CWGC Requests Help from Forum Members

[Terry Denham]

CWGC and RBL are working on an educational resource for schools and have asked if any members of the Forum would be kind enough to assist with research material.

The project revolves around Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, France. CWGC is looking for documents, personal stories, photographs etc relating to any of the burials in this cemetery especially material which would bring the name of the serviceman to life and would bring home the tragedy of each death to a young audience.

CWGC has sufficient information on the VC holder and the SAD cases buried there and so they are looking for the personal stories of ordinary soldiers.

If any members have a relative buried in Y Farm or have researched a casualty there and they would like to help in this project by allowing any research or personal stories to be used, please send me an email or PM in the first instance.

Can you help?

Thanks in advance.

[Andrew Hesketh]

Do you know what key stage the educational materials will be for Terry?

[Terry Denham]

Andrew

No I don't but I'll find out.

Thanks to all those who have contacted me so far.

[soilsister]

Details

Bois Grenier is a small village in the Department of the Nord, about 4 kilometres due South of Armentieres. Leave Bois Grenier on the D222 in the direction of Fleurbaix. After 1200 metres turn left following the signs for the Cemetery, which can be found on the right hand side after the farm, approximately 800 metres from the main road.

The cemetery was begun in March 1915 and used by units holding this sector until February 1918. At the Armistice it contained 335 burials but was then increased when graves were brought in from the battlefields south of Armentieres and from other cemeteries. Y Farm Military Cemetery now contains 820 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 284 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate one casualty believed to be buried in the cemetery and an Indian soldier known to have been buried in Marquillies Communal Cemetery German Extension whose grave could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Those with awards buried in this cemetery:

MOOR, Lt. George Raymond Dallas VC.MC & Bar. 2nd Bn. Hampshire Regiment attd. 30th Div. H.Q. Died 3rd November 1918. Age 22. Son of William Henry and Eva Helen Moor (nee Pender). C. 86. An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29240, dated 23rd July, 1915, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and resource on 5th June, 1915, during operations south of Krithia, Dardanelles. When a detachment of a battalion on his left, which had lost all its officers, was rapidly retiring before a heavy Turkish attack, Second Lieutenant Moor, immediately grasping the danger to the remainder of the line, dashed back some 200 yards, stemmed the retirement, led back the men, and recaptured the lost trench. This young officer, who only joined the Army in October, 1914, by his personal bravery and presence of mind, saved a dangerous situation."

Amongst those buried in this cemetery:

BOOS, Pte. F. 14554. 1st Cape Coloured Labour Regt. Executed 15th October 1919. Age 19. Served as Alberts. Son of A. & J. Boos, of Capetown, South Africa. A. 16.

DAVIDS, Pte. Abraham. 1239. 1st Cape Coloured Labour Regt. Executed 26th August 1919. Age 24. Son of Mrs A. David, of 8 Vreed Street, Capetown, South Africa. A. 15.

HARRIS Pte. Willie Peter. 49. 1st Cape Coloured Labour Regt. Executed 26th August 1919. Age 23. A. 14.

General Directions: Bois Grenier is a small village in the Department of the Nord, about 4 kilometres due South of Armentieres. Leave Bois Grenier on the D222 in the direction of Fleurbaix. After 1200 metres turn left following the signs for the Cemetery, which can be found on the right hand side after the farm, approximately 800 metres from the main road.

The cemetery was begun in March 1915 and used by units holding this sector until February 1918. At the Armistice it contained 335 burials but was then increased when graves were brought in from the battlefields south of Armentieres and from other cemeteries.

Victoria Cross: Lieutenant George Raymond Dallas Moor, VC, MC and bar, 2nd Bn. Hampshire Regiment, attached 30th Division HQ, died 03/11/1918, row C. 86.

Shot at Dawn: Private A. Davids, 1st cape Coloured Labour Regiment, executed for murder 26/08/1919, row A. 15.

Private W. P. Harris, 1st Cape Coloured Labour Regiment, executed for murder, 26/08/1919, row A. 14.

Private F. Boos, 1st Cape Coloured Labour Regiment, executed for murder, 15/10/1919, row A. 16.

Another view of this cemetery

Casualty Details: UK 529, Canada 24, Australia 163, New Zealand 43, South Africa 3, India 58, Germany 2,

Total Burials: 822

Y Farm Military Cemetery, near Bois Grenier Lcpl William Henry Weavin

[soilsister]

can find the names of almost all through this link --- if you put each name in a search engine ---devbiding them by the total of your students ---some must be able to find out something about the soldiers they have to look for on the net --- just try names add ww1 at the name try the cities roll of honour etc -- i bet they ll love to browse those sites and will come back with loads of info

link for y farm ....graves

[Terry Denham]

Andrew

Here is the description of the project as supplied by CWGC.

Keep the offers of help coming in. It is appreciated.

________________________

It will be a general resource including an outreach programme where

we hope young people, in co-operation with their local branch of the Legion, might find out about the war graves and memorials near their school and organise their own act of remembrance.

This ties in nicely with the Primary school level "What are we remembering on Remembrance Day" but at the same time will engage Key Stages 3 and 4 through History, ICT, Citizenship and inter-generational learning.

[Andrew Hesketh]

Thanks Terry. Please tip us off when it's ready.

(I've sent you a PM with brief info on one burial there)