Ovillers Military Cemetery, Ovillers-la-Boiselle, Somme. 3 miles NE of Albert, SW of village. Attacked July 1st 1916 by 12th (Eastern) and 25th Divisions on July 7th 1916, cleared by 48th (South Midland Division) July 17th finally retaken August 24th 1918 by 38th (Welsh) Division. Records 3,004 UK., 88 Can., 42 Aust., 7 SA, 5 NZ., 121 French burials and 60 special memorials.

Grave in Ovillers Military Cemetery of No 2456 Private James Walters 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) killed in action 7th July 1916 aged 16 years. Son of James and Esther (Hetty) Walters of 5 Frampton Road Hounslow Heath Middlesex.

Ors Communal Cemetery, Ors, Nord. 3 miles SW of Landreciees, NW of the village near the station. By hard fighting the 32nd Division (IX Corps) forced a  crossing at Ors in the final advance 4th November 1918. Records 63 U.K., 6 Russian and 9 German burials.

Graves in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 57558 Lance Sergeant Alfred Ernest Hall M.M. Lancashire Fusiliers, No 63554 William Edward Duckworth Lancashire Fusiliers, Lieutenant Wilfred Edward Salter Owen M.C., Manchester Regiment, No 53927 Private Harold Topping, Lancashire Fusiliers, Captain Angus Mackenzie M.C. and Bar, Manchester Regiment, 64914 Private Hugh Melling Lancashire Fusiliers, A soldier known only to God, No 54289 Private John Herbert Potter Lancashire Fusiliers, No 51293 Alfred N Rees Highland Light Infantry, No301115 Private Thomas Edward Cliffe M.M., No 76326 Private Roland Wilson Browne, No 252099 Private John Burke, No 76425 Private John William Smith, No 1738 Corporal Charles Syrett, No 59869 Private Stephen Lamont, No 51365 Private John Kearsey, No 44305 Private William Stephen Wood, No 9454 Private George Massey, No 203124 Private William Healey,No 301993 Sergeant William Grimes and Second Lieutenant James Kirk V.C. all of the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment (except where otherwise indicated) killed in action on the 4th November 1918 in attempting the crossing of the Oise - Sambre Canal just north of the village of Ors (except for Private William Wood who was killed in action on the 5th November 1918). Only through the heroism of Major Waters and Sapper Archibald of the 218th Field Company Royal Engineers, both awarded the Victoria Cross, was it possible to get a bridge across. The whole area was swept with shell and machine-gun fire and it seemed impossible for anyone to live on the bank of the canal. All the rest of the party were killed or disabled, yet these two gallant engineers carried on the work, while bullets splintered the wood they were holding and struck sparks from the wire binding the floats. Meanwhile 2nd Lieutenant Kirk in a splendid spirit of self-sacrifice, paddled across the canal on a raft and engaged the enemy with a Lewis gun. This gallant act cost him his life, but a bridge was erected and two platoons of his battalion succeeded in crossing. Unfortunately the bridge was almost immediately destroyed by shell fire, and although repeated attempts were made to repair it, the undertaking had to be abandoned, and the remainder of the battalion took shelter from the enemy’s fire behind the western bank of the canal until it received a message from the 1st Dorsetshire that it was possible to cross at Ors. Slightly nearer to Ors, the Engineers and the 16th Highland Light Infantry (Pioneers) succeeded in erecting a bridge of small cork rafts; before, however, the leading troops of the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers could cross, the bridge was broken by concentrated artillery and machine-gun fire. The officer commanding this battalion, Lt. Col. Marshall of the Irish Guards, took charge of the situation and organised parties of volunteers for the repair of the bridge; the first party were all soon killed or wounded, nevertheless the bridge was finally erected. Lt.- Col. Marshall stood on the bank while the work was being carried out, and then attempted to rush across at the head of his battalion; He was killed almost at once. Over 200 casualties had now been sustained in the effort to cross the canal, and it was clear that any further attempt to cross on the 96th Brigade front would only result in purposeless loss off life. The troops of the 14th Brigade east of the canal were, therefore ordered to stand fast until the 96th Brigade had succeeded in crossing by the bridges which had been erected by the 14th Brigade.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 1738 Corporal Charles Syrett Military Medal 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 who had gone to France with the Battalion which landed at Havre on the 17th August 1914 and served throughout the war until his death in November 1918 on the Western Front.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 9454 Private George Massey 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 5th November 1918 who also like Corporal Syrett had served on the Western Front from the 17th August 1914 until his death on the 5th November 1918.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of Captain Angus McKenzie Military Cross and Bar Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 aged 42 years. Headstone bears inscription “Thy will be done.”

