Bouchoir British Cemetery

[Paul Reed]

I have been told that Bouchoir British Cemetery - which contains 763 burials - has been damaged in an accident. A lorry crashed and tipped over into the cemetery, damaging and knocking over some of the headstones.

I have tried searching for something on the net for this, but failed, and there is nothing in the Somme local papers as yet.

Perhaps Terry Denham can enquire with CWGC?

[Hedley Malloch]

My information is that a heavy lorry carrying sand skidded as it was approaching the cemetery, crashed through the cemetery perimeter and demolished 100 headstones. Drivng conditions locally had been bad following several days of rain.

Bouchoir CWGC had just received a major renovation and refurbishment.

[Terry Denham]

I'll see if I can discover any more after the holiday weekend.

[Terry Denham]

CWGC confirmed this morning what Hedley said above.

A lorry loaded with sand skidded off the road in wet weather and went through the cemetery wall and was burnt out. The driver was injured.

Some headstones in Plot 2 were damaged.

Plans are already being drawn up for repairs.

[Hedley Malloch]

Bouchoir CWGC was flooded for several weeks in 2001; repairs to the water damage had just been completed before the accident last week. It is also on the 'hit list' of CWGC cemeteries scheduled for demolition should the Somme Airport get the green light.

Talk about troubles never coming singly ... .