The First Cemeteries

[ejwalshe]

The First Cemeteries

Le Treport Military Cemetery

The cemetery, one of the first three Imperial (later Commonwealth) War Graves Commission cemeteries built following the Great War, certainly owns one of the most scenic locations of all CWGC cemeteries. The other original cemeteries, Louvencourt Military Cemetery, Forceville Communal Cemetery and Extension, majestic in their own manner on the Somme.

Béthune Town Cemetery

Special mention to the recording of a small group of British war graves here in 1914. One of the first acts of the British Red Cross Society's Mobile Unit. From this grew the Graves Registration and Enquiries Department of the Army, and from it the IWGC/CWGC. In one sense, therefore, Béthune Town Cemetery may be considered as holding the honour of being the CWGC's first cemetery. 

Visit to Le Treport Military Cemetery, 10 August 2019 CEFRG

During the Great War, Le Treport an important hospital centre. No.3 General Hospital established in November 1914, No.16 General Hospital in February 1915, No.2 Canadian General Hospital in March 1915, No.3 Convalescent Depot in June 1915 and finally Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital in July 1916. 
These hospitals contained nearly 10,000 beds. No.47 General Hospital arrived in March 1917 and later that year, a divisional rest camp and a tank training depot established in the neighbourhood. By March 1919, the hospitals closed and Le Treport became the headquarters of the 68th Division, which re-formed there before the March to the Rhine and Allied Occupation of Germany. The divisional supply depot closed in June 1919.

445 Commonwealth burials of the Great War in this cemetery. Three of the four Second World War burials unidentified.

[Fattyowls]

Thanks as ever for this Mr W.

Pete.

[ejwalshe]

Pleasure, Pete - Ted @Fattyowls

[Hedley Malloch]

The first cemeteries for British casualties were probably made by the Germans who made plots in local French communal cemeteries and often supplied the first monumental masonry. These can be found along the line of retreat from Mons to the Marne. Many were later taken over by the IWGC who enlarged them, but others were left pretty much as they were save for the later addition of IWGC headstones. Examples of the latter include Landrecies, Le Grand Fayt and Maroilles.