Sun Quarry Cemetery
Location
Chérisy is a village approximately 13 kilometres south-east of Arras. The Cemetery is 1.5 kilometres south-east of the village on the north-east side of the road to Hendecourt, the D38.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.22782 | 2.92191 | Map |
Historical Information
Chérisy village was captured by the 18th Division on 3 May 1917, but lost the same night. It then remained in German hands until it was retaken by the Canadian Corps on 27 August 1918.
Looking towards Riencourt
The cemetery takes its name from a flint quarry, known to the army as Sun Quarry. It was made by fighting units, and most of those buried in the cemetery were killed between 26 August and 28 September 1918.
Sun Quarry Cemetery contains 191 First World War burials, eight of them unidentified. The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith.
Munitions are still turning up on the battlefields – NEVER touch
Private George Atkinson 204528
2nd Bn Canadian Infantry
Québec Regiment
Died on 14th September 1918 aged 23
Son of George and Harriet Atkinson
of 1134, Avenue South, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Native of Bexhill, Sussex, England
Grave: G 4
We often sit and think of him
When we are all alone
For memory is the only thing
That grief can call its own
2nd Lieutenant Harold White
57th Bn Machine Gun Corps
Died on 6th September 1918 aged 21
Son of John and Sarah White
of 63 Norway St, Portslade, Brighton
Grave: E 15
View of Upton Wood on the left and the Crow’s Nest on the right
If you look across the valley to your left you will see Upton Wood and to its right a large hillock known as the Crow’s Nest.
This was the scene of an assault made by the 15th Bn CEF (48th Highlanders of Canada) on the 1st September 1918. Their Battalion Headquarters was located at the Sun Quarry where you are now.
You will find their monument to this action on the roadside at the base of the mound near the laneway leading to Upton Wood Cemetery.
Up and behind the cemetery along the laneway you will find Quebec Cemetery containing almost 200 further Canadian burials from this period.