Calais Southern Cemetery
Calais Southern Cemetery is a civil cemetery lying on the south of the old main road to Dunkerque.
Follow the A16 autoroute from Calais to Dunkirk. Come off at Junction 48 in the direction of Marck and follow the road to the junction. Turn left into Calais at the junction and follow Avenue de Calais D940) for approximately 3 kilometres and then straight on to Avenue de St. Expuréry. The Communal Cemetery is on the left hand side of the road, 50 metres after the traffic lights. To find the Commonwealth War Graves, proceed along the main pathway to the rear left hand side of the Cemetery.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.94595 | 1.88541 | Map |
Historical Information
In April 1915, No 6 Base Supply Depot was started at Calais to help relieve the pressure on Boulogne and to provide a base nearer to the front than Le Havre or Rouen. The base remained open until the last Commonwealth forces left France in March 1921.
The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals, No 9 British Red Cross Hospital and No 10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were also stationed in the town, providing about 2,500 beds. From May 1915 to March 1918, Commonwealth burials were made in Calais Southern Cemetery. Subsequent interments were made in the new military cemetery at Les Baraques.
The cemetery now contains 721 First World War burials. There are also 224 burials of the Second World War, 56 of them unidentified, the majority dating from May 1940.
The Commonwealth plot was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Some of the French graves in their military plot
These are civilian victims from the Nazi occupation
Lance Sergeant John Cuff 47833
15th Bn Canadian Infantry
48th Highlanders of Canada
Died on 9th October 1916 aged 24
Son of George Henry and Florence Cuff
of London, England.
Grave: F: 1: 4
Rifleman Stanley Lambert C/3957
17th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Died on 27th May 1916 aged 17
Son of George and the late Harriet Lambert
of 15, Queen’s Road, Tooting Common, London
Grave: C: 1A: 1
Pioneer Edward Hanson 129462
5th Bn Special Brigade
Royal Engineers
Died on 28th April 1916 aged 17
Son of William and Ellen Hanson
of 75, Hughes Fields, Deptford, London
Grave: C: 4: 1
Though only a boy
His death was brave
He now rests
In a soldier’s grave
Sapper David Crowley 200246
Inland Water Transport
Royal Engineers
Died on 26th May 1917 aged 16
Nephew of Minnie Chamberlain
of Barrack Hill, Ballycotton, Co. Cork
Grave: D: 4: 18
Corporal W Burton 122247
Inland Water Transport
Royal Engineers
Died on 30th December 1915 aged 34
Grave: D: 1: 9
Private Joseph O’Donnell 9/4565
9th Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers
Died on 3rd June 1916 aged 20
Born at Cork.
Youngest son of M. O’Donnell,
(Ex-Sergeant Royal Irish Constabulary)
Grave: D: 2: 18
Captain Alfred “Tim” Mangnall 26728
General List; attached
Corps of Military Police
Died between 10th May and 17th June 1940
Son of Percy and Nellie Mangnall, of Withington, Manchester
Grave: P: 1