Pausing here at the Cimeti\u00e8re d’Ascq offers a moment for reflection. This isn’t just any cemetery. It’s a place where history whispers from every corner.
Cimeti\u00e8re d’Ascq serves as the final resting place for villagers and also holds a poignant history. It is located in what was once the village of Ascq. Today, it is a district of Villeneuve-d’Ascq.
Originally, the cemetery surrounded the village church. By 1887, concerns arose. The inspector of Salubrity noted its unsanitary condition. It was located in a densely populated area. Its crowded state posed risks to public health.
A new cemetery opened by municipal decree. It was located on Rue de l’abb\u00e9 Lemire. The town acquired land from Louis Leclerc and D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Verdi\u00e8re for its construction. Some land was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Desquiens-Selosse and Honor\u00e9 Desquiens. The old cemetery was decommissioned. It had already been closed to burials since 1889. The old site was transformed into a public square.
The Cimeti\u00e8re d’Ascq holds two notable distinctions. It contains graves of British and Commonwealth soldiers. It also holds the remains of victims from the Massacre d’Ascq.
In April 1944, an attack targeted a German military convoy. In response, the occupying forces executed eighty-six civilians. Their remains are interred here.
The cemetery also contains war graves. They belong to Commonwealth soldiers from both World War I and World War II. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains these graves. British troops were stationed in Ascq for several months. This was at the end of 1918 and in 1919. Units included the 229th Field Ambulance, the 13th and 63rd Casualty Clearing Stations and the 39th Stationary Hospital.
Fifty-five casualties from World War I lie here. They died between November 7, 1914, and September 5, 1919. Three casualties from World War II are also interred here. They died on May 24 and 25, 1940. Among those who perished were four Chinese laborers. They were part of the Chinese Labour Corps.
Here lies Gaston Baratte. He was a member of the resistance and founder of US Ascq.
Within the Cimeti\u00e8re d’Ascq, fifty-eight war casualties are commemorated. Fifty are from the United Kingdom. Four are from China. Two are from India. One is from Canada and one from Australia. The British plot spans 249 square meters. It is bordered by a low stone curb.
Consider Lieutenant Harward Eastman Chaffey. He was a member of the 42nd Squadron, Royal Air Force. He died on October 27, 1918, at the age of 20. His headstone bears the inscription “The Eternal God Is Thy Refuge And Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms”.
Reflect on Lieutenant Lyell Keith Swann, M.M. He served in the Australian Flying Corps. He died on November 14, 1918, at the age of 23. His headstone reads “He Lived And Died A Good Lad And A Gallant Soldier”.
The Cimeti\u00e8re d’Ascq is more than a burial ground. It’s a testament to the enduring impact of conflict. It’s a reminder of lives lost and sacrifices made. As we leave this place, let us carry forward a sense of respect and remembrance.