Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension
Location
Corbie is a small town 15 kilometres east of Amiens. Go north from the town centre taking the D1 (Rue Gambetta) in the direction of Bray. You will arrive at a set of traffic lights with the hospital diagonally on your left. Continue, taking the second turning on your right onto the Rue des Longues Vignes (VC6). The cemetery lies about 800 metres on the left.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 49.915351 | 2.520196 | Map |
Historical Information
Corbie was about 20 kilometres behind the front when Commonwealth forces took over the line from Berles-au-Bois southward to the Somme in July 1915.
The town immediately became a medical centre, with Nos 5 and 21 Casualty Clearing Stations based at La Neuville (the suburb across the Ancre) until October 1916 and April 1917 respectively.
In November 1916 the front moved east, but the German advance in the Spring of 1918 came within 10 kilometres of the town and brought with it field ambulances of the 47th Division and the 12th Australian Field Ambulance.
The communal cemetery was used for burials until May 1916, when the plot set aside was filled and the extension opened.
The majority of the graves in the extension are of officers and men who died of wounds in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. The remainder relate to the fighting of 1918.
The communal cemetery contains 249 First World War burials, the extension 918. The extension was designed by Charles Holden.
Major William Congreve VC DSO MC
The Rifle Brigade
Died on 20th July 1916 aged 25
Legion of Honour
Son of Lt-Gen Sir Walter Congreve
VC KCB MVO, and Lady Congreve
of Chartley Castle, Staffs
Husband of Pamela Congreve
of 15 Queen Anne’s Gate, London.
Grave: I F 35
The London Gazette
24th October 1916
For most conspicuous bravery during a period of fourteen days preceding his death in action. This officer constantly performed acts of gallantry and showed the greatest devotion to duty, and by his personal example inspired all those around him with confidence at critical periods of the operations.
During preliminary preparations for the attack he carried out personal reconnaissances of the enemy lines, taking out parties of officers and non- commissioned officers for over 1,000 yards in front of our line, in order to acquaint them with the ground. All these preparations were made under fire. Later, by night, Major Congreve conducted a battalion to its position of employment, afterwards returning to it to ascertain the situation after assault. He established himself in an exposed forward postion from where he successfully observed the enemy, and gave orders necessary to drive them from their position.
Two days later, when Brigade Headquarters was heavily shelled and many casualties resulted, he went out and assisted the medical officer to remove the wounded to places of safety, although he was himself suffering severely from gas and other shell effects. He again on a subsequent occasion showed supreme courage in tending wounded under heavy shell fire. He finally returned to the front line to ascertain the situation after an unsuccessful attack, and whilst in the act of writing his report, was shot and killed instantly.
Private Thomas Redmond 3795
2nd Bn Irish Guards
Died on 18th September 1916 aged 26
Son of James and Annie Redmond
of Portmarnock, Baldoyle, Dublin
Grave: II E 23
L/Corporal John Henshaw 13443
2nd Bn Coldstream Guards
Died on 19th September 1916 aged 22
Son of Albert and Sarah Henshaw
of 30, Charles Street, Stockport
Born at Barton-on-Irwell.
Enlisted at Stockport Nov. 5th, 1914
Grave: II E 27
Our flower sleeps
In the garden
With the brave
Shot at dawn
Private Joseph Carey 21373
7th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers
Died on 15th September 1916
Husband of May Carey
of 4 Julian’s Place, Mayor St, Northwall, Dublin
Grave: II C 86
Shot at Dawn for desertion
Carey had absented himself a number of times near Hulluch on the Loos battlefield (September 1915). The reason he was eventually executed down here on the Somme was that the authorities were remarkably slow with processing his papers. With multiple absences to avoid service at the front his fate was pretty well sealed.