Douai British Cemetery
Location
Douai is a large town about 24 kilometres north-east of Arras and the cemetery lies on the outskirts near the main road to Lens. From Lens and the A21 autoroute, exit at Junction 19. Take the junction onto the D643 toward Douai/Cuincy. As you approach the town, turn left at the roundabout next to Campanile hotel and follow the D125 for 45 metres. At the exit you will see the green CWGC sign post. The cemetery is situated on left hand side of this road.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.383407 | 3.056106 | Map |
Historical Information
Douai was occupied by French troops and the Royal Naval Air Service on the 22nd September 1914, and captured by the Germans on the 1st October; it remained in enemy hands until the 17th October 1918.
The 42nd Casualty Clearing Station was posted in the town from the 28th October 1918, to the 25th November 1919.
Douai British Cemetery was begun at the end of October 1918, and closed in November 1919; but graves were brought into it later from the neighbouring battlefields and from other burial grounds, including :
- Emerchicourt Churchyard, which contained 20 Commonwealth burials (mainly Canadians) of October and November, 1918.
- Petit-Cuincy German Cemetery, Cuincy, which contained 12 Commonwealth burials.
There are over 200, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to a soldier from the United Kingdom, buried in Raimbeaucourt German Cemetery, whose grave could not be found.
The British Cemetery covers an area of 718 square metres and is enclosed by a low stone rubble wall.
Private Ernest Coleman 44440
1st Bn Worcestershire Regiment
Died on 14th October 1918 aged 17
Son of Mr and Mrs John Coleman
of 180, Mount St, Nechells, Birmingham
Grave: F 20
Battery QMS W Fitzgerald 2
2nd Heavy Battery
Canadian Garrison Artillery
Died on 27th October 1918 aged 43
Son of W and J Fitzgerald
of Cardiff, Wales
Husband of Frances Fitzgerald
of 3282, Danforth Avenue, Toronto
Enlisted August 1914
Grave: G 29
Driver Antonie Trompetter HT/3977
Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport
Died on 14th June 1919 aged 26
Grave: E 32
Driver A Paadewachter HT/2754
Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport
Died on 19th February 1919
Grave: D 32
Private Christian Stalmaster 1512
2nd Coy Cape Coloured Labour Regiment
Died on 11th March 1919 aged 31
Son of Mita and the late Pieter Stalmaster
of 3, Butler Lane, Port Elizabeth, South Africa,
Grave: E 18