Laventie

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)

Name Rank & Number Battalion Age Died Grave Ref Cemetery Notes

WWI

KARL BARTON Pte SD/1256 12th Bn. 24 30/06/1916
Likely Boar’s Head, Richebourg l’Avoué
VI. C. 18. ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE

Born East Croydon
Enlisted Eastbourne
Son of George and Emily Barton, of 64, Clifton Terrace, Brook St., Polegate, Sussex.

NELSON VICTOR CARTER CSM SD/4 12th Bn. 29 30/06/1916
Likely Boar’s Head, Richebourg l’Avoué
VI. C. 17. ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE

Born Christchurch, Sussex
Enlisted Eastbourne
Son of Richard Carter, of Harebeating, Battle Rd., Hailsham; husband of Kathleen Carter, of 33, Guys Rd., Old Town, Eastbourne.
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.

HENRY DINE Pte LSR/7768 2nd Bn. 36 09/05/1915
Likely Aubers Ridge
V. C. 4. ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE

Born St. Margaret’s, Sussex
Enlisted Eastbourne
Son of Mrs. S. E. Dine, of 42, Sun St., Brighton, and the late Mr. H. Dine.
Served in the South African Campaign.

ALBERT FOORD Pte SD/1591 12th Bn. 35 30/06/1916
Likely Boar’s Head, Richebourg l’Avoué
VI. C. 20. ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE

Born Alfriston, Sussex
Enlisted Eastbourne
Husband of Ettie Julia Foord, of 5, New Cottages, Beachy Head Rd., Meads, Eastbourne.

GEORGE HILTON Pte LSR/528 2nd Bn. 25 09/05/1915
Likely Aubers Ridge
V. C. 5. ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE

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