BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY
Calvados
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.27412, Longitude: -0.71399
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
Location Information
The town of Bayeux, in Normandy, lies 30 kilometres north-west of Caen. Bayeux War Cemetery is situated in the south-western outskirts of the town on the by-pass (D5), which is named Boulevard Fabian Ware. On the opposite side of the road stands the Bayeux Memorial.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance and from an additional entrance from the street to the left of the cemetery.
Historical Information
The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.
There was little actual fighting in Bayeux although it was the first French town of importance to be liberated. Bayeux War Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth cemetery of the Second World War in France and contains burials brought in from the surrounding districts and from hospitals that were located nearby.
BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY, which was completed in 1952, contains 4,144 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 338 of them unidentified. There are also over 500 war graves of other nationalities, the majority German.
Total Burials: 4,654.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 3,602, Germany 414, Canada 178, Poland 25, Australia 17, New Zealand 8, Russia 7, Czechoslovakia 2, Italy 2, South Africa 2. Total. 4,257.
The BAYEUX MEMORIAL stands opposite the cemetery and bears the names of more than 1,800 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died in the early stages of the campaign and have no known grave. They died during the landings in Normandy, during the intense fighting in Normandy itself, and during the advance to the River Seine in August.
Commemorated: United Kingdom 1,529, Canada 268, South Africa 1. Total 1,798.
The Memorial was designed by P.D. Hepworth and unveiled by The Duke of Gloucester on 5 June 1955.
The town of Bayeux, in Normandy, lies 30 kilometres north-west of Caen. Bayeux War Cemetery is situated in the south-western outskirts of the town on the by-pass (D5), which is named Boulevard Fabian Ware. On the opposite side of the road stands the Bayeux Memorial.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance and from an additional entrance from the street to the left of the cemetery.
Historical Information
The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.
There was little actual fighting in Bayeux although it was the first French town of importance to be liberated. Bayeux War Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth cemetery of the Second World War in France and contains burials brought in from the surrounding districts and from hospitals that were located nearby.
BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY, which was completed in 1952, contains 4,144 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 338 of them unidentified. There are also over 500 war graves of other nationalities, the majority German.
Total Burials: 4,654.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 3,602, Germany 414, Canada 178, Poland 25, Australia 17, New Zealand 8, Russia 7, Czechoslovakia 2, Italy 2, South Africa 2. Total. 4,257.
The BAYEUX MEMORIAL stands opposite the cemetery and bears the names of more than 1,800 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died in the early stages of the campaign and have no known grave. They died during the landings in Normandy, during the intense fighting in Normandy itself, and during the advance to the River Seine in August.
Commemorated: United Kingdom 1,529, Canada 268, South Africa 1. Total 1,798.
The Memorial was designed by P.D. Hepworth and unveiled by The Duke of Gloucester on 5 June 1955.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
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5779898 Corporal Sidney Bates, V. C.
1st Bn. Norfolk Regiment
8th August 1944, aged 23.
Plot XX. E. 19.
Son of Frederick and Gladys May Bates, of Camberwell, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Parents Proudly Remember Him As A True Camberwell Boy And Loving Son"
Citation:
The citation in the London Gazette of 2nd November, 1944, gives the following details :- In North-West Europe on 6th August, 1944, the position held by a battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment near Sourdeval was heavily attacked. Corporal Bates was commanding a forward section of the left forward company which suffered some casualties, so he decided to move the remnants of his section to an alternative position from which he could better counter the enemy thrust. As the threat to this position became desperate, Corporal Bates seized a light machine-gun and charged, firing from the hip. He was almost immediately wounded and fell, but he got up and advanced again, though mortar bombs were falling all round him. He was hit a second time and more seriously wounded, but he went forward undaunted, firing constantly till the enemy started to fall back before him. Hit for the third time, he fell, but continued firing until his strength failed him. By then the enemy had withdrawn and Corporal Bates, by his supreme gallantry and self-sacrifice, had personally saved a critical situation. He died shortly afterwards of the wounds he had received.
1st Bn. Norfolk Regiment
8th August 1944, aged 23.
Plot XX. E. 19.
