Noeux-les-Mines is a town 6 km south of Béthune on the main road to Arras.
The Communal Cemetery is on the northern side of the town, on the south-east side of the road to Labourse. The Extension is on its western side.
GPS | N | E | OSM |
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Decimal | 50.48313 | 2.66900 | Map |
The Communal Cemetery at Noeux-les-Mines was used by the Commonwealth forces (in succession to the French) from June 1915 to August 1917. The earlier burials were carried out by units and field ambulances but in April 1917, the 7th Casualty Clearing Station began to use the cemetery. It contains 980 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
The Extension was begun in August 1917 and used until December 1918, chiefly by the 6th and 7th Casualty Clearing Stations. It contains 304 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 12 German war graves.
The Commonwealth plot and extension were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
The Extension is on the far side of the pavilion
There are two executed soldiers within this cemetery
Private Lawrence Elford 21654
7th/8th Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Died on 11th October 1918 aged 28
Husband of Amy Elford
of 7, North’s Yard, Northgate, Huddersfield
Grave: V A 19
Shot at Dawn for desertion
Lawrence Elford had already received a 15 year sentence for having struck a superior officer.
He deserted his regiment and like Harold Lodge (Below) made his way to Boulogne sur Mer. On his arrest he gave the sickness of his wife as an excuse.Private Harold Lodge 2095
19th Bn Canadian Infantry Aged 20
Died on 13th March 1918
Son of Edward and Ida Lodge
of Toronto
Grave: IV B 5
Shot at Dawn for desertion
On 2nd November 1917 as his unit was on its was to the front at Passchendaele, Lodge asked for permission to fall out. This was refused but he did so anyway and made off to Boulogne sur Mer. He was located and arrested on 12th December whilst presenting himself as a member of the Red Cross.
On the 21st December he managed to escape from custody and gained another fortnight of liberty. He was re-arrested whilst hiding on a boat in the harbour on 7th January 1918. He succeeded in evading his captors once again on the 11th when he jumped from the train returning him to his unit.
Perhaps rather stupidly he made his way back to Boulogne where he was once again arrested, on the 14th January. This time the authorities made sure that he did not escape and he was brought to trial on 23rd February. The outcome was a foregone conclusion.