gordondump

graves

IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

The visit of Commonwealth graves in Communals Cemeteries & Churchyards in Belgium & France

GORDON DUMP Cemetery (Ovillers la Boisselle) (Somme France)

Page 1 The Pictures

Page 2 List of Casualties

S/Lt Arthur Delano Maconachie 01/07/1916 aged 22
Arthur Delano Maconachie, mort pour la liberté et pour le Royaume-Uni, si jeune comme tant d’autres ! A ce grand-père inconnu et dont j’ai cherché à connaître les origines écossaises et anglaises. Nul doute que ton courage et ta détermination ont été hérités de ton ancêtre américain Henry Delano. Nous n’oublierons jamais ton sacrifice ainsi que celui de millions d’autres. Et pour cela, nous sommes tous redevables à Pierre Vandervelden qui a mis en ligne son travail méticuleux et généreux de relevés des cimetières militaires. Que cette immense tragédie nous incite toujours à rechercher la paix et la tolérance.
His Granddaughter Muriel Frank-André (France)


Lt John Walton Bamber 01/07/1916 aged 29 John (known as Jack) was born in Ladysmith, Natal, South Africa, where he grew up in Ladysmith, where he was present during the siege of that town during the Boer War. He was in Canterbury in England, studying to become a priest, when war broke out and he joined up in 12/1914. He was attached to the 10th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I. and the battalion sailed to France 09/15. On 01/07/1916, the 9th and 10th K.O.Y.L.I. led the 64 Brigade assault at 7:30 am on July 1st, attacking to the North West of Fricourt. The 10th Bn suffered 9 officers killed and 16 wounded, 50 Other Ranks killed, 292 wounded and 135 missing. For his great nephew Ian van Zyl (Canada)

Sjt Henry Charles Gudgeon 01/07/1916 aged 30
for his nephew Colin Albon


Pte Gordon Geoffrey Steenson 31/07/1916 aged 20


Pte Henry (Harry) Stewart 01/07/1916 aged 32 He left a wife and two sons, aged 3 years and and 9 months, the youngest of whom he was never to see. His widow eventually married his oldest brother who had promised to look after them all if anything happened to Harry. for his grandson Alan Stewart

Pte Walter Henry Humphries 01/07/1916 aged 22
He was born in Shepton Montacute, Somerset. His parents Henry and Harriet Humphries lived at Laurence Hill near Wincanton, Somerset at the time of his death.
Because Walter’s father was an agricultural labourer he moved frequently and the family had lived in Bratton Seymour, Somerset and Cerne Abbas, Dorset.
Walter had two brothers, William and Charles and two sisters Rose and Harriet.
Walter went to Taunton to enlist in the Somerset Light Infantry, joining the 8th Bn.
On the 01/07/1916, the first day of infamous Battle of the Somme the 8th Somerset Light Infantry (SLI) were on the right of the two King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry bns. They came under very heavy machine gun fire from the moment they left their trenches. The Somersets battled on through the German front line system but could not advance as far as the Yorkshiremen. The SLI were cut to pieces and were beaten back with severe losses, a similar fate was encountered by the 4th Middlesex alongside them. Walter Humphries was one of those many casualties to German machine gun fire that day.
for Tony Goddard, chairman of the Royal British Legion in Somerset

623 casualties

IF You have a casualty picture, please send me a copy, I'll be glad to show it on this page.

IF You want a king size copy of this picture (300/900 ko - 2592/1944 pixels) please e-mail me.

Casualties informations come usualy from Commonwealth War Graves Commission, see links for more informations