Mercatel Communal Cemetery
Location
The village and commune of Mercatel is about seven kilometres south of Arras, on the N.17 road to Bapaume. The nearest railway station is at Arras. The communal cemetery is south of the village, about 460 metres south of the church, in a by-road to the neighbouring village of Boisleux-st. Marc. East of the entrance, on the south side of the main path, are the War graves.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.231216 | 2.795224 | Map |
Historical Information
There are now 20, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over half are unidentified.
Mercatel would suffer one of the SS Totenkopf Regiment’s massacres because of the stand by the British on the 20th May 1940. You will find a small plaque on the wall of a house in the main street.
The village also possesses an impressive war memorial which was one of the last to be raised in France. In 1934 the village was still in dispute about a memorial. The memorial was organised by one mayor who was replaced after the municipal elections by another. An argument about where to place the monument became even more contracted when plans for the construction of the village church moved the church’s location.
The monument’s position was originally judged unacceptable and undignified by the Organising Committee but it would appear that the mayor of the day had his way and the monument was taken out of moth balls from the barn where it had been stored pending years of argument.
Private Nicholas Urwin 4459434
1st Bn Tyneside Scottish
Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 20th May 1940 aged 22
Son of Nicholas and Adeline Urwin
of Benwell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Grave: 1
Private Albert McLuckie 4459404
1st Bn Tyneside Scottish
Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 20th May 1940 aged 24
Grave: 2
Private Joseph Mackell 4456053
1st Bn Tyneside Scottish
Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 20th May 1940 aged 35
Son of Thomas and Mary Mackell
Husband of Elizabeth Mackell
of Gateshead, Co. Durham
Grave: 6
Private John McCormick 4454574
1st Bn Tyneside Scottish
Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 20th May 1940 aged 40
Son of Charles and Margaret McCormick
of Gateshead, Co. Durham
Husband of Mary McCormick
of Gateshead
Grave: 11
One of the first
To answer the call
He he tried and died
to save us all. RIP
Private George Straughan 4456297
1st Bn Tyneside Scottish
Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 20th May 1940 aged 32
Son of George and Eliza Straughan
of Gateshead, Co. Durham
Grave: 13
Private James Moulding 4459400
1st Bn Tyneside Scottish
Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 20th May 1940 aged 22
Son of James and Miriam Moulding
of Hexham, Northumberland
Grave: 14
Private Ernest Nixon 4459405
1st Bn Tyneside Scottish
Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 20th May 1940 aged 23
Son of Ernest and Mary Nixon
of Carlisle
Grave: 18