Far from Lille, in the town of Armentieres, lies a place of somber reflection. It is a location 14.5 kilometers northwest of Lille. This is the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery.
Armentieres witnessed significant events during World War I. The 4th Division occupied it on October 17 1914. Allied forces held it until April 10 1918 when a heavy German bombardment forced evacuation. The Germans occupied it the next day. Allied forces finally recovered it on October 3 1918.
The Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery began in Plot IX in October 1914. During the winter of 1914-1915 it served as a civilian burial ground. The town cemetery at Le Bizet was too exposed then. Field ambulances and fighting units used the cemetery until April 1918. These included the 4th, 6th, 21st, New Zealand, 17th, and 57th Divisions. The Australian Corps also used it. The Germans later used Plots V, VI, VII, and X.
Today the cemetery holds 2132 Commonwealth burials from World War I. In 1925 455 German graves were moved from Plots V and VI. However more than 500 German graves remain. There are also 33 burials from World War II. These mostly date from the British Expeditionary Force occupation months before the German invasion in May 1940.
Within the cemetery stands the Cite Bonjean New Zealand Memorial. It commemorates 47 New Zealand Division officers and men. They died near Armentieres and have no known grave. It is one of seven memorials in France and Belgium. These honor New Zealand soldiers who died on the Western Front and whose graves are unknown. The cemeteries were chosen as appropriate to the fighting. Sir Herbert Baker designed the cemetery and memorial.
Many soldiers buried here have stories. Consider 41414 Corporal George Henry Collins. He served in the 26th Tyneside Irish Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He died on November 10 1916 aged 22. Nicola Furbisher dedicated his grave with the words Remembered with Honour.
Or consider 1116 Corporal Peter Olaf Anderson. He served in the 37th Battalion Australian Infantry AIF. He died on January 8 1917 aged 27. He was a brass finisher before enlisting on February 29 1916. He embarked from Melbourne on June 3 1916 aboard HMAT Persic. Arriving in France he joined his battalion. He was killed in action near Armentieres.
Then there’s 38072 Private Richard Dillon. He served in the 23rd Tyneside Scottish Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He died on February 11 1917. Graham his great great nephew traveled from Australia to visit his grave. Richard was killed in a raid on the German line in Armentieres.
These are but a few stories among thousands at Cite Bonjean. Each marker represents a life sacrifice. Each name tells of a family left behind. As you walk here remember those who gave their all in service. Their memory lives on in this quiet field. Their stories echo through history. Let us honor them by remembering their sacrifice.