VIOLAINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
Location Information
Violaines is a village 4 kilometres north-west of La Bassee and 28 kilometres north of Arras. From the church, leave the village on the D167E (Rue de l'Eglise) heading south-west. The cemetery is 400 metres on the left hand side of the road and the Commonwealth War Graves Plot will be found in the near right hand corner.
History Information
Violaines saw bitter fighting in May 1940, during the withdrawal of our forces to Dunkirk, particularly near the Aire-Le Bassee Canal which runs through the commune about 2 kilometres from the village. At the time the dead were buried where they lay, on the banks of the canal and in the surrounding fields. In 1942, however, the occupying forces permitted the local people to transfer the graves to the communal cemetery. There are now 33, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 6 are unidentified.
Cemetery Pictures © Jean-Claude Graux
Violaines is a village 4 kilometres north-west of La Bassee and 28 kilometres north of Arras. From the church, leave the village on the D167E (Rue de l'Eglise) heading south-west. The cemetery is 400 metres on the left hand side of the road and the Commonwealth War Graves Plot will be found in the near right hand corner.
History Information
Violaines saw bitter fighting in May 1940, during the withdrawal of our forces to Dunkirk, particularly near the Aire-Le Bassee Canal which runs through the commune about 2 kilometres from the village. At the time the dead were buried where they lay, on the banks of the canal and in the surrounding fields. In 1942, however, the occupying forces permitted the local people to transfer the graves to the communal cemetery. There are now 33, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 6 are unidentified.
Cemetery Pictures © Jean-Claude Graux
Click on Individual Headstone for Details
6 Unidentified Burials
Memorial to 2nd Lieutenant Henry Noel Atkinson
2nd Lieutenant Henry Noel Atkinson of 1st Bn. Cheshire Regiment was reported missing on 22nd October 1914. After the war his Mother and Brother decided to put a memorial stone at the supposed location where he disappeared. Nine years later on 9th February 1923 his body was recovered, 400 metres away from the Memorial. The Memorial is now dedicated to all the soldiers of 1st Bn. Cheshire Regiment who are still missing. Henry is now buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery.