ROYAL IRISH RIFLES CEMETERY

LAVENTIE

Pas de Calais, France.

Laventie is a village and commune in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais. The Rue-du-Bacquerot runs South-East of the village, towards Fleurbaix; and the position of the road behind the British front line, during the greater part of the war, made it the natural line of a number of small British cemeteries. One of these was begun in November, 1914, and used, at first, particularly by the 1st Royal Irish Rifles. The Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, was carried on by fighting units until July, 1916; and these original burials are now in Plots I and II. It was increased after the Armistice by the concentration of graves (chiefly of 1914-15 and 1918) from other cemeteries and from the battlefields East of Estaires and Bethune. There are now over 800, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 350 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to three soldiers from the United Kingdom known to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of two soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in Laventie South German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found. The Graveyard covers an area of 2,872 square metres. The following are short particulars of the burial grounds from which British graves were brought to the Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard:- LAVENTIE SOUTH GERMAN CEMETERY, on the road to La Flinque: 3 U.K., April, 1918. RUE-DU-BACQUEROT (WANGERIE POST) NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, LAVENTIE, at the hamlet of Wangerie: 22 U.K., 1915. SAILLY-SUR-LA-LYS GERMAN CEMETERY, near the road to Bac-St. Maur: 8 U.K., April, 1918. WINCHESTER ROAD CEMETERY, LAVENTIE, a little West of Chapigny Farm: 18 U.K. (R.S.F. and Conn. Rangers), 1914-15. (Courtesy CWGC)

Pte SD/1256 BARTON, KARL

12th Bn.

Born East Croydon

Enlisted Eastbourne

Died 30/06/1916 Likely Boar’s Head, Richebourg l'Avoué

Age 24

Son of George and Emily Barton, of 64, Clifton Terrace, Brook St., Polegate, Sussex.

Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. C. 18.

CSM SD/4 CARTER, NELSON VICTOR VC

12th Bn.

Born Christchurch, Sussex

Enlisted Eastbourne

Died 30/06/1916

Age 29 Boar’s Head, Richebourg l'Avoué

Son of Richard Carter, of Harebeating, Battle Rd., Hailsham;

husband of Kathleen Carter, of 33, Guys Rd., Old Town, Eastbourne.

Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. C. 17.

The British Legion cross of remembrance was left by members of the group during a visit to France in 2005. The wreath was laid during the Boar’s Head Commemoration trip in 2006.

Click here for C.S.M. Carter’s V.C. Citation, enlarged picture, and further details.

Pte LSR/7768 DINE, HENRY

2nd Bn.

Born St. Margaret’s, Sussex

Enlisted Eastbourne

Died 09/05/1915 Likely Aubers Ridge

Age 36

Son of Mrs. S. E. Dine, of 42, Sun St., Brighton, and the late Mr. H. Dine.

Served in the South African Campaign.

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 4.

Pte SD/1591 FOORD, ALBERT

12th Bn.

Born Alfriston, Sussex

Enlisted Eastbourne

Died 30/06/1916 – Likely Boar’s Head, Richebourg l'Avoué

Age 35

Husband of Ettie Julia Foord, of 5, New Cottages, Beachy Head Rd., Meads, Eastbourne.

Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. C. 20.

Pte LSR/528 HILTON, GEORGE

2nd Bn.

Born Brighton

Enlisted Brighton

Died 09/05/1915 – Likely Aubers Ridge

Age 25

Husband of Annie Hilton, of 48, Lynton St., Brighton.

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 5.

© 2006-2010 John A Baines