Fillievres British Cemetery. 8 miles SW Hesdin. Original burials of June 1918 to Feb 1919. Enlarged after Armistice by concentration of isolated graves. Records 75 UK and 1 NZ burials.

Grave in Fillievres British Cemetery of Lt Edward Felix Baxter V.C.died 18 April 1916 aged 30. 1st/8th Kings ( Liverpool Regiment)(Liverpool Irish).

In preparation for the Battle of the Somme, it was particularly necessary to obtain information of the enemy’s dispositions, and for this purpose many incursions were made into the hostile trenches.  The raiding and wire-cutting parties consisted of Captain J H Mahon, 2nd Lieutenants P O Limericka and E F Baxter and 43 other ranks. On the 3rd April 1916 the raiding party began a course of wire cutting and entering trenches the latter having been constructed as near as possible like those which were to be raided.  On the 16th/17th April the wire cutting and covering party under 2nd Lieutenant Limerick went out at midnight but had to lie down when a German working party was spotted in No Man’s Land and were only able to begin work at 1 a.m. when the enemy returned. The entanglements were so thick that it was demed impossible to complete the work in time but 2nd Lieutenant Baxter went out with the relief cutting party and worked until 3.25 a.m. when only two more rows of wire remained uncut.  At midnight 17th/18th April a patrol stole across No Man’s Land and found that the enemy had made no attempt to mend the wire so a wire-cutting party followed and cut the remaining wire and the storming party consisting of 2nd Lieutenant Baxter and 23 other ranks then came up and entered the German trench at 2.25 a.m.  8 Germans were killed in the fire trench and 3 dug-outs full of men were bombed.  The order to retire was given and all the party cleared the parapet of the enemy’s trench, 2nd Lieutenant Baxter assisting the last man out.  On the raiders reaching their trenches Lieutenant Baxter was missing and a search party under 2nd Lieutenant Limerick went back to the enemy wire but there was no trace of him.  The Liverpool Irish were highly commended for this raid by the Army, Corps, Divisional and Brigade Commanders, a Sergeant being awarded the D.C.M. and 3 Military Medals to three others who took part.

An extract from the “The London Gazette” dated 26th September 1916 records: “For most conspicuous bravery. Prior to a raid on the hostile line he was engaged during two nights in cutting wire close to the enemy’s trenches. The enemy could be heard on the other side of the parapet. 2nd Lieutenant Baxter, while assisting in the wire cutting held a bomb in his hand with the pin withdrawn ready to throw. On one occasion the bomb slipped and fell to the ground but he instantly picked it up unscrewed the base plate and took out the detonator which he smothered in the ground thereby preventing the alarm being given and undoubtedly saving many casualties. Later he led the left storming party with the greatest gallantry and was the first man into the trench shooting the sentry with his revolver. He then assisted to bomb dug-outs and finally climbed out of the trench and assisted the last man over the parapet. After this he was not seen again, though search parties went out at once to look for him. There seems no doubt that he lost his life in his great devotion to duty.” It is presumed his body must have been identified subsequently and recovered. The Battalion was part of 164th Infantry Brigade in the 55th (West Lancashire) Dvision and at the time of the action was occupying the sector south of Arras from Wailly to Bretencourt. Son of Charles and Beatrice Baxter of Hartlebury, Worcestershire; husband of Leonora M Gray (formerly Baxter) of 10 Bungalow, RAF Uxbridge.

Fienvillers British Cemetery Somme. 7 miles SW of Doullens. The 34th & 38th Casualty Clearing Stations were posted here April to Sept 1918 during German advance on Amiens. Records 122 UK, 1 Can & 1 NZ burials majority being 27th to 31st Aug 1918.

Grave in Fienvillers British Cemetery, Somme of Private James A Anderson 12/Kings(Liverpool) executed 12th September 1916 for cowardice. At the time of his offence the soldier was attached to 8 Loyal North Lancs when his working party passed through an area being shelled. Before making off, Anderson had told the officer in charge that he was unable to stand the strain any longer and walked away. General Routine Orders recorded “Misbehaving before the enemy in such a manner as to show cowardice. He left a working party when under the enemy’s fire through fear for his personal safety.”

Grave in Fienvillers British Cemetery Somme of No 25943 Private Thomas Henry Snell, DCM MM Lincolnshire Regiment. Born Grimsby, enlisted Cleethorpes. Died of wounds 31 August 1918 aged 34. Citation for DCM  London Gazette` 3.10.1918 records "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as a company runner.  In the dark, under heavy machine-gun fire, he took forward fresh parties and re-established two advance posts that had given way.  He frequently carried messages unde heavy artillery and machine-gunfire.  He showed fine courage and devotion to duty."

Forceville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme. W of village on main road between Doullens and Albert. Third Army took over Forceville from French 1915, Fourth Army occupied until July 20 1916 when it was included in area of Fifth Army. Records 300 UK., 2 NZ., 1 Can., and 7 German burials including the crew of a two seater plane shot down in September 1915.

Graves in Forceville Communal Cemetery Extension of 10 members of the Machine Gun Corps killed in action on 21 August 1918 in the Battle of Albert 1918. The attack of the British Third Army in the Battle of Albert from the Somme sector (Beaumont Hamel) North to area south of Arras (Boisleux au Mont) to gain the line of the Albert-Arras railway.

Grave in Forceville Communal Cemetery Extension of Private John Lewis 5 Dorsets. Executed 19 April 1917 for desertion. First tried on 9 March 1917 but sentence of death not confirmed and retried on 6 April 1917.

See the entry for Private William Anderson 5 Dorsets under Cemeteries in France - Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension.

Grave in Forceville Communal Cemetery Extension of No 19952 Rifleman John P K Tate 13th Battn Royal Irish Rifles killed in action 7 February 1916 aged 20 years son of John and Sarah Tate 12 Francis Street & North Street Newtownards Co Down.

Grave in Forceville Communal Cemetery Extension of No 19954 Corporal David Tate 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles died of wounds 24 June 1916 aged 26 years  son of David and Charlotte Tate Lisburn.

Frankfurt Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme. 1 mile NE of Beaucourt-Hamel. Taken on November 13th 1916 by 51st (Highland) and 63rd (Royal Naval) Divisions. Records 161 UK burials.

For background see entry France Cemeteries "N" New Munich Trench