Becourt Military Cemetery
Location
Becourt is 2 kilometres on the east side of Albert. The Military Cemetery is on the south side of the road from Becourt to Albert.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.00406 | 2.68424 | Map |
Historical Information
The Military Cemetery was begun in August 1915, by the 51st (Highland) Division, and carried on by the 18th and other Divisions in the line until the Battles of the Somme, 1916. It continued in use, chiefly by Field Ambulances, until April 1917; and Plot II was made by the 18th Division at the end of August 1918.
There are now over 700, 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 among them. Three German graves have been removed
The cemetery covers an area of 4,327 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Lieutenant Robert Gilson
11th Bn Suffolk Regiment
Died on 1st July 1916 aged 22
Son of Robert and Emily Gilson,
of Canterbury House, Marston Green, near Birmingham
Born at Harrow-on-the-Hill
Classical Exhibitioner of Trinity College, Cambridge
Grave: I R 28
A close friend and fellow writer of the author JRR Tolkien.
Lt Colonel Arthur Addison
9th Bn York and Lancaster Regiment
Died on 1st July 1916 aged 49
Son of Gen Thomas Addison CB and Ellen Gillespie, his wife
Husband of Mildred Addison of 18 Hans Rd, Chelsea, London
Grave: I W 23
Lt Colonel John Hawksley DSO
Royal Field Artillery
Died on 8th August 1916 aged 38
Order of the Osmanieh (4th Class)
Son of James and Emily Hawksley,
of Caldy Island, Pembrokeshire
Served in the South African and
Sudan Campaigns (South Kordofan, 1910)
Grave: I V 28
Lieutenant Clarence Lyon Hall MC
5th Bn South Wales Borderers
Died on 7th July 1916 aged 20
Son of Clarence and Noemi Lyon Hall,
of Spring Garden, Buff Bay, Jamaica
Grave: I R 15
Lt Colonel Jasper Radcliffe DSO
Devonshire Regiment
Died on 31st January 1916 aged 48
Son of the late Walter Radcliffe
of Warleigh, Devon
Husband of Emily Radcliffe
of 69 Park Mansions, Knightsbridge, London
Served in the South African Campaign
(twice Mentioned in Despatches).
Grave: I H 1
Private Albert Povey 13095
6th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment
Died on 23rd September 1915 aged 17
Son of Mrs. E Povey, of 4, Queen St.,
Hemdean Rd., Caversham, Reading
and the late Corporal C Povey
Bravely he answered
His country’s call
His bright young life
He gave for all
Grave: I C 16
Private James Phillimore 46332
10th Bn Essex regiment
Died on 24th August 1918 aged 17
Son of Benjamin and Ann Phillimore,
of 121, Perry Rise, Forest Hill, London
Grave: II C 16
Rifleman Bertie Moore 13013
2nd Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Died on 25th August 1916 aged 16
Son of Mrs. J. Moore, of 11, Littleworth Villas,
Frimley Rd., Camberley, Surrey
Grave: I L 11
Private Maurice Hinchon S/10948
7th Bn East Kent Regiment
The Buffs
Died on 22nd August 1918 aged 21
Served as his brother, James
Son of Thomas and Margaret Hinchon
of 97 Cassidy Road, Fulham.
Grave: II D 1
Frostenden School near Southwold, Suffolk 1898
- George Wigg, front row, 3rd from left
- Alfred Wigg (brother), back row, 5th from left
- Margaret Wigg (my grandmother) 2nd row, 3rd from right
Private George Wigg G/2900
7th Bn East Kent Regiment
The Buffs
Died on 24th October 1915 aged 22
Son of the late William and Mary Jane Wigg,
of Frostenden, Wangford, Suffolk
Grave: I C 5
To Great Uncle George,
I think of you often and am saddened by your early death – only 22, so no time for you to have a life and to be loved. I pray that you found the happiness in the next life that you had no time for in this one. I wish you peace and blessings and lots of love,
From your great-niece Rebecca.
Other cemeteries in the area
In the former there is a holder of the Victoria Cross, Major Loudoun-Shand of the Yorkshire Regiment.
In the latter there are the graves of a father and son, another Victoria Cross holder and the soldier believed to be the eldest to have died.