Cuckoo Passage Cemetery, Héninel
Location
Cuckoo Passage Cemetery is midway between Héninel and Fontaine-les-Croisilles.
The village of Héninel will be found on the D33 road, Boisleux St Marc to Wancourt. From Rue de Wancourt, turn right to Rue de St Germain, then left at fork for 800 metres, then right at fork on road to Cherisy Road East Cemetery (CWGC signposted). 1 kilometre further on road access to a small track will be seen and Cuckoo Passage Cemetery is 120 metres along this track.
A track leading off to your right (opposite Rookery British Cemetery) will take you up to the Héninel-Croisilles Road Cemetery. Immediately in front of you is a dirt track leading up a sunken road. You may already be able to see Cuckoo Passage Cemetery perched on the right hand embankment.
If you wish to visit Cuckoo Passage leave your vehicle unless you are certain of the ground and walk the 150 metres up to the cemetery entrance.
Access by wheelchair to both of these cemeteries is obviously very difficult if not impossible.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.231669 | 2.885655 | Map |
Historical Information
Héninel village was captured in a snowstorm on 12th April 1917 by the 56th (London) and 21st Division and the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, advancing from Héninel on the two following days, captured Wancourt Tower.
Cuckoo Passage Cemetery (named from a trench which ran from north-east to south-west beside the site of the cemetery) was begun by a divisional burial officer in April 1917 and closed in May.
The cemetery contains 54 First World War burials, one of which is unidentified.
In the distance, the spire of Monchy le Preux
on the main Arras-Cambrai Road
Soldiers from the 18th Bn Manchester Regiment
Who died on the 23rd April 1917
Aged 30
Husband of Edith East,
46 Corelli St, Miles Platting, Manchester
Private John Howarth 43871
18th Bn Manchester Regiment
Died on 23rd April 1917 aged 36
Son of Mrs Sellers, of Wigan
Husband of Sarah Howarth
of 599 Liverpool Rd, Platt Bridge, Wigan
Grave: A 42