| Cemetery
Location |
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Miraumont is a village about 14.5
kilometres north-north-east of Albert and the Cemetery is some 3
kilometres south of the village on the east side of the road to
Courcelette (D107). The cemetery is signposted in the centre of
Miraumont.
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| Cemetery
Information |
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| Miraumont and Pys are villages and
adjoining communes in the Department of the Somme, with a station (Miraumont)
on the main line from Paris through Albert and Amiens to Lille.
Adanac Military Cemetery is about two miles from the station, on the
Eastern side of the "East Miraumont Road" to Courcelette;
and its area is nearly equally divided between the communes of
Miraumont and Pys.
Miraumont and Pys were occupied on the 24th-25th
February, 1917, in the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. They
were retaken by the enemy on the 25th March 1918, but they fell to
the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on the following 24th August.
Adanac Military Cemetery (the name was formed by reversing the name
"Canada") was made after the Armistice by the
concentration of graves from the battlefields and small cemeteries
surrounding Miraumont, and particularly from the Canadian
battlefields round Courcelette. One grave (Plot IV, Row D, Grave 30)
was left where it is.
The cemetery covers an area of 10,401 square
yards; and it contains the graves of 1,973 soldiers (and airmen and
sailors and Marines of the Royal Naval Division) from the United
Kingdom, 1,071 from Canada, 70 from New Zealand and 53 from
Australia; five whose Unit in our forces could not be ascertained;
and one German prisoner. The unnamed graves are 1,712 in number, and
special memorials are erected to thirteen soldiers from the United
Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them.
The cemetery stands among cultivated fields, and
it commands views of five villages and of the Australian monument at
Pozičres. The Register records particulars of 3,172 British and
Dominion burials.
The more important burial grounds concentrated
into Adanac Military Cemetery were the following:-
PYS BRITISH CEMETERY, about two thirds of the way
from Pys to Courcelette. It contained the graves of 22 soldiers from
Canada, two from the United Kingdom and five of unknown Units, and a
memorial to 33 men of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.
PYS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, in the village, made by the 42nd Division
in August and September, 1918, and containing the graves of 35
soldiers (and sailors and Marines) from the United Kingdom and one
from New Zealand.
AQUEDUCT ROAD CEMETERY, PYS, between Pys and Le Sars, made by the
6th and 99th Infantry Brigades in March, 1917, and containing the
graves of eleven soldiers from the United Kingdom.
NEW ZEALAND CEMETERY, GREVILLERS, close to Grevillers Churchyard,
containing the graves of 19 New Zealand soldiers who fell in
August-September, 1918.
SHRINE CEMETERY, GREVILLERS, about 500 yards from Grevillers on the
road to Irles, containing the graves of thirteen soldiers from New
Zealand and two from the United Kingdom who fell at the end of
August, 1918.
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| Burials
By Unit |
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| Northumberland
Fusiliers |
|
64 |
| New Zealand
units |
|
64 |
| Royal
Warwickshire Regiment |
|
51 |
| 16th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Manitoba
Regiment) |
|
48 |
| 58th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (2nd Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
45 |
| 3rd Bn. Canadian
Inf. (1st Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
41 |
| 50th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Alberta Regiment) |
|
41 |
| 13th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Quebec Regiment) |
|
39 |
| 4th Bn. Canadian
Inf. (1st Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
38 |
| Green Howards -
Yorkshire Regiment |
|
38 |
| Durham Light
Infantry |
|
36 |
| 87th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Quebec Regiment) |
|
35 |
| Australian units |
|
34 |
| Lancashire
Fusiliers |
|
30 |
| 44th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (New Brunswick Regiment) |
|
29 |
| Manchester
Regiment |
|
29 |
| Royal Field
Artillery |
|
29 |
| 75th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (1st Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
28 |
| Cameron
Highlanders |
|
26 |
| Machine Gun
Corps - Infantry |
|
26 |
| Border
Regiment - |
|
25 |
| Gordon
Highlanders |
|
25 |
| Bedfordshire
Regiment |
|
24 |
| Cheshire
Regiment |
|
24 |
| Argyll &
Sutherland Highlanders |
|
22 |
| 47th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Western Ontario Regiment) |
|
21 |
| 29th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (British Columbia Regiment) |
|
19 |
| Duke of
Wellington - West Riding Regiment |
|
19 |
| West Yorkshire
Regiment |
|
19 |
| 54th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (2nd Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
18 |
| 102nd Bn.
