Philosophe British Cemetery
Location
Philosophe lies between Béthune and Lens.
From the Lens-Béthune road (N43), follow the D165E road for 400 metres to a right turn. The cemetery lies to the left 100 metres along this track. The first CWGC sign for the cemetery is at the junction of the N43 and the D165E.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.470910 | 2.741700 | Map |
Historical Information
The cemetery was started in August 1915. In 1916 it was taken over by the 16th (Irish) Division, who held the Loos Salient at the time, and many of their dead were brought back to the cemetery from the front line. Succeeding divisions used the cemetery until October 1918, and men of the same Division, and often the same battalion, were buried side by side.
After the Armistice, this cemetery was one of those used for the concentration of isolated graves from the Loos battlefield. The bodies of 41 men of the 9th Black Watch were brought from positions a little West of Loos, and those of 340 officers and men of other Regiments from different points in the communes of Cambrin, Auchy, Vermelles, Hulluch and Loos.
There are now 1,996 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery, 277 of them unidentified.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
CSM John Campbell 3/6314
6th Bn Cameron Highlanders
Died on 6th August 1915 aged 45
Son of Finlay and Marion Campbell
of Finsbay, Leverburgh, Inverness-Shire
Served in the South African campaign
Grave: I A 14
Private T Holloway 6/14631
13th Bn East Surrey Regiment
Died on 8th August 1916 aged 20
Son of Mr and Mrs G Holloway
of 115, Mansford St., Bethnal Green, London
Grave: I B 30
Private Reginald Twyford 13064
13th Bn East Surrey Regiment
Died on 8th August 1916 aged 15
Son of John Twyford
of 70, Merton Rd., Wandsworth, London
Grave: I B 26
Private John McHaffie 28634
7th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Died on 27th April 1916 aged 17
Son of Andrew and Susan McHaffie
of 3, Thornwood Avenue, Partick, Glasgow
Grave: I D 10
He played the man
Private James Woods 22851
7th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Died on 22nd May 1916 aged 16
Son of James and Catherine Woods
of Mulboy, Dungannon
Grave: I E 13
Private Lewis Blower 28503
1/5th Bn South Staffordshire Regiment
Died on 1st January 1918 aged 25
Son of Annie Blower
of 66, High St., Tibshelf, Alfreton
and the late Lewis Blower
Grave: IV A 11
Private D Player 1358
9th Bn Black Watch
Royal Highlanders
Died on 25th September 1915 aged 24
Husband of Isabella Player
of 54, Kirk St., Lochee, Dundee
Grave: III G 32
Private Robert Whyte 10210
2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders
Died on 25th September 1915 aged 27
Son of Robert and Barbara Whyte
of 121, High St., New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire
Grave: III H 28