Just a minute’s drive east of Motor Car Corner Cemetery we find Tancrez Farm Cemetery, the fifth stop on our tour.
Begun in December 1914 by the Lancashire Fusiliers and the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), the cemetery was used by many different regiments on a fairly regular basis until early 1918.
No photos please. Too late.
The cemetery is divided into just two plots, Plot I (nearest camera) being by far the largest. See the Tancrez Farm Cemetery Plan for details.
View looking east from the western boundary. The cemetery grew up around an aid post situated in a nearby farmhouse, and nearly all the men buried here would have either died on the short journey from the front line, or died here before they could be transported by field ambulance to the Casualty Clearing Stations further west.
Plot I Rows H (right) and J.
Row H again (left), and the rest of Plot I. The single German headstone marks the grave of one of two Germans buried in this cemetery.
Looking south across Plot I towards the Cross of Sacrifice.
Back-to-back headstones in Plot I, this time looking south west.
Two of only six unknown burials, among 333 in total, alongside the final burial, that of:
| PRIVATE J. T. HOWELL | 20th BN. AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY | 34 | 09/03/1918 | I K 9 |
| PRIVATE W. SWIFT | THE LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT | 28 | 09/06/1917 | II H 10 |
Two Australians, both men of the 34th Battalion, both killed in May 1917. Left to right:
| PRIVATE M. THOMPSON | 34th BN. AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY | u/k | 17/05/1917 | II H 6 |
| PRIVATE J. LOOS | 34th BN. AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY | 21 | 18/05/1917 | II H 7 |
Plot II, looking north. The second German grave is visible beneath the tree at the end of Row C.
Panning left, Plot II nearest camera, Plot I beyond…
…and still further left, now looking due west.
As you may have gathered earlier, Baldrick was not in the best of moods this fine day and was seemingly intent on shunning publicity as much as possible (most unlike him), hence the reason that he hasn’t really featured that much on this particular tour. Still, I did manage to persuade him that this photo would be enhanced by his presence, and as you can see, it most surely is.
Plot II.
At the time of visiting, a number of headstones in Plot I had been temporarily removed for renovation.
Plot I Rows A & B, looking south west.
Five down, one to go. Our final stop, Le Touquet Railway Crossing Cemetery, is just up the road.
In memory of Lt. Walter Alan LECKIE R.E., born in Australia, resting peacefully in Tancrez Farm Cemetery Belgium. Lest we forget.
Well said Elizabeth. Never forget.
In memory of Private Cyril F. Oates KOSB died 6th May 1916 and buried at Tancrez Farm.
Thank you Lee.
In memory of a distant relative – Private Percy Whitfield Cooper of the Royal West Kent regiment – died on 19 June 1916 during the battle of Verdun
Thanks for commenting Jim.
In memory of my Grandmothers Brother, William McCormick, died 9/9/1916. Buried plot1H1. R.I.P not forgotten
Thankyou for your sacrifice on my behalf.
Thanks for commenting, James.
Also remembering Percy Whitfield Cooper (see above), also a distant relative of mine (I am descendant of his great-grandparents Thomas Kennett & Mary Hogben). He was only age 17 when he died, having lied about his age when enlisting (see NatWest group remembrance)
Thank you Peter.