Bois Carré Military Cemetery

Location

Haisnes is a village just south of La Bassée, but Bois Carré Military Cemetery is approximately 2 kilometres south of the village, south-west of the village of Hulluch. From Lens, take the D947 towards La Bassée. At Hulluch, turn left at the roundabout, taking the D39 towards Vermelles. The cemetery is on the left side of the road in the middle of the fields.

The easiest thing to do is park at St Mary’s ADS Cemetery which is on the main road.

In general the French do not aspirate the ‘H’ beginning a word. Nor do they pronounce a final -CH. This results in Hull-uck ! Being pronounced closer to Oo-loo. By the same token Loos is pronounced : Loss.

Historical Information

Haisnes village remained in German hands until the final advance in the year 1918, but parts of the commune were gained by British troops in the Battle of Loos.

Bois Carré Military Cemetery is named from a small copse about 274 metres to the South-West. It was begun in September 1915, and used, largely by the 16th (Irish) Division, until August 1916, one more grave being added in March 1918.

There are now over 200, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly a quarter are unidentified and the graves of 47, destroyed by shell fire, are now represented by special memorials. The irregular arrangement of the rows is due to the difficult conditions under which these burials were carried out.

The cemetery covers an area of 1,649 square metres.

Soldiers from 7th Bn London Regiment who died on 19th October 1915
In the distance, Ninth Avenue (on the left) and St Mary’s ADS Cemeteries

Second Lieutenant Harold Keable
8th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment
Died on 25th September 1915, aged 26

Son of Charles and Constance Keable
of The Fairfield, Farnham, Surrey
Native of Luton Hoo, Beds

Grave: F 30

Other cemeteries in the area