Bernafay Wood British Cemetery
Location
Bernafay Wood British Cemetery is 10 kilometres east of Albert and 2 kilometres south of Longueval on the D197, in the direction of Maricourt.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.01160 | 2.79335 | Map |
Historical Information
Montauban village was taken by the 30th and 18th Divisions on 1st July 1916 and it remained in Commonwealth hands until the end of March 1918. It was retaken on 25th August 1918 by the 7th Buffs and the 11th Royal Fusiliers of the 18th Division.
The Bois de Bernafay is a pear-shaped wood close to the east end of Montauban village. It was taken on 3rd and 4th July 1916 by the 9th (Scottish) Division. On 25th March 1918, in the retreat to the Ancre, the same Division was driven from the wood but recaptured it for a time. On 27th August 1918 it was finally regained by the 18th Division.
The cemetery was begun by a dressing station in August 1916 and used as a front-line cemetery until the following April. It contained at the Armistice 284 burials but was then increased when graves were brought in from Bernafay Wood North Cemetery and from the battlefields immediately east of the wood.
Bernafay Wood North Cemetery was opposite the North edge of the wood, a little East of the Longueval – Maricourt road. It was begun by an Advanced Dressing Station, and used from July to October 1916. It contained the graves of 80 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 1 German prisoner.
Bernafay Wood in the background
Bernafay Wood British Cemetery now contains 945 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 417 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 11 soldiers known or believed to be buried here. Other special memorials commemorate 12 soldiers buried in Bernafay Wood North Cemetery whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Private Fred Bellamy 3423
1/4th Bn King’s Own
Royal Lancaster Regiment
Died on 6th August 1916 aged 17
Grave: L 3
Private T Porter 16632
7th Bn Somerset Light Infantry
Died on 3rd September 1916 aged 37
Husband of Ada Porter,
of Rhode Lane, Durleigh, Bridgwater, Somerset
Grave: L 44
Private W Dean 26626
10th Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers
Died on 20th July 1916 aged 35
Husband of Mary Dean,
of 7, Courtenay St., Kennington, London
Grave: M 79
Lt Colonel Cecil Taylor
28th Heavy Artillery Group
Royal Garrison Artillery
Died on 6th November 1916 aged 49
Son of William Taylor
Husband of Ethel Taylor,
of 89, North Side, Clapham Common, London.
Grave: H 33