little West of Tosh Cemetery. It was used from September 1915, to May 1916, and it contained the graves of 53 soldiers from the United Kingdom.
Le Rutoire British Cemetery, Vermelles, close to Le Rutoire Farm, which is on Loos Plain, near the village of Vermelles. It was used in 1915, and contained the graves of 82 soldiers from the United Kingdom and six French soldiers.
Looking across the cemetery eastwards towards Lens
Two Victoria Cross Winners
Captain Anketell Read VC
1st Bn Northamptonshire Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Died on 25th September 1915 aged 31
Son of Col J Moutray Read, of Cheltenham, and Mrs E Moutray Read, of 17, Albany Rd, St Leonards-on-Sea
London Gazette No. 29371, dated 16th November 1915
For most conspicuous bravery during the first attack near Hulluch on the morning of 25th September 1915. Although partially gassed, Captain Read went out several times in order to rally parties of different units which were disorganised and retiring.
He led them back into the firing line, and, utterly regardless of danger, moved freely about encouraging them under a withering fire. He was mortally wounded while carrying out this gallant work.
Captain Read had previously shown conspicuous bravery during digging operations on 29th, 30th and 31st August 1915, and on the night of the 29th-30th July he carried out of action an officer, who was mortally wounded, under a hot fire from rifles and grenades.
He won
Because he never
Recognised defeat
Christ died for all
Grave: VII F 19
L/8088 Serjeant Harry Wells VC
2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment
Died on 25th September 1915 aged 27
Son of Samuel and Emma Wells. Born at Herne, Kent
London Gazette No 29371 dated 16th November 1915
When his Platoon Officer had been killed he took command and led his men forward to within fifteen yards of the German wire. Nearly half the Platoon were killed or wounded, and the remainder were much shaken, but with the utmost coolness and bravery, Serjeant Wells rallied them and led them forward.
Finally, when very few were left, he stood up and urged them forward once more, but while doing this he was killed. He gave a magnificent example of courage and determination.
Grave: V E 2
Looking west towards Mazingarbe and across the southern end of the battlefield