Buzancy is a village in the Department of the Aisne, 7 kilometres south of Soissons and 50 kilometres west of Reims, Northern France. From Soissons, turn left off the N2 ring road (going south) onto the D1 road towards Château Thierry, passing the villages of Courmelles and Berzy-le Sec. After about 6 kilometres, turn left onto the D1240 (at the first CWGC road sign) next to the American First Division Memorial, and then turn left up the Rue de la Montagne (second CWGC road sign). The Cemetery is situated at the end of this narrow road approximately 300 metres on the right hand side.
GPS | N | E | OSM |
---|---|---|---|
Decimal | 49.314457 | 3.341898 | Map |
Buzancy was reached (though not held) by the 1st American Division on the 21st July 1918, after an advance begun on the 18th. It was attacked by the 15th (Scottish) and 34th Divisions on the 23rd July, and taken on the 28th.
On the main Soissons — Château Thierry road, south-west of the village, is the American Memorial ; and within the cemetery is the 15th Division Memorial, put up by the Engineers of the French 17e Division in August 1918.
The Military Cemetery was made by the 15th Division, beside a French Military Cemetery from which the graves have been removed to Ambleny; and the original graves (in Plot I, Rows A-C) contain 96 burials. After the Armistice, graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields.
There are now over 300, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 70 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to nine soldiers believed to be buried among them. The cemetery covers an area of 2,088 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low rubble wall.
Private John Robertson 22770
1/5th Bn Gordon Highlanders
Died on 28th July 1918 aged 18
Son of Mrs J Robertson
of 22 Reform St, Blairgowrie, Perthshire
Grave: I D 9
Private Alexander Thom 9805
4/5th Bn The Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 28th July 1918 aged 25
Son of James and Mary Thom
of Blairgowrie, Perthshire
Husband of Robins Syme Thom
of 11 Deanpark St, Edinburgh
Grave: II E 16
L/Corporal David Farquharson 43676
10th Bn The Cameronians
Scottish Rifles
Died on 23rd July 1918 aged 21
Son of John Farquharson
of Marjory Cottage, Blairgowrie, Perthshire
Grave: I A 23