Athies Communal Cemetery Extension
Location
Leave St-Laurent Blangy on the D42 (Athies to Biache St Vaast) and drive into the village of Athies. The communal cemetery is in the centre of the village by the roundabout. The CWGC extension is immediately behind it.
Alternatively it may be easier to take the main D 950 out of Arras towards Douai and come off at the Athies junction, sign posted for both Point-du-Jour Military Cemetery and the 9th (Scottish) Division Memorial. Follow the road into the village.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.304011 | 2.837361 | Map |
The Cemetery Extension with the ramp into the communal cemetery.
Historical Information
Athies was captured by the 9th (Scottish) Division, which included the South African Brigade, on 9th April 1917, and from then it remained in Allied hands.
Athies Communal Cemetery contains one Commonwealth burial of the First World War.
The adjoining Communal Cemetery Extension was begun immediately after the capture of the village and used by field ambulances and fighting units until May 1918, and again in September 1918.
The extension contains 312 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 32 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate three casualties known to be buried among them.
The extension also contains 41 Second World War burials, ten of them unidentified, mostly dating from May 1940 and the German advance across northern France.
C Bty 50th Bde: Royal Field Artillery
Died on 29th April 1917 aged 20
Son of Hilary Nicolle and Alice Nant
of High St, St Aubin’s, Jersey
C Bty 50th Bde: Royal Field Artillery
Died on 28th April 1917 aged 20
Son of M Laidler, of 73 Richard St,
Elswick, Newcastle-on-Tyne
2nd Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Died on 15th April 1917
10th Bn Infantrie Regiment Nr 65
Died on 28 April 1917
Captain The Hon Anthony Phillimore 37238
9th Queen’s Royal Lancers
General Staff
Died on 23rd May 1940 aged 33
Son of Godfrey Phillimore, 2nd Baron Phillimore, MC,
and Lady Phillimore (nee Haig)
of Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire;
Husband of Anne Phillimore
of Henley-on-Thames
Grave: II A 17
Paul Dubois
11e Dragons
Grave: II A 19
I can find no reference to this soldier on the French database. However the 11e Régiment de Dragons Portés (Mechanized Infantry) were at Athies on the 19th May 1940 where they linked up with English soldiers. Eventually relieved by the Welsh Guards the Dragons took part in the Battle of Arras on 21st May.