Hersin Communal
Location
Hersin is a village about 5 kilometres south of Béthune and about 2 kilometres west of the main road from Béthune to Arras. The Communal Cemetery and Extension lie to the north-east of the village.
Historical Information
The extension to Hersin Communal Cemetery was begun by French troops, who made over 100 burials, and was taken over by Commonwealth troops and field ambulances in March 1916. It was used until October 1918.
The extension contains 224 Commonwealth burials of the First World War; many of the graves are of engineers, mostly from tunnelling companies. All but seven of the French graves have been removed.
The extension was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Shot at Dawn
There are two graves here belonging to executed soldiers.
Private Arthur Briggs 21801
9th Bn Sherwood Foresters
Died on 19th July 1918 aged 27
Son of Harriet Briggs, of 7, Railway View, Locksford Lane, Brimington, Chesterfield
Arthur Briggs had enlisted in early 1915 and had served at Gallipoli falling ill with dysentery. He had been returned home and it was only at the end of 1916 that he was sent back to the front - in France.
He left behind an 18 year old pregnant girlfriend and parents totally opposed to any marriage.
Briggs had to wait until the beginning of 1918 to be allowed home on leave to finally get married. He had been granted 7 days leave but left for Scotland with his wife and child.
In the summer he was informed by his mother that both his father and brother had been killed in action. A short time later he was arrested by the police in Edinburgh.
Despite his plea to the contrary the Court Martial found that Briggs was guilty of desertion and sentenced to death.
Grave: III E 2
His brother : Private Sam Briggs 61032, 2nd/5th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), died on the 21st March 1918 aged 20. He is commemorated in Bay 7 of the Arras Memorial.
Arras Memorial
I believe that the father would have been : Private Henry Briggs 64839, 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, died on the 14th April 1918. He is commemorated on Panel 2 of the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Ploegsteert Memorial
Private James Skone 36224
2nd Bn Welsh Regiment
Died on 10th May 1918 aged 39
Son of Mary Skone, of 13, Thomas St, Orange Gardens, Pembroke
On the 13th April 1918 James Skone had been arrested following an absence at the village of Gorre near Béthune.
In resisting his arrest Skone, who claimed to have been drunk, shot dead Lance Sergeant Edwin Williams. A clear cut case for murder was presented and Skone was sentenced to death.
Lance Sergeant Edwin Williams 25585, was 42 years old and the son of David and Maria Williams, of Trehafod, Pontypridd; husband of the late Mary Hannah Williams. He is buried in Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave III B 3
Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension
Grave: III B 1
List of Soldiers Shot at Dawn