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of Lieutenant Wilfred Edward Salter Owen Military Cross 5th Battalion attached 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 aged 25. Headstone bears inscription “Shall life renew these bodies?  Of a truth All  death will he annul. W.O.”  His Company was with that of 2nd Lieutenant Kirk the two leading Company's in the attempt to cross the Oise-Sambre Canal.  He had been encouraging his men and was shot it is believed when on a raft with his men and some planks in an attempt to repair the bridge which had been  smashed by German shell fire. 

The London Gazette records for his MC “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the attack on the Fonsomme Line on 1st/2nd October 1918.   On the Company Commander becoming a casualty he assumed command and showed fine leadership and resisted a heavy counter attack.  He personally manipulated a captured enemy machine-gun from an isolated position and inflicted considerable losses on the enemy.   Throughout he behaved most gallantly.” 

Son of Mr and Mrs Tom Owen of “Mahim” Monksmoore Road, Shrewsbury.   Native of Oswestry.  Enlisted in the Artists Rifles in October 1915.  Commissioned into the Manchester Regiment in June 1916.  Was a poet of repute although during his lifetime only a few of his poems appeared in print.   The “Atheneum” of December 1919 nominated Owen’s work “Strange Meeting” as the finest of the war.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of 2nd Lieutenant James Kirk Victoria Cross 10th Battalion attached 2nd Battalion Manchester regiment killed in action 4th November 1918.

 Headstone bears inscription “Born January 27th 1897.  Father forgive them For they know not What they do.”  At 0545 on the 4th November 1918 British artillery began its barrage  before attempted crossing of the Sambre-Oise canal.   Shortly after the 2nd Manchesters dashed forward from their forming  up places in the orchards close to the canal using planks laid by the engineers to cross the ditches along the side of the canal.  The engineers in the Manchesters section attempted to launch their floating bridge across the canal despite intense enemy fire and heavy casualties.   In order to give them cover 2nd Lieutenant Kirk paddled himself out across the canal on a raft and opened fire with a Lewis gun on the defending German forces.    Fresh drums of ammunition were brought out to him  - but eventually he was shot in the head and killed aged 21.  For his conspicuous courage in the action he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.   An extract from the London Gazette records “For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty North of Ors on 4th November 1918 whilst attempting to bridge the Oise Canal.   To cover the bridging of the canal he took a Lewis gun, and, under intense machine-gun fire paddled across the canal on a raft, and at a range of ten yards expended all his ammunition.   Further ammunition was paddled across to him and he continuously maintained a covering fire for the bridging party from a most exposed position till killed at his gun.   The supreme contempt of danger and magnificent self-sacrifice displayed by this gallant officer prevented many casualties and enabled two platoons to cross the bridge before it was destroyed.”

