Bailleulmont Communal Cemetery
Location
Bailleulmont is a village 530 metres south of the main road from Arras to Doullens (N25). The Communal Cemetery is at the south-west end of the village, on the road to La Cauchie (D1); and in the east corner of it, to the right of the entrance, is a plot containing the graves of soldiers from the United Kingdom.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.212851 | 2.608974 | Map |
Historical Information
The graves in the British plot were made by Field Ambulances and fighting units in 1916-18. There are now over 30, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.
The Rev Georges Crochetière
Canadian Army Chaplains Department
22nd Bn Canadian Infantry
Quebec Regiment
Died on 2nd April 1918 aged 39
Son of Alphonse and Josephine Crochetière
of Arthabaskaville, Québec
Ordained priest 9th July 1905
at Nicolet Seminary
Grave: Left of centre path
Private Donovan Proby 4035
1/4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment
Died on 28th August 1916 aged 20
Son of Jane and the late George Proby
of 5 Woodbine Villas, Newland Avenue, Hull,
Grave: A 5
Also 200299 Private
Patrick George Proby
4th East Yorks Regiment
Age 23
Patrick George Proby
1st/4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment
Died on 23rd March 1918
Enlisted in August 1914
Three times previously wounded
Commemorated on the Pozières Memorial
Shot at Dawn
There are four soldiers buried in this cemetery who were executed by firing squad.
Young Albert Ingham is perhaps the reason why many people come to this cemetery, for his is the only gravestone amongst the over three hundred executed soldiers which states the cause of his death.
Private Albert Ingham 10495
18th Bn Manchester Regiment
Died on 1st December 1916 aged 24
Son of George and Eliza Ingham
of Atherton Cottage, Lower Kersal, Manchester
Grave: B 12
Shot at Dawn
One of the first to enlist
A worthy son
Of his father
Shot at Dawn for desertion
Albert Ingham and Alfred Longshaw (below) had both been clerks at the Salford Goods Yard for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways. They joined up together and served together in 11 Platoon of C Company the 18th Manchesters.
Having served through most of the Battle of the Somme the pair absconded in October rather than face another stint at the front. Getting as far as Dieppe they managed to stow away on a ship – where they were discovered and handed over to the military authorities.
The pair had been found in civilian clothes and were sentenced to death by the subsequent Court Martial.
In the years following the war George Ingham discovered that whilst the official description of : died of gun shot wounds, was essentially correct it hid the true reason for his son’s death.
The unique inscription was his way of denouncing the official lie.
Private Alfred Longshaw 10502
18th Bn Manchester Regiment
Died on 1st December 1916 aged 21
Son of Charles and Elizabeth Longshaw
of Pendleton
Husband of Mary Longshaw
of 21 Milnthorpe St, Pendleton, Manchester
Grave: B 13
Shot at Dawn for desertion
See Albert Ingham above.
Private William Hunt 1957
18th Bn Manchester Regiment
Died on 14th November 1916 aged 20
Grave: A 7
Shot at Dawn for desertion
Hunt was a regular soldier who had been serving in France since the very opening of the war. In the latter half of 1916 he was posted to the 18th Manchesters from which he absconded.
Hunt already had a previous conviction for disobedience, but when he was tried on the 22nd October 1916 his commanding officer described him as a satisfactory soldier. Despite this and a plea for leniency Hunt was sentenced to death.
Guardsman Benjamin O’Connell 10686
1st Bn Irish Guards
Died on 8th August 1918 aged 23
Son of James and Mary O’Connell
of Tinnarath, Foulksmills, Wexford
Grave: C 7
Shot at Dawn for desertion
O’Connell had already been tried and found guilty for two previous offences of desertion. In line with the policy of sending such men back to the front (as opposed to them serving out the war in a warm and comfortable prison cell) the sentences had been suspended.
A third offence though brought him before a firing squad — on the very day that the British Army commenced its march to victory.