Vermelles British Cemetery
Location
Vermelles is a village 10 km north-west of Lens. From Lens take the N43, towards Béthune, to its junction with the D75 in Mazingarbe. Turn right at this junction and continue for approximately 900 metres when Vermelles British Cemetery will be found on the left hand side of the road.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.486177 | 2.740349 | Map |
Historical Information
Vermelles was in German hands from the middle of October 1914 to the beginning of December 1914, when it was recaptured by the French.
The cemetery was begun in August 1915 (though a few graves are slightly earlier), and during the Battle of Loos, when the Château was used as a dressing station, Plot I was completed. It was laid out and fenced by the Pioneers of the 1st Gloucesters, and known for a long time as Gloucester Graveyard.
The remaining Plots were made by the Divisions (from the Dismounted Cavalry Division onwards) holding the line 1.6 km East of the cemetery until April 1917, and they incorporated a few isolated French graves of October 1914.
From April 1917, to the Armistice, the cemetery was closed; but after the Armistice some graves were re-grouped and others were brought in (to Plots II, IV and VI) from the battlefields to the East.
There are now over 2134 First World War casualties commemorated in this cemetery. Of these, 198 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to six soldiers from the United Kingdom, known to be buried among them. This cemetery also contains the graves of 11 casualties of other nationalities.
This cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Captain Geoffrey Johnson
7th Bn Norfolk Regiment
Died on 23th November 1915, aged 22
Son of the Rev Henry and Catharine Johnson
of Welborne, East Dereham, Norfolk
A graduate of Jesus College, Cambridge.
Grave: I L 20
Heureux ceux
qui ont le coeur pur
cars ils verront Dieux
St Matthew V 8
Captain Ernest Mudge DCM
2nd Bn Wiltshire Regiment
Died on 25th September 1915, aged 44
Son of the late Henry and Louisa Mudge
of Bedford
Husband of Ada Mudge
of 6, Collingwood Villas, Stoke, Devonport.
Served in the South African Campaign (DCM)
in the Loyal North Lancs Regt, 1899-1902
(Siege of Kimberley).
Grave: I G 38
Private Henry Falkner 19647
2nd Bn Northamptonshire Regiment
Died on 11th October 1916, aged 33
Son of Henry and Frances Falkner
of Lound Hill, Louth.
A Solicitor who relinquished his captaincy in the 2/5th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment and enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Northamptonshire having ascertained that it was en route for the front.
Grave: V E 22
2nd Lieutenant Pieter Bezuidenhout MC
94th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
Died on 24th December 1916, aged 22
Eldest son of the Rev. Pieter and Annie Bezuidenhout
of Rietfontein, Germistown, Transvaal, South Africa.
Grave: V F 41
Lieutenant Colonel Bertram Leatham DSO
2nd Bn Yorkshire Regiment
Attached 2nd Bn Wiltshire Regiment
Died on 26th September 1915, aged 34
Son of S and A Leatham
of Hemsworth Hall, Wakefield
Husband of Everil Leatham
of 30, Frenchgate, Richmond, Yorks.
Grave: VI D 13
Lieutenant Colonel J C Monteith
2nd Bn Bedfordshire Regiment
Died on 1st October 1915, aged 39
Son of the late Rev John and Ellen Monteith
Husband of Jane Monteith
of Glenluiart, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire.
Grave: VI D 17
Major George Molyneux-Montgomerie
3rd Bn Grenadier Guards
Died on 22nd October 1915, aged 46
Son of Cecil Molyneux-Montgomerie
Husband of Sybil Molyneux-Montgomerie
of Garboldisham Old Hall, Norfolk.
Grave: VI D 22