Son of James and Rachel Kirk of 530 Edge Lane, Droylesden, Manchester.  Born at Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of Lieutenant Colonel James Neville Marshall Victoria Cross, Military Cross and Bar, Irish Guards attached 16th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers  killed in action 4th November 1918 aged 32years.  Headstone bears inscription “Splendid is Death When thou fallest courageous Leading the onslaught.”  An extract from the London Gazette records “For most conspicuous bravery, determination and leadership in the attack on the Sambre-Oise Canal, near Catillon on the 4th November 1918, when a partly constructed bridge came under concentrated fire and was broken before the advanced troops of his battalion could cross.  Lt. Col. Marshall at once went forward and organised parties to repair the bridge.  The first party were soon killed or wounded but by personal example he inspired his command, and volunteers were instantly forthcoming.   Under intense fire and with complete disregard of his own safety, he stood on the bank encouraging his men and assisting in the work, and when the bridge was repaired attempted to rush across at the head of his battalion and was killed whilst so doing.   The passage of the canal was of vital importance and the gallantry displayed by all ranks was largely due to the inspiring example set by Lt. Col. Marshall.”   

Husband of Edith Marshall of Lascelles Lodge, Matching Green, Harlow, Essex.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 302668 Private William Steadman 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 76518 Private Philip Wookey 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 and No 76406 Private Robert Holland 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 and whose grave bears the inscription “He is not dead but sleepeth. Rest in Peace.”

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 76530 Private Francis Harold Carden 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment died of wounds on the 7th November 1918 aged 19 years.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 57982 Private Charles Speight 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 aged 25 years.

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 57978 Private John Simpson 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 aged 19 years. Headstone bears inscription “He nobly answered duties call.”

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 57974 Private Harry Rich 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 aged 20 years. Headstone bears inscription “Sweetly at rest.”

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 57969 Private Charles Ernest Robinson 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918 aged 19 years. Headstone bears inscription “Loved by all.”

Grave in Ors Communal Cemetery of No 57936 Private Thomas Harrison 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918. The Battalion lost 21 other ranks killed in action of whom 18 are buried in Ors Communal Cemetery: Privates John Ward and James Williams have no known grave and are commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Haucourt, Pas de Calais which records 9,903 “Missing” who have no known grave and who fell in 1918 in the advance in Picardy, Hindenburg Line, Selle and the final advance in Artois. Private James Wood is buried in Ors British Cemetery.

View of the Oise - Sambre Canal at the approximate point where the 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment were attempting a crossing in November 1918 - taken in November 2007. 

Ors British Cemetery, Nord. North East of the village and West of the Sambre Canal. Contains men of the Highland Light Infantry and 218th Company Royal Engineers who were killed November 1918 in bridging the canal and also men of the 1st, 2nd and 4th South African Infantry who fell in the relief of Le Cateau October 17th – 18th 1918. Records 65 U.K., 41 S.A., and 1 Aust. burial.

Grave in Ors British Cemetery of No 39778 Private James Wood 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment killed in action 4th November 1918.

Graves in Ors British Cemetery of No 13734 Corporal Murdoch Paterson 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry killed in action 4th November 1918, and then a total of 12 officers and men all of the 218th Field Company Royal Engineers No 213342 Sapper Thomas Moran killed in action 3rd November 1918; No 180018 Sapper Arthur William Burnell killed in action 3rd November 1918 Headstone bears inscription “Thy will be done,” : No 242207 Sapper Edward William Bennett killed in action 3rd November 1918: No 106797 Pioneer James William Allen killed in action 3rd November 1918: No 177567 Sapper Alfred Pilbrow killed in action 3rd November 1918: No 1888492 Sapper Sidney Robert Darling killed in action 3rd November 1918: No 93165 Sapper Thomas Watt Swan killed in action 3rd November 1918 Headstone bears inscription “He died for us,”: No 93161 2nd Corporal John McKinnon M.M. killed in action 4th November 1918 Headstone bears inscription “Memory of sweetest fragrance Charms us till we meet again,” No 93230 Sergeant G S Wynd killed in action 3rd November 1918: Second Lieutenant Thomas Chesman Barker killed in action 3rd November 1918 Headstone bears inscription “Faithful unto death A crown of life,”: Second Lieutenant Walter Oates M.C. killed in action 3rd November 1918: No 93147 2nd Corporal James Stewart McGoldrick killed in action 3rd November 1918 Headstone bears inscription “In the shelter of thy sacred heart dear Jesus may he rest.”