Bancourt Communal Cemetery

Bancourt is a village which lies approximately 4 kilometres due east of Bapaume on the north side of the D7, Bapaume to Bertincourt road. Bancourt British Cemetery is situated east of Bancourt village, 300 metres off the D7 on the north side. The CWGC direction signs on the D7 indicate the best approach to the cemetery.

Historical Information

Bancourt was occupied by Commonwealth forces in March 1917. It was lost a year later during the German offensive in the spring of 1918 but recaptured by the New Zealand Division (in particular, the 2nd Auckland Battalion) on 30 August 1918.

Bancourt Communal Cemetery contains the graves of six officers of the Royal Flying Corps (one of them unidentified) buried by the Germans in the autumn of 1916, and one soldier from New Zealand who died in September 1918.

In addition, there is a special memorial to an Australian soldier, buried in the cemetery in April 1917, whose grave was destroyed by shell fire.

Serjeant Robert Evans 25178
70th Sqdn Royal Flying Corps
Died on 16th November 1916 aged 18
Son of Robert and Isabel Evans
of 10, Marina Crescent, Herne Bay, Kent
One of the first Serjeant Pilots in the RFC

Grave: 7

Second Lieutenant Arthur Fisher
21st Sqdn Royal Flying Corps
Died on 25th October 1916 aged 21
Son of Mr and Mrs J Fisher, of Clapham, London

Grave: 9

Second Lieutenant Guy Hedderwick
19th Sqdn Royal Flying Corps
Died on 22nd September 1916

Grave: 1

Lieutenant (Pilot) Ernest Lansdale
11th Sqdn Royal Flying Corps
Died on 30th September 1916 aged 21
Son of Ernest and Minnie Lansdale
of 3, Hawthorn Villas, Grove Rd, Ilkley, Yorks
Born at Goole

Grave: 2

Serjeant Albert Clarkson 3049
11th Sqdn Royal Flying Corps
Died on 30th September 1916 aged 22
Son of Arthur and Alice Jane Clarkson
of 56, Shaw Rd, Blackpool

Grave: 3

Other cemeteries in the area