FONTENAY-LE-PESNEL WAR CEMETERY
Tessel
Calvados
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.16134, Longitude: -0.56089
Location Information
The village of Fontenay-le-Pesnel lies 16 kilometres west of Caen on the main road (the D9) towards Caumont l'Evente.
The cemetery is 1 kilometre south-east of the hamlet of St Martin (on the D139 to Grainville); on reaching a large memorial to the 49th (West Riding) Division, turn down the track opposite the memorial which leads directly to the cemetery.
Historical Information
The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.
Fontenay-le-Pesnel War Cemetery contains the graves of men who died in the fighting to the west and south-west of Caen in June-July 1944. There are particularly large numbers of graves of the South Staffordshire, East Lancashire, Royal Warwickshire Regiments, and the Durham Light Infantry.
The cemetery contains 460 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. There are also 59 German graves.
Total Burials: 521.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 448, Germany 57, Canada 4. Total 509.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: Commonwealth 10, Germany 2. Total 12.
CDN/129 Lieutenant
John Patrick Blackham
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 8th Bn. Royal Scots
29th June 1944, aged 26.
Plot I. D. 5.
John P. Blackham was a member of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, he died while serving with the Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) as a CANLOAN Officer. Son of Charles and Mary Blackham, of Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Unforgettable And Unforgotten"
John Patrick Blackham
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 8th Bn. Royal Scots
29th June 1944, aged 26.
Plot I. D. 5.
John P. Blackham was a member of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, he died while serving with the Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) as a CANLOAN Officer. Son of Charles and Mary Blackham, of Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Unforgettable And Unforgotten"
4469213 Lance Serjeant
Robert Hampton
11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
27th June 1944, aged 26.
Plot IV. D. 2.
Son of Joseph and Elsie Hampton; husband of Audrey Johnson Hampton, of Seaham Harbour, Co. Durham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Too Dearly Loved Ever To Be Forgotten"
Picture courtesy of Robert Hampton's son, Tony Robson (his surname changed after his mother re-married in 1947), he is pictured here aged 5 months with his father
Robert Hampton
11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
27th June 1944, aged 26.
Plot IV. D. 2.
Son of Joseph and Elsie Hampton; husband of Audrey Johnson Hampton, of Seaham Harbour, Co. Durham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Too Dearly Loved Ever To Be Forgotten"
Picture courtesy of Robert Hampton's son, Tony Robson (his surname changed after his mother re-married in 1947), he is pictured here aged 5 months with his father
273065 Lieutenant
Charles Jeffrey
East Lancashire Regiment
16th July 1944, aged 25.
Plot III. F. 8.
Son of Robert and Jane Jeffrey; husband of Alice Jeffrey, of Thornton, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription Steadfast In Life Valiant In Death "Beloved"
Charles Jeffrey
East Lancashire Regiment
16th July 1944, aged 25.
Plot III. F. 8.
Son of Robert and Jane Jeffrey; husband of Alice Jeffrey, of Thornton, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription Steadfast In Life Valiant In Death "Beloved"
3387529 Private
James Owen
5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
16th July 1944.
Plot V. B. 7.
James Owen
5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
16th July 1944.
Plot V. B. 7.
14693182 Private
Patrick Joseph Russell
1/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
4th August 1944., aged 18.
Plot II. A. 6.
Son of Ernest and Florence Russell, of Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
His headstone bears the inscription In Loving Memory Of Paddy "Till We Meet Again" R. I. P.
Patrick Joseph Russell
1/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
4th August 1944., aged 18.
Plot II. A. 6.
Son of Ernest and Florence Russell, of Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
His headstone bears the inscription In Loving Memory Of Paddy "Till We Meet Again" R. I. P.
5120865 Sergeant
Harry Salmon
1/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
30th July 1944, aged 34.
Plot II. C. 18.
Husband of Doris Salmon, of Harlescott, Shropshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Dear Husband Of Doris And Dear Daddy Of Harry. His Work Done his Memory Stays"
Harry Salmon
1/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
30th July 1944, aged 34.
Plot II. C. 18.
Husband of Doris Salmon, of Harlescott, Shropshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Dear Husband Of Doris And Dear Daddy Of Harry. His Work Done his Memory Stays"
3607391 Private
George Slater
5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
16th July 1944, aged 21.
Plot III. F. 15.
Son of Harold and Mary Jane Slater, of Bolton, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Supreme Sacrifice. In Heavenly Love Abiding"
George Slater
5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
16th July 1944, aged 21.
Plot III. F. 15.
Son of Harold and Mary Jane Slater, of Bolton, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Supreme Sacrifice. In Heavenly Love Abiding"
5115356 Private
Leonard James Springett
1/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
30th July 1944, aged 27.
Plot II. C. 19.
Son of Alfred James Springett and Etta Lilian Springett, of Birmingham; husband of Doris Winifred Springett, of Erdington, Birmingham.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Gave His All Life For Those He Loved And Those He Loved Will Always Remember"
Leonard James Springett
1/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
30th July 1944, aged 27.
Plot II. C. 19.
Son of Alfred James Springett and Etta Lilian Springett, of Birmingham; husband of Doris Winifred Springett, of Erdington, Birmingham.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Gave His All Life For Those He Loved And Those He Loved Will Always Remember"
