Hermies Hill
Location
Hermies is a town in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, approximately 3.5 kilometres south of the road from Bapaume to Cambrai, the N30. From the N30 take the D34 for 3.2 kilometres to its junction with the D5E where the first CWGC sign is situated. The Cemetery lies on the left side of the road, 150 metres from the junction.
Historical Information
Hermies was seized on the morning of the 9th April 1917, by a surprise attack of the 2nd and 3rd Australian Infantry Battalions. It was held against the advancing Germans on the 22nd March 1918, by the 17th Division, but evacuated on the following day; and it was retaken in September 1918.
It was later adopted, with Havrincourt, by the County Borough of Huddersfield.
The cemetery was begun in November 1917, and carried on by fighting units until March 1918, and further graves were added in the following September. These original burials comprise nearly the whole of Plot I; the remaining three Plots were added after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from a wide area round Hermies and from certain small cemeteries.
There are now over 1,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 300 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 28 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 3 from Australia, known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 6 soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in two German Cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
The cemetery covers an area of 3,629 square metres and is enclosed by a brick wall.
The following were among the burial grounds from which British graves were removed to Hermies Hill British Cemetery:
Demicourt German Cemetery, Boursies, at the North end of the hamlet of Demicourt, which contained about 100 German graves and those of 15 unidentified men of the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Havrincourt Cottage Garden Cemetery, made by the 47th (London) Division in the Southern part of the village and containing the graves of 30 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 5 Germans who fell in the winter of 1917-1918.
Havrincourt Wood British Cemetery, about 1 kilometre South-West of Havrincourt village. It contained the graves of 70 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell on the 20th November 1917, the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, and all but 5 of whom belonged to the Infantry of the 62nd (West Riding) Division.
Hermies Australian Cemetery, on the North-West side of the village, containing the graves of 1 officer and 20 NCOs and men of the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, who fell on the 9th April 1917.
2nd Lieutenant Frank Young VC
1st Bn Hertfordshire Regiment
Died on 18th September 1918 aged 23
Son of Frank and Sarah Young, of 46, Wood Avenue, Folkestone, Kent
An extract from The London Gazette No. 31067, dated 13th December 1918, records the following:
For most conspicuous bravery, determination and exceptional devotion to duty on 18th September 1918, south-east of Havrincourt, when during an enemy counter-attack and throughout an extremely intense enemy barrage he visited all posts, warned the garrisons and encouraged the men. In the early stages of the attack he rescued two of his men who had been captured, and bombed and silenced an enemy machine gun.
Although surrounded by the enemy, 2nd Lt. Young fought his way back to the main barricade and drove out a party of the enemy who were assembling there. By his further exertions the battalion was able to maintain a line of great tactical value, the loss of which would have meant serious delay to future operations.
Throughout four hours of intense hand-to-hand fighting 2nd Lt. Young displayed the utmost valour and devotion to duty, and set an example to which the company gallantly responded. He was last seen fighting hand to hand against a considerable number of the enemy.
Grave: III B 5
Corporal E Hardy 34418
5th Bn Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Died on 15th September 1918 aged 19
Grave: II A 16
Serjeant James Ellis 201002
2nd/4th Bn KOYLI
Died on 20th November 1917 aged 27
Son of Frank and Charlotte Ellis of Castleford
Grave: I H 15
Private Frederick Pole 57602
2nd/6th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment
Died on 20th November 1917 aged 31
Son of James and Harriett Pole, of Belgrave, Leicester
Husband of Susan Pole, of 11, Belgrave Avenue, Leicester
Grave: IV E 27
On the opposite side of the road you will see Hermies British Cemetery where you will find the grave of Brigadier General Roland Bradford VC MC.
Hermies British Cemetery
Cambrai 1917