Authuile Military Cemetery
Memorial at the Authuile Cemetery
Details
Established1915
Location
Authuile, Somme, France
CountryGreat Britain and Commonwealth
Coordinates50°02′26″N 2°39′57″E / 50.04056°N 2.66573°E / 50.04056; 2.66573
TypeMilitary
Size2650 sq m
No. of graves450+, 435 identifiable
Websitecwgc.org
Find a GraveAuthuile Military Cemetery

The Authuile Military Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Somme region of France commemorating British and Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the First World War. The cemetery contains soldiers who died on a variety of dates in several battles near the French village of Authuile.[1][2]

Location

The cemetery is located on the south side of the village of Authile, approximately 5 km north of Albert, France.[1]

Conflict near Authuile

The village was destroyed by shell fire while under the control of the British from summer 1915 to March 1918, when it was captured in the German Offensive on the Somme. It was used by the British from August 1915 to December 1916, and from 1917 to 1918 by Indian Labour Companies.[1]

Establishment of the cemetery

History

The cemetery was used by field ambulances and fighting units from August 1915 to December 1916 and in 1917 and 1918 by Indian Labor Companies. Two German soldiers have been removed from the cemetery since burial.[3][4]

Statistics

Of the 472 graves in the cemetery, 435 are identified and approximately 40 are unidentified. Special memorials are dedicated to 18 British soldiers known to be buried among the unknown. The cemetery covers an area of 2650 square meters and is enclosed by a concrete curb.[1][3]

Identified Casualties by Nation[3]
Nation Number of Known Burials
United Kingdom 472
India 14
South Africa 3
Germany 1
Number of Burials by Unit[4]
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 63 Royal Irish Rifles 41
West Yorkshire Regiment 41 Lancashire Fusiliers 38
Dorsetshire Regiment 24 Highland Light Infantry 24
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 23 Northumberland Fusiliers 23
Duke of Wellington - West Riding Regiment 15 York & Lancaster Regiment 15
Border Regiment 11 Gordon Highlanders 11
Manchester Regiment 10 Royal Field Artillery 10
Royal Engineers 9 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 7
Machine Gun Corps 6 Black Watch 5
South Lancashire Regiment 5 Indian Labour Company 4
Northamptonshire Regiment 4 Loyal North Lancashire 3
Royal Sussex 3 Seaforth Highlanders 3
South African Heavy Artillery 3 Worcestershire Regiment 3
29th Lancers - Deccan Horse 2 9th Hodson's Horse 2
Cheshire Regiment 2 Durham Light Infantry 2
King's Liverpool Regiment 2 King's Own Scottish Borderers 2
Royal Garrison Artillery 2 11th King Edward's Own Cavalry 1
19th Lancers - Fane's Horse 1 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers 1
36th Jacob's Horse 1 37th Lancers 1
6th King Edward's Own Cavalry 1 East Surrey Regiment 1
Gloucestershire Regiment 1 Hampshire Regiment 1
Inniskilling Dragoons 1 Middlesex Regiment 1
Royal Fusiliers 1 Royal Horse Guards 1
Royal Irish Fusiliers 1 Somerset Light Infantry 1
Wiltshire Regiment 1

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cemetery Details | CWGC". www.cwgc.org. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  2. "Webmatters : Authuile Military Cemetery, Authuille". www.webmatters.net. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  3. 1 2 3 "Authuile Military Cemetery, Somme, France (CWGC)". WW1 Cemeteries.com - A photographic guide to over 4000 military cemeteries and memorials. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  4. 1 2 "Authuile Military Cemetery". silentwitness.freeservers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
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