Norfolk Cemetery
Location
Becordel-Becourt is a village 2.5 kilometres east of Albert on the D938 (Albert-Peronne) road. Follow the C1 north to Becourt, pass under a bridge and Norfolk Cemetery will be found 700 metres along on the east side of the road.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 49.99883 | 2.69294 | Map |
Historical Information
The Cemetery was begun by the 1st Norfolks in August 1915, and used by other units (including the 8th Norfolks) until August 1916. After the Armistice it was nearly doubled in size by the concentration into Plot I, Row D, and Plot II of graves from the battlefields near by.
There are now nearly 550, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 220 are unidentified.
The Cemetery covers an area of 2,539 square metres and is enclosed on the road side by a brick wall.
Major Stewart Loudoun-Shand VC
10th Bn Yorkshire Regiment
Died on 1st July 1916 aged 36
Son of Mr J Loudoun-Shand,
of 27, Alleyn Park, Dulwich, London
Grave: I C 77
The London Gazette No. 29740
8th September 1916
For most conspicuous bravery. When his company attempted to climb over the parapet to attack the enemy’s trenches, they were met by very fierce machine gun fire, which temporarily stopped their progress. For most conspicuous bravery. When his company attempted to climb over the parapet to attack the enemy’s trenches, they were met by very fierce machine gun fire, which temporarily stopped their progress.
Major Loudoun-Shand immediately leapt on the parapet, helped the men over it, and encouraged them in every way until he fell mortally wounded. Even then he insisted on being propped up in the trench, and went on encouraging the non-commissioned officers and men until he died.
In his memoires: Reflections of a Veteran the poet Harry Fellows remembers with great respect the action by Loudon-Shand whose encouragement to his own men to press home their attack saved many lives from Fellows’ 12th Northumberland Fusiliers who were in reserve.
Had we not been in reserve that day
Would I be spared to tell
Summer on the Somme — Harry Fellows
Lt Colonel Colmer Lynch DSO
9th Bn KOYLI
Died on 1st July 1916 aged 35
Son of Mrs Florence Lynch, of Stoke, Guildford,
and the late Major General William Lynch
Grave: I B 87
2nd Lieutenant K Asher
10th Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Died on 1st July 1916
Grave: I B 87A
2nd Lieutenant Charles Howlett
9th Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Died on 1st July 1916 aged 24
Son of Francis R. and Mary Howlett, of Maidstone
Grave: I B 88
Private Isaac Laud 13983
1st Bn Norfolk Regiment
Died on 9th August 1915 aged 16
Son of Isaac and Ada Elizabeth Laud
of Myrtle Villa, New Rd., Sutton Bridge, Wisbech
Grave: I A 11
Private Ernest Goss 5713
7th Bn The Queen’s
Royal West Surrey Regiment
Died on 20th October 1915 aged 17
Son of Mrs. H Galvin, (formerly Goss)
of 45, Sussex St., Poplar, London
Grave: I B 19
2nd Lieutenant Marlborough Thorne
8th Bn East Surrey Regiment
Died on 27th September 1915 aged 20
Son of Cornelius Thorne, of Sidcup, Kent,
and Elizabeth Thorne, of Camberley, Surrey
Educated at The Hazard, Sheringham, Norfolk,
and at Haileybury College
Enlisted in 90th Winnipeg Rifles,
First Canadian Contingent.
Grave: I B 13
Lieutenant Wolfred Cloutman
178th Tunnelling Coy Royal Engineers
Died on 21st August 1915 aged 25
Son of Alfred and C Cloutman,
of 17 South Grove, Highgate, London
Born at Wealdstone, Harrow, Middx.
Killed in rescuing a Sergeant whom he carried on his shoulder 45 feet up a ladder from the bottom of a mine. As soon as the Sergeant was lifted off, this officer, overcome with foul gas, fell to the bottom.
He lives, he wakes
‘Tis death is dead
Not he
Grave: I A 14
The 178th Tunnelling Company were responsible for the mines at the Tambour in front of Fricourt which were detonated on 1st July 1916.
Shot at dawn
2nd Bn South Lancashire Regiment
Died on 26th June 1916
Son of Mrs. Eliza Dolan,
of 57, Macclesfield Street, City Road, London
2nd Bn South Lancashire Regiment
Died on 26th June 1916
Brother of Miss. Annie Lewis,
of Warrington Road, Lysdale, Widnes, Lancs
Grave: I D 85
Grave: I D 86
Both men had been serving with the Regiment from the early days of the war. In October 1915 they were both in England on their way back to France. Arriving in London with a draft of recruits they were not to be found when the party was re-mustered the following morning.
They managed to avoid capture until 18th May 1916 when they were picked up: still in London. They were transported back to their unit, which was now on the Somme, and tried for desertion. The court martial took place on the 20th June and six days later the death sentences were carried out.
Other cemeteries in the area
In the former there is another holder of the Victoria Cross, Private James Miller of the Royal Lancaster Regiment as well as George and Robert Lee, father and son, who lie side by side.
In the latter is the grave of Robert Gilson a close friend and fellow writer of the author JRR Tolkien.