Hebuterne

This cemetery was originally formed in 1917 when bodies, from the July 1916 battle, were finally recovered. Later, concentrations from other cemeteries, now no longer in existence, increased the burials here from just over 100, to some twelve hundred.

Many of the unknowns in this cemetery were probably casualties of the attacks over this ground on 1st July 1916.

Private Penryn Stanley Churchill

Above is the grave of Penryn Stanley Churchill. It is situated at the rear of Gommecourt No. 2 cemetery. In 1986 I brought a tour to this area (Goodwin European Battlefield Tours), and amongst us was a veteran of WW1 - Bill Parry-Morris MM. Bill joined the HAC (Honourable Artillery Company) at the outbreak of the war and served, with distinction, at 3rd Ypres, where he won his Military Medal for capturing a German machine gun post. He was on the Somme at Beaumont Hamel, in November 1916, and in 1917 following the retreat of the German Army to the Hindenberg Line. He also served in Italy against Austrian mountain troops. When we were here in 1986 he told us that he used to play in the same football team as Penryn Stanley-Churchill, when they were billetted in London in 1914. Penryn was wounded by machine gun fire whilst advancing down the main street of Bucquoy, a village near here, in February 1917. He subsequently died from his wounds.

Now return to Hebuterne and, at the T - junction (Cafe des Sports on the left hand corner), turn left.