Aire Communal Cemetery
Location
Aire is a town about 14 km south-south-east of St. Omer. The Communal Cemetery is 750 metres north of the town, on the road to St. Omer and the four Commonwealth plots are on the east side.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.64839 | 2.39314 | Map |
A short distance further out the road at Blaringhem is the Brasserie du Pays Flamand which brews the Bracine and Anosteké range of beers.
Historical Information
From March 1915 to February 1918, Aire was a busy but peaceful centre used by Commonwealth forces as corps headquarters.
There are numerous French Military burials within the cemetery
The Highland Casualty Clearing Station was based there as was the 39th Stationary Hospital (from May 1917) and other medical units. Plot I contains burials from this period.
The burials in plots II, III and IV (rows A to F) relate to the fighting of 1918, when the 54th Casualty Clearing Station came to Aire and the town was, for a while, within 13 kilometres of the German lines.
The cemetery now contains 894 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and a few French and German war graves. There are also 21 Second War burials, mostly dating from the withdrawal to Dunkirk in May 1940.
The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Two soldiers separated by almost the entire Kingdom, died within a day of each other, and the families chose almost exactly the same wording.
331st Brigade Royal Field Artillery
Died on 11th July 1918 aged 28
Son of Mr and Mrs Wm Allan
of 58, Strathclyde Street, Glasgow
Husband of Annie Allan
of 374, Caledonia Rd., Glasgow
1st Bn Bedfordshire Regiment
Died on 12th July 1918 aged 20
Son of Burton William Scott, of Norwich
We cannot see,
But all is well
That’s done by thee
Thy purpose see
But all is well
That’s done by thee
Soldat Louis Vaslo
77e Régiment d’Infanterie Territoriale
Born on 27th July 1876
Died on 6th May 1915 aged 38
Grave: I B 11
Private George Bellamy 77965
15th Bn Canadian Infantry
(48th Highlanders of Canada)
Died on 21st May 1915 aged 29
Son of Alice and the late Daniel Bellamy
of London, England
He helped and died
And his death was worthy
Of this man
Grave: I B 7
Private William Currie 11781
1st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Died on 15th April 1918 aged 24
Son of John and Henrietta Currie
of Muncraig Borgue, Kirkcudbright
My grass is green
My grave you see
Prepare in time
To follow me
Grave: II B 27
Captain Rev Thomas Baines
Chaplain to the Forces
Attached 152nd Brigade RFA
Died on 31st May 1918 aged 31
Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Baines,
of Preston, Lancs
Educated at
Ushaw, Durham, England
Ordained English Martyrs
Preston, Lancs
Grave: III B 29
Lieutenant Francis Plowden
Shropshire Yeomanry
Attached 10th Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
Died on 22nd August 1918 aged 40
Son of the late William and Lady Mary Plowden
of Plowden Hall, Salop
Grave: IV C 1
2nd Lieutenant David Bawle
203rd Sqn Royal Air Force
Died on 21st April 1918
Brother of L Bawle
of 571, Grain Exchange, Winnipeg
His life for his friends
Winnipeg. Canada
Grave: II F 1
Lance Corporal Victor Bines 5770486
2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regiment
Died on 23rd May 1940 aged 28
Husband of Ethel Bines
of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
Grave: IV G 3
Private Henry Rennie 3051057
1st Bn Royal Scots
Died on 16-26th May 1940 aged 31
Son of James and Peterina Rennie
Husband of Agnes Rennie
Grave: IV G 2