Canadian Inf. (2nd Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
18 |
| East Surrey
Regiment |
|
18 |
| Essex Regiment |
|
18 |
| York &
Lancaster Regiment |
|
18 |
| 24th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Quebec Regiment) |
|
17 |
| Norfolk Regiment |
|
17 |
| Seaforth
Highlanders |
|
17 |
| Royal Naval
Division |
|
16 |
| Gloucester
Regiment |
|
15 |
| 1st Bn. Canadian
Pioneers |
|
14 |
| Highland Light
Infantry |
|
12 |
| Queen's - Royal
West Surrey Regiment |
|
12 |
| South
Staffordshire Regiment |
|
12 |
| 46th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Saskatchewan Regiment) |
|
11 |
| Royal Engineers |
|
11 |
| 18th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Western Ontario Regiment) |
|
10 |
| 38th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Eastern Ontario Regiment) |
|
10 |
| East Lancashire
Regiment |
|
10 |
| 72nd Bn.
Canadian Inf. (British Columbia Regiment) |
|
9 |
| Royal Scots -
Lothian Regiment |
|
9 |
| King's Own
Scottish Borderers |
|
8 |
| King's Own
Yorkshire Light Infantry |
|
8 |
| Middlesex
Regiment |
|
8 |
| Royal Fusiliers
- City of London Regiment |
|
8 |
| Royal West Kent
Regiment - Queen's Own |
|
8 |
| Black Watch -
Royal Highlanders |
|
7 |
| 31st Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Alberta Regiment) |
|
7 |
| 67th Bn.
Canadian Pioneers |
|
7 |
| Duke of
Cornwall's Light Infantry |
|
7 |
| Royal Scots
Fusiliers |
|
7 |
| 28th Bn.
(Saskatchewan Regiment) |
|
6 |
| 2nd Bn. Canadian
Inf. (Eastern Ontario Regiment) |
|
5 |
| 11th Brig.
Canadian Field Artillery |
|
5 |
| 73rd Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Royal Highlanders) |
|
5 |
| Hertfordshire
Regiment |
|
5 |
| Lincolnshire
Regiment |
|
5 |
| 24th Bn. London
Regiment - The Queen's |
|
5 |
| Oxfordshire
& Buckinghamshire Light Infantry |
|
5 |
| Royal Berkshire
Regiment |
|
5 |
| Cameronians -
Scottish Rifles |
|
4 |
| 15th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (1st Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
4 |
| 26th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (New Brunswick Regiment) |
|
4 |
| 78th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Manitoba Regiment) |
|
4 |
| East Yorkshire
Regiment |
|
4 |
| King's Liverpool
Regiment |
|
4 |
| King's Royal
Rifle Corps |
|
4 |
| Sherwood
Foresters - Notts. & Derbys Regiment |
|
4 |
| Tank Corps |
|
4 |
| Worcestershire
Regiment |
|
4 |
| 20th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (1st Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
3 |
| 22nd Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Quebec Regiment) |
|
3 |
| 21st Bn. London
Regiment First - Surrey Rifles |
|
3 |
| Rifle Brigade |
|
3 |
| Royal Canadian
Regiment |
|
3 |
| Royal Welsh
Fusiliers |
|
3 |
| 19th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (1st Central Ontario Regiment) |
|
2 |
| 43rd Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Manitoba Regiment) |
|
2 |
| Canadian Machine
Gun Corps |
|
2 |
| King's
Shropshire Light Infantry |
|
2 |
| Leicestershire
Regiment |
|
2 |
| Northamptonshire
Regiment |
|
2 |
| Royal Army
Medical Corps |
|
2 |
| Royal Irish
Regiment |
|
2 |
| Royal Sussex
Regiment |
|
2 |
| Somerset Light
Infantry |
|
2 |
| 5th Bn. Canadian
Inf. (CMR, Quebec Regiment) |
|
1 |
| 6th Bn. Canadian
Machine Gun Corps |
|
1 |
| 8th Bn. Canadian
Inf. (Manitoba Regiment) |
|
1 |
| 14th Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Quebec Regiment) |
|
1 |
| 21st Bn.
