HOTTOT-LES-BAGUES WAR CEMETERY
Calvados
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.16029, Longitude: -0.6263
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
Location Information
Hottot-les-Bagues is a village 14 kilometres south-east of Bayeux.
This cemetery can be reached from Bayeux by taking the D6 southeastwards. After about 13 kilometres and after passing through Tilly-sur-Seulles, turn right (westwards) at Juvigny onto the main road (the D9) that runs from Caen towards Caumont l'Evente. The cemetery will be found after a few hundred metres on the right hand side on rising ground.
IF you come from Hottot les Bagues, cross the D9 on the blind summit, parking is on the side of the D9 coming from Juvigny.
Wheelchair access - theres a steep grass ramp
Historical Information
The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.
Most of the burials in Hottot-les-Bagues War Cemetery were brought in from the surrounding district, where there was much heavy fighting through June and July 1944 as Commonwealth forces tried to press on from Bayeux in an encircling movement to the south of Caen.
The cemetery contains 1,005 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 56 of them unidentified, and 132 German graves.
There are 21 Special Memorials within the above, bearing the inscription "Buried near this spot"
Total Burials: 1,137.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 912, Germany 86, Canada 31, Australia 3, New Zealand 2, South Africa 1. Total 1,035.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: Unknown 56, Germany 46. Total 102.
CDN/62 Lieutenant
Charles Talbot Baker
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
24th June 1944, aged 20.
Plot I. A. 6.
Son of Robert Falconer Baker and Frances Ruby Baker, of Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
Charles Talbot Baker
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
24th June 1944, aged 20.
Plot I. A. 6.
Son of Robert Falconer Baker and Frances Ruby Baker, of Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
J/26678 Flying Officer
William Ronald Chowen
441 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
5th July 1944, aged 24.
Plot I. C. 6.
Son of Wilbur Franklin Chowen and Ethel Marguerite Chowen; husband of Shirley Margaret Chowen, of Agincourt, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Fond And Loving Memory"
William Ronald Chowen
441 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
5th July 1944, aged 24.
Plot I. C. 6.
Son of Wilbur Franklin Chowen and Ethel Marguerite Chowen; husband of Shirley Margaret Chowen, of Agincourt, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Fond And Loving Memory"
CDN/545 Lieutenant
William James Coll
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 1st Bn. Dorsetshire Regiment
17th July 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. A. 9.
Son of William Patrick and Caroline Wallace Coll, of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
William James Coll
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 1st Bn. Dorsetshire Regiment
17th July 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. A. 9.
Son of William Patrick and Caroline Wallace Coll, of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
CDN/547 Lieutenant
Charles William Cooper
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
12th July 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. C. 4.
Son of Charles Alfred and Janet Manlin Cooper, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; husband of Helen I. Cooper. Honor Graduate, University of Toronto.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Life Loved And Honoured In Death Always Remembered"
Charles William Cooper
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
12th July 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. C. 4.
Son of Charles Alfred and Janet Manlin Cooper, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; husband of Helen I. Cooper. Honor Graduate, University of Toronto.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Life Loved And Honoured In Death Always Remembered"
CDN/25 Lieutenant
Albert Richard Harding
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
29th June 1944.
Plot I. B. 3.
Son of Ernest Newham Harding and Elizabeth M. Harding, of London, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "To Lay Down His Life For His Friends; Man Has No Greater Love Than That"
Albert Richard Harding
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
29th June 1944.
Plot I. B. 3.
Son of Ernest Newham Harding and Elizabeth M. Harding, of London, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "To Lay Down His Life For His Friends; Man Has No Greater Love Than That"
CDN/165 Lieutenant
William Allan James, M. C.
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
1st July 1944, aged 34.
Plot I. A. 12.
Son of Alan and Mabel Hagerman James, of Grosse Isle, Manitoba, Canada; husband of Olive Elizabeth James.
His headstone bears the inscription "While He Lies In Peaceful Sleep His Memory We Shall Always Keep"
William Allan James, M. C.
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
1st July 1944, aged 34.
Plot I. A. 12.
Son of Alan and Mabel Hagerman James, of Grosse Isle, Manitoba, Canada; husband of Olive Elizabeth James.
His headstone bears the inscription "While He Lies In Peaceful Sleep His Memory We Shall Always Keep"
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
CDN/417 Lieutenant
John Orrell Levine
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 2nd Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
2nd July 1944, aged 23.
Plot I. A. 7.
Son of Maurice and Lena Levine, of Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada. B.A., Arcadia University, Nova Scotia.
His headstone bears the inscription "They Shall Not Grow Old As We That Are Left Grow Old, Age Shall Not Weary Them"
John Orrell Levine
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 2nd Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
2nd July 1944, aged 23.
Plot I. A. 7.
Son of Maurice and Lena Levine, of Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada. B.A., Arcadia University, Nova Scotia.
His headstone bears the inscription "They Shall Not Grow Old As We That Are Left Grow Old, Age Shall Not Weary Them"
CDN/425 Lieutenant
George Henry Luffman
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 8th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
1st August 1944.
Plot I. C. 5.
George Henry Luffman
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 8th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
1st August 1944.
Plot I. C. 5.
H/103624 Private
Stanley Graham Nichols
Calgary Highlanders, R.C.I.C.
25th July 1944.
Plot I. C. 7.
Stanley Graham Nichols
Calgary Highlanders, R.C.I.C.
25th July 1944.
Plot I. C. 7.
CDN/284 Lieutenant
John Robert Purchase
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 4th Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers
17th July 1944.
Plot I. C. 3.
John Robert Purchase
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 4th Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers
17th July 1944.
Plot I. C. 3.
420610 Warrant Officer
Mervyn John Watson
Royal Australian Air Force
14th August 1944, aged 20.
Plot I. A. 3.
Son of Edmund John and Irene Watson, of Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Always So Loving, Unselfish And Kind"
Portrait of 420610 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt, later Warrant Officer [WO]) Mervyn John Watson, (Pilot) of Murwillumbah, NSW. The photo was taken at an airstrip camp where No. 453 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF are operating from advanced landing ground B11, over the Normandy Battlefield. On 14 August 1944 WO Watson was killed during an enemy air raid over the base while he was serving with 453 Squadron.
Mervyn John Watson
Royal Australian Air Force
14th August 1944, aged 20.
Plot I. A. 3.
Son of Edmund John and Irene Watson, of Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Always So Loving, Unselfish And Kind"
Portrait of 420610 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt, later Warrant Officer [WO]) Mervyn John Watson, (Pilot) of Murwillumbah, NSW. The photo was taken at an airstrip camp where No. 453 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF are operating from advanced landing ground B11, over the Normandy Battlefield. On 14 August 1944 WO Watson was killed during an enemy air raid over the base while he was serving with 453 Squadron.
CDN/420 Lieutenant
Edward Augustine Wilson
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 11th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
1st July 1944, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 8.
Son of Albert Ernest and Jennie Wilson, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Merciful Lord Jesus Grant Him Eternal Rest"
Edward Augustine Wilson
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, attached to 11th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
1st July 1944, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 8.
Son of Albert Ernest and Jennie Wilson, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Merciful Lord Jesus Grant Him Eternal Rest"
