Silent sentinels stand in Bois-Grenier Communal Cemetery CWGC. Rows of simple white headstones mark the final resting place of soldiers. This is Bois-Grenier a small village south of Armentières. Here lies a poignant piece of World War I history. Bois-Grenier Communal Cemetery CWGC is more than just a cemetery. It’s a testament to sacrifice.
The cemetery holds the memory of the First World War. British soldiers were buried here from October 1914 to April 1918. The earliest British burials were made in the Communal Cemetery. Today Bois-Grenier Communal Cemetery CWGC commemorates 121 Commonwealth burials. Eight remain unidentified. Three unidentified soldiers were brought here after the Armistice. They came from the north side of the village. Four unidentified French soldiers also rest here. The British plots cover 431 square meters. The design is the work of Arthur James Scott Hutton.
Imagine a young soldier Private John Lyon. He was just 19 years old. He served with the 8th Bn Highland Light Infantry. John died on January 4 1915. His headstone bears a simple inscription. It reads Sleep On Dear Son And Take Thy Rest. Think of the grief his mother felt in Hawick Roxburghshire.
Then there’s 2nd Lieutenant Walter Fletcher. A decorated officer he served with the 2nd Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers. Walter died March 20 1915 at only 27 years old. His headstone remembers his brother Reggie. Reggie was a 2nd Lieutenant in the RFA. He died at Gheluvelt October 31 1914.
Bois-Grenier Communal Cemetery CWGC is a peaceful place. It is a place of remembrance. It is a place where the echoes of the past still whisper. Each headstone tells a story. Each story speaks of courage loss and sacrifice. The cemetery stands as a reminder of the cost of war. It stands as a tribute to those who fought and died for freedom. Let us remember them. Let us never forget.