Bécourt Military Cemetery Explained

Bécourt Military Cemetery
Established:August 1915
Type:Military
Graves:713 total, 5 unidentified
Location:Bécordel-Bécourt, Somme, France
Country:British and Commonwealth
Coordinates:50.004°N 2.6835°W
Findagraveid:2204001
Owner:Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)

The Bécourt Military Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Somme region of France commemorating British and Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Somme in World War I. The cemetery contains those who died in a variety of dates from August 1915 to April 1917 manning the front line near the village of Becordel-Becourt and is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[1]

Location

The cemetery is located on the southern side of the Rue de Becourt, the road linking the village of Becourt to the town of Albert, France. It is on the western edge of Becourt Wood. The village of Becourt is located approximately 2 kilometers east of Albert.[2]

Establishment of the cemetery

History

The cemetery was begun in August 1915 by the 51st Highland Division and was used by other divisions near the front line until the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. During and after the battle, until April 1917, the cemetery was used by nearby field ambulances. In August 1918, Plot II was started by the 18th Division. Three German graves have been removed from the cemetery since its inception.

Layout

The cemetery covers an area of 4327 square meters and is enclosed by a rubble wall.

Statistics

There are a total of 713 World War I casualties buried in the cemetery, of which 5 are unidentified. A special memorial is dedicated to a British soldier believed to be buried among the unknown.[3]

Eighteen Yorkshire Regiment soldiers are buried in the cemetery, including 12 officers.[4]

Identified Burials by Nationality!Nationality!Number of Burials
United Kingdom602
Australia72
Canada31
South Africa3
Australian burials
72Northumberland Fusiliers65
Royal Field Artillery38Royal Berkshire Regiment32
Canadian burials31Royal West Kent Regiment30
Queen's – Royal West Surrey Regiment27Royal Engineers27
Essex Regiment25Highland Light Infantry20
Royal Garrison Artillery19Royay Scots – Lothian Regiment19
Durham Light Infantry18Green Howards – Yorkshire Regiment17
Suffolk Regiment17Buffs – East Kent Regiment16
Black Watch15King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry15
Royal Irish Rifles12Cameron Highlanders11
Royal Warwickshire Regiment11Seaforth Highlanders11
Gordon Highlanders9Machine Gun Corps9
Lincolnshire Regiment8Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders7
East Lancashire Regiment7Border Regiment6
Duke of Wellington's – West Riding Regiment6Gloucestershire Regiment6
Royal Fusiliers – City of London Regiment6Royal Sussex Regiment6
Royal Welsh Fusiliers6West Yorkshire Regiment6
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment5Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment5
Rifle Brigade5Royal Army Medical Corps5
Cameronians – Scottish Rifles4King's Liverpool Regiment4
Royal Army Service Corps4Bedfordshire Regiment3
King's Royal Rifle Corps3London Regiment – 22nd Bn. The Queen's3
South African burials3York & Lancaster Regiment3
East Yorkshire Regiment2London Regiment – 7th Bn.2
London Regiment – 18th Bn. London Irish Rifles2Northamptonshire Regiment2
Royal Scots Fusiliers2South Wales Borderers2
Welsh Regiment2Cheshire Regiment1
Connaught Rangers1Devonshire Regiment1
East Surrey Regiment1Leinster Regiment1
London Regiment – 8th Bn. Post Office Rifles1London Regiment – 15th Bn. Civil Service Rifles1
London Regiment – 17th Bn. Poplar & Stepney Rifles1London Regiment – 19th Bn. St. Pancras1
London Regiment – 23rd Bn.1Norfolk Regiment1
Somerset Light Infantry1South Staffordshire Regiment1
Worcestershire Regiment1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cemetery Details CWGC. 2021-02-25. www.cwgc.org. en.
  2. Web site: Becourt Military Cemetery. 2021-02-25. vwma.org.au. English.
  3. Web site: Becourt Military Cemetery, Somme, France (CWGC). 2021-02-25. WW1 Cemeteries.com – A photographic guide to over 4000 military cemeteries and memorials. en.
  4. Web site: The Yorkshire Regiment War Graves. 2021-02-25. www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk.