Location Information
Estaires is a town and commune in the Department of the Nord, about 11 kilometres west of Armentieres.
This cemetery is on the eastern outskirts of the town on the east side of the road to Bailleul. Leave the church and head north-east on the Avenue Kennedy. Take the second road on the left after 400 metres onto Rue de l'Egalite, which leads to the cemetery on the right hand side of the road. The Extension is on the far left hand side of the Communal Cemetery.
History Information
On 15th October 1914 the town of Estaires was occupied by the French cavalry, and passed at once into British hands. 10 April 1918 the town was captured by the enemy, after an obstinate defence by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division; and it was finally retaken by British troops at the beginning of September 1918.
Early November 1914 the town of Estaires was a Field Ambulance centre and later the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station was posted in it. It was later "adopted" by the County Borough of Plymouth.
This cemetery - Estaires Communal Cemetery - was used for British burials from the early days of November 1914 to June 1917, and two burials of September 1918 are in Plot II, Row P. The Cemetery Extension was used from April 1917 to April 1918, and again in September-November 1918. The Plots are numbered IV and V, in continuation of the numbering for the Communal Cemetery.
The Portuguese graves of June-August 1917 and two French graves were removed after the Armistice. A German Plot of 63 graves, made on the North side during the enemy occupation in 1918, have been removed.
BURIALS (Communal Cemetery - 673):
134 Australians; 55 New Zealanders; 437 UK; 1 Canada; 8 India; 2 French; 6 Germany
BURIALS (Extension Cemetery - 245):
5 Australians; 1 New Zealander; 228 UK; 5 Canada; 1 India; 5 Germany
9 burials of WWII included in cemetery (killed during the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk at the end of May 1940).
There are also 14 non-Commonwealth burials in C.W.G.C. care.
The five Plots cover an area of 3,336 square metres.
Shot at Dawn:
10853 Private A. Troughton, 1st Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers, executed for desertion 22/04/1915, aged 22. Son of Nathaniel Troughton, of 14, Ash Grove, Stoney Station Rd., Coventry. Plot III. D. 6. (Joint grave)
10958 Private A. Penn, 1st Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers, executed for desertion 22/04/1915. Plot III. D. 6. (Joint grave)
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 04/02/2017. Lest we forget.
