Carnoy Military Cemetery | Richard Cartwright

Rich In History

The Carnoy Military Cemetery was begun in August, 1915, by the 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers and the 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, when the village was immediately south of the British front line.

It continued in use by troops holding this sector until July, 1916, when Field Ambulances came up and a camp was established on the higher ground to the North of the village. It was closed in March, 1917.

From March to August, 1918, it was in German hands, and German (and a few British) graves were made between the British graves and the entrance, and also in a German Cemetery alongside; but the German graves and the German Cemetery were removed in 1924.

There are now 855, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 30 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 17 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery covers an area of 4,441 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall.

Casualty Details: UK 845,
Canada 3, Australia 1, New Zealand 5, South Africa 1, Total Burials: 855

The Birmingham Pals were stationed at Carnoy during the summer of 1916.

Private 1202 A Hackett is buried in the cemetery - he was the first casualty of the war from The Birmingham Pals (Royal Warwickshire Regiment). He was killed on 8 December 1915, aged 31 years. I placed a Rememberance Cross on the grave, with the inscription "From The Birmingham Pals Living History Association".

A distant relative, Corporal Frederick Thomas Croydon Payton (106617), a member of the 5th Battalion (Special Brigade) Royal Engineers, was killed on 1 July 1916 aged 20, and is buried in grave G20 in this cemetery.

GPS Location: Latitude: 49.98221 Longitude: 2.75494