Son of Frederick and Gladys May Bates, of Camberwell, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Parents Proudly Remember Him As A True Camberwell Boy And Loving Son"
Citation:
The citation in the London Gazette of 2nd November, 1944, gives the following details :- In North-West Europe on 6th August, 1944, the position held by a battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment near Sourdeval was heavily attacked. Corporal Bates was commanding a forward section of the left forward company which suffered some casualties, so he decided to move the remnants of his section to an alternative position from which he could better counter the enemy thrust. As the threat to this position became desperate, Corporal Bates seized a light machine-gun and charged, firing from the hip. He was almost immediately wounded and fell, but he got up and advanced again, though mortar bombs were falling all round him. He was hit a second time and more seriously wounded, but he went forward undaunted, firing constantly till the enemy started to fall back before him. Hit for the third time, he fell, but continued firing until his strength failed him. By then the enemy had withdrawn and Corporal Bates, by his supreme gallantry and self-sacrifice, had personally saved a critical situation. He died shortly afterwards of the wounds he had received.
Headstone
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
London, England. 21st December 1943. Two aircrew sergeants receiving their parcels for Christmas, during the busy season for the RAAF base post office at RAAF overseas HQ.
Identified on the right and buried in this cemetery is 423032 Flight Sergeant Donald Algernon Joseph Ahearn, Royal Australian Air Force who was lost on operations over France on 19th June 1944, aged 22. Plot IV. F. 12. Son of Harold Algernon Joseph and Ivy Vine Ahearn, of Kingsford, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "In Honor's Call He Gave His All And Man Can Do No More"
2067746 Sapper
Albert Fishwick
253rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
7th August 1944, aged 27.
Plot XX. E. 25.
Son of John and Elizabeth Fishwick; husband to Minnie Fishwick of St Helens, Lancashire, England.
For my Uncle Albert who I never met as he died soon after I was born, he died so young but he was so brave, I am sorry I never met this wonderful man. Rest In Peace.
On behalf of all the family I have dedicated this photo and these few words.
Image courtesy of Ann Marie Johnson ( Nee (Fishwick ). Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia. Daughter of Albert’s brother Joe.
Ann would be delighted to hear from any of Albert’s relatives so she can share her family history with them. Please contact us by email and we will pass on details.
Albert Fishwick
253rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
7th August 1944, aged 27.
Plot XX. E. 25.
Son of John and Elizabeth Fishwick; husband to Minnie Fishwick of St Helens, Lancashire, England.
For my Uncle Albert who I never met as he died soon after I was born, he died so young but he was so brave, I am sorry I never met this wonderful man. Rest In Peace.
On behalf of all the family I have dedicated this photo and these few words.
Image courtesy of Ann Marie Johnson ( Nee (Fishwick ). Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia. Daughter of Albert’s brother Joe.
Ann would be delighted to hear from any of Albert’s relatives so she can share her family history with them. Please contact us by email and we will pass on details.
2623293 Guardsman
Arnold Johnson
4th Bn. Grenadier Guards
6th August 1944 aged 21.
Plot III. M. 25.
Son of Charles Pole Johnson and Mildred Olive Johnson, of Leicester.
Remembered by the Pole Family
Arnold Johnson
4th Bn. Grenadier Guards
6th August 1944 aged 21.
Plot III. M. 25.
Son of Charles Pole Johnson and Mildred Olive Johnson, of Leicester.
Remembered by the Pole Family
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Settling in at RAF station Skaebrae after the move of No. 453 (Spitfire) Squadron Royal Australian Air Force are 412047 Flight Sergeant (later Flying Officer) Richard Arthur John York of Maitland, NSW, stoking the fire, and 409147 F Sgt (later Pilot Officer Kenneth Charles Kinross of Essendon Vic. Pilot Officer Kinross is buried in this cemetery and was killed in aerial combat with 453 Squadron near Bayeaux, France on 24 July 1944, aged 22. Plot IV. E. 10. Son of Charles Osborne Kinross and Maggie Kinross, of Essendon, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Loving Memories"
412832 Flying Officer
Hector Scott Keable Ross
Royal Australian Air Force
5th July 1944, aged 23.
Plot XII. E. 20
Son of Charles Simpson Scott Ross and Beatrice Charlotte Ross, of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Dawn Breaks, Au Revoir, Brave Boy"
Click on image to enlarge
Hector Scott Keable Ross
Royal Australian Air Force
5th July 1944, aged 23.
Plot XII. E. 20
Son of Charles Simpson Scott Ross and Beatrice Charlotte Ross, of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Dawn Breaks, Au Revoir, Brave Boy"
Click on image to enlarge
3783359 Private
Harry Skinner
11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
27th June 1944, aged 20.
Plot XVIII. D. 2.
Son of John Robert and Elizabeth Skinner, of Loveclough, Lancashire.
Harry Skinner
11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
27th June 1944, aged 20.
Plot XVIII. D. 2.
Son of John Robert and Elizabeth Skinner, of Loveclough, Lancashire.