Canadian Inf. (Eastern Ontario Regiment) |
|
1 |
| Canadian Army
Medical Corps |
|
1 |
| Highland Cyclist
Bn. |
|
1 |
| Loyal North
Lancashire Regiment |
|
1 |
| Royal Army
Service Corps |
|
1 |
| Royal Flying
Corps/Royal Air Force |
|
1 |
| Royal Garrison
Artillery |
|
1 |
| Suffolk Regiment |
|
1 |
| South Wales
Borderers |
|
1 |
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| Indentified
burials |
|
1473 |
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| Unidentified
burials |
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| United Kingdom -
sailors, soldiers and airmen |
|
1170 |
| Canadian units |
|
512 |
| Australian units |
|
19 |
| New Zealand
units |
|
6 |
| Wholly
unidentified |
|
5 |
| Total
unidentified burials |
|
1712 |
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| Total
burials |
|
3185 |
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| Photograph
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| Photo
Archive |
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| Among those
commemorated here are: |
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| Name: |
RICHARDSON, JAMES
CLELLAND |
| Rank: |
Private (Piper) |
| Regiment/Service: |
Canadian
Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) |
| Unit
Text: |
16th Bn. |
| Age: |
20 |
| Date of
Death: |
09/10/1916 |
| Service
No: |
28930 |
| Awards: |
VC |
| Additional
information: |
Son of David
and Mary Prosser Richardson, of Princess Avenue, Chilliwack,
British Columbia. Native of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland. |
| Grave/Memorial
Reference: |
III. F. 36. |
| Citation: |
An extract from
"The London Gazette," No. 30967, dated 18th Oct.,
1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous
bravery and devotion to duty when, prior to attack, he
obtained permission from his Commanding Officer to play his
company "over the top". As the Company approached
the objective, it was held up by very strong wire and came
under intense fire, which caused heavy casualties and
demoralised the formation for the moment. Realising the
situation, Piper Richardson strode up and down outside the
wire, playing his pipes with the greatest coolness. The effect
was instantaneous. Inspired by his splendid example, the
company rushed the wire with such fury and determination that
the obstacle was overcome and the position captured.
Later,after participating in bombing operations, he was
detailed to take back a wounded comrade and prisoners. After
proceeding about 200 yards Piper Richardson remembered that he
had left his pipes behind. Although strongly urged not to do
so, he insisted on returning to recover his pipes. He has
never been seen since, and death has been presumed accordingly
owing to lapse of time." |
| Grave
Photo: |
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| Name: |
FORSYTH, SAMUEL |
| Rank: |
Serjeant |
| Regiment/Service: |
New Zealand
Engineers |
| Unit
Text: |
No. 3 Field Coy. |
| Age: |
25 |
| Date of
Death: |
24/08/1918 |
| Service
No: |
4/400 |
| Awards: |
VC |
| Additional
information: |
Son of Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas Forsyth, of Wellington, New Zealand; husband
of Mary S. Forsyth, of 79, John Knox St., Glasgow, Scotland. |
| Grave/Memorial
Reference: |
I. I. 39. |
| Citation:
|
An extract from
"The London Gazette," No. 30967, dated 18th Oct.,
1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous
bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On nearing the
objective, his company came under heavy machine-gun fire.
Through Serjt. Forsyth's dashing leadership and total
disregard of danger, three machine-gun positions were rushed
and the crews taken prisoner before they could inflict many
casualties on our troops. During subsequent advance his
company came under heavy fire from several machine guns, two
of which he located by a daring reconnaissance. In his
endeavour to gain support from a Tank, he was wounded, but
after having the wound bandaged, he again got in touch with
the Tank, which in the face of very heavy fire from machine
guns and anti-Tank guns, he endeavoured to lead with
magnificent coolness to a favourable position. The Tank,
however, was put out of action. Serjt. Forsyth then organised
the Tank crew and several of his men into a section, and led
them to a position where the machine guns could be outflanked.
Always under heavy fire, he directed them into positions which
brought about a retirement of the enemy machine guns and
enabled the advance to continue. This gallant N.C.O. was at
that moment killed by a sniper. From the commencement of the
attack until the time of his death Serjt. Forsyth's courage
and coolness, combined with great power of initiative proved
an invaluable incentive to all who were with him and he
undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades." |
| Grave
Photo: |
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