Northumbrian Gunner

Thursday, 11 September 2025

Op La Boisselle - Fricourt German Cemetery

The Fricourt German war cemetery contains 17,027 casualties of which 6,477 identities are unknown.

Of the 17,000 burials, about 1,000 died in the autumn of 1914 and the ensuing trench warfare; about 10,000 during the Battle of the Somme (July–November 1916); and the final 6,000 in the German spring offensive of 1918 and the ensuing Allied counter-attack, the Hundred Days Offensive.

The cemetery was established in 1920 by the the French military authorities as a concentration of burials from 79 communes in the regions around Bapaume, Albert, Combles, the Ancre valley and Villers-Bretonneux,

Fricourt German Cemetery Entrance

Fricourt German Cemetery

Fricourt German Cemetery

Fricourt German Cemetery

Fricourt German Cemetery

Fricourt German Cemetery

Fricourt German Cemetery

Op La Boisselle - Montauban

On the 1st July 1916 the 30th Division was tasked with the capture of the village of Montauban.

The attack would be carried out by two assault brigades, the 89th Brigade (17/18/19/20 Battalions Kings Regiment - Liverpool Pals) and the 90th Brigade (16/17/18/19 Battalions Manchester Regiment - Manchester Pals).

The attack was successful. The village of Montauban was captured, the enemy was pushed back 1,400 metres, and a link up with French forces on the flank achieved.

It would be the furthest extent of the British advance on the 1st July.

In Montauban a memorial is dedicated to the Liverpool and Manchester Pals.

“TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER PALS WHO AS PART OF THE 30TH DIVISION LIBERATED THE VILLAGE 1ST JULY 1916”

Liverpool and Manchester Pals Monument
Montauban

Liverpool Pals
17/18/19/20 Battalions Kings Regiment

Manchester Pals
16/17/18/19 Battalions Manchester Regiment

Op La Boisselle - Devonshire Cemetery

The Devonshire Cemetery is situated 800 metres south of Mametz. It contains the resting place of 163 casualties, of which 150 are from the Devonshire Regiment killed on 1st July 1916. A further 10 Devonshire's are unknown, and one Devonshire Officer was killed on 28th June 1916. The only burials who are not Devonshire's are 2 Gunners.

Devonshire Cemetery

On the opening day of the Battles of the Somme, 1st July 1916, the 7th Division was tasked with the capture Mametz. The men of the 8th and 9th Service Battalions of the Devonshire Regiment assembled in trenches in the vicinity of Mansel Copse prior to the assault.

The attack was a success, the 7th Division capturing Mametz, though it sustained 3,380 casualties. The 8th and 9th Battalions of the Devonshire Regiment sustained over 200 casualties.

On the 4th July the Devonshire's returned to trenches near Mansel Copse and established a cemetery burying 153 of their dead comrades in a section of their old front line trench. They left an inscription at the cemetery;

“THE DEVONSHIRES HELD THIS TRENCH THE DEVONSHIRES HOLD IT STILL”

Devonshire Cemetery

Devonshire Regiment Casualties
1st July 1916

Devonshire Regiment Casualties
1st July 1916

Devonshire Regiment
Unknown Soldier

------0------

DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT OFFICERS

KIA 1st July 1916

Lieut. W.N. Hodgson MC

Lieut. William Noel Hodgson MC

2nd Lieut. RHW Davidson

2/ Lt Robert Henry Walter Davidson

Captain GP Tregelles

2nd Lieut. JFG Rew

Op La Boisselle - Auchonvillers Military Cemetery

The Auchonvillers Military Cemetery is located on the edge of the village from which it is named.

The cemetery commenced in June 1915 and it was used until February 1917 when the Germans withdrew to the Hindenberg Line. Additional casualties were reinterned there after the Armistice.

Auchonvillers Military Cemetery | CWGC

Auchonvillers Military Cemetery

Auchonvillers Military Cemetery

Auchonvillers Military Cemetery
Unknown Soldiers of the Great War

The village of Auchonvillers lay behind the British Front line on 1st July 1916 and the cemetery contains casualties from opening day of the Battles of the Somme.

Auchonvillers 1st July 1916

June 1916 and 1st July 1916 multiple graves

1st July 1916 multiple graves

Royal Dublin Fusiliers1st July 1916 multiple graves

Fighting on the Somme continued through the summer of 1916.

Corporal Joe Sharples
148 Battery Royal Field Artillery
25th August 1916

Clifford Valances served as
Private J Brown
Hertfordshire Regiment
26th September 1916

Beaumont Hamel, an objective on the opening of the Battles of the Somme on 1st July 1916, was eventually secured in November 1916 by the 51st Highland Division. Casualties from the Scottish Regiments engaged in the fighting can be found in the cemetery.

51st Highland Division Casualties
November 1916

The cemetery was used until until February 1917 when the Germans withdrew to the Hindenberg Line. The cemetery was again used after the Armistice of 11th November 1918 when casualties buried in scattered graves to the east of Auchonvillers were concentrated.

New Zealand Casualties
April 1918

Op La Boisselle - Beaumont Hamel Cemetery

Beaumont Hamel Cemetery is located between the Sunken Lane, the line of departure of the Lancashire Fusiliers on 1st July 1916, and Beaumont Hamel their objective. On that date the attacking British Infantry could not hold onto the objective, Beaumont Hamel being finally secured in November 1916.

The Cemetery was constructed in November 1916 for more casualties from that time and during subsequent fighting in February 1917. After the war casualties were added from the surrounding battlefield. The cemetery contains 179 Commonwealth burials of which 82 are unidentified.

Beaumont Hamel Cemetery
Sunken Lane left Beaumont Hamel Right

Beaumont-Hamel British Cemetery | CWGC

Beaumont Hamel Cemetery

Private J Cowden
1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
1st July 1916

Private J Cowden | CWGC

2/Lieutenant CJ Byron Private FA Scott

2nd Battalion Honourable Artillery Company

10th January 1917

Private Frederick Arthur Scott | CWGC

Second Lieutenant Clement John Byron | CWGC

2/Lieutenant CJ Byron

Sergeant P McCorkindale DCM
D Battery 58 Brigade RFA
2nd March 1917

Serjeant P McCorkindale | CWGC

Sergeant P Mc Corkindale DCM

Peter McCorkindale enlisted into the British Army on 25th June 1904, serving mainly in India. On leaving the Army he was employed as a miner and was recalled as a Reservist for service in World War One.

He entered France on 12th March 1915 and posted to 458 Battery in 118 Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Acting Corporal P. McCorkindale was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) in January 1916. That same month he was Mentioned in Despatches. His DCM citation (London Gazette 10 March 1916 Supplement:29503 Page:2698) recorded his actions;