Consider for a moment the cost of war. Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery stands as a testament to that cost. It is a place of quiet reflection. It is located near Fleurbaix in France. The cemetery holds the remains of many soldiers. They fought and died during World War I.
Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. The village of Fleurbaix is approximately 5 kilometers southwest of Armentieres. Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery is 3 kilometers southwest of the village.
The village was in Allied hands for most of the war. However, the Germans captured it on 9 April 1918. The 12th Suffolks put up a gallant defense. The village remained within German lines until September.
The original Rue-du-Bois Cemetery is now Plot I and Rows A and B of Plot II. It was started in November 1914. It was used until December 1916. The cemetery reopened in January 1918. It was used again in October. Most of the graves are Australian. Plot I, Row B holds 27 soldiers of the 5th Australian Division. They died in the Attack at Fromelles on 19-20 July 1916.
Plot II, Row A contains two large graves. Around the time of the Armistice, remains were moved here. Soldiers of the 5th Australian Division and the 2nd/1st Bucks Battalion were moved from Fromelles. The number of dead in these graves is uncertain. It is believed the Australian grave holds 22 bodies. The Bucks grave holds 52.
After the Armistice, the cemetery was enlarged. 423 graves were brought in from surrounding battlefields. They were also brought from small cemeteries. These included Laventie German Cemetery. 19 soldiers from the United Kingdom were found in this cemetery. The German graves were moved to Sailly-sur-la-Lys German Cemetery. Picantin Post Cemeteries, Laventie, was in the fields west of Picantin. These were two graveyards made in 1915. Each contained 25 soldiers from the United Kingdom. Tilleloy Cemetery was near the road between Picantin and Le Tilleloy. It contained 27 soldiers from the United Kingdom.
Rue-du-Bois Cemetery now contains 845 Commonwealth burials and commemorations. These are from the First World War. 395 of the burials are unidentified. There are special memorials to 13 casualties. They are known or believed to be buried among them. There is also one German grave.
Casualty details include 597 from the UK and 241 from Australia. There are 5 from New Zealand, 1 from India, and 1 from Germany. The total burials are 845.
Consider Private Dick Enmore Scott. He was with the 51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. He died on 25th June 1916. He was 38. He was the son of Richard and Rachel Scott. He was from Newtown, New South Wales. He is remembered by his great niece, Lee Patterson.
Think about John (Jack) McLeod Brown. He was with the 51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. He died on 27th June 1916. He was 25. He is buried in Plot I. C. 10. He was the son of Robert and Catherine Rachel Brown. He was from Footscray, Victoria, Australia. Jack was born on 14th November 1890. He enlisted in Western Australia on 13th February 1915. He served in Gallipoli and France. He died when he was accidentally shot by a sentry. He was returning from a listening post. Two brothers also served. His headstone reads: “Love And Remembrance Live For Ever Mother.”
Second Lieutenant Alexander Marchetti is also buried here. He was with the 5th Bn. attd. 2nd Bn., Rifle Brigade. He died on 15th March 1916. He was 23. He is in Plot I. B. 23. He was the son of George and Alexandra Marchetti. They were from London.
The Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery stands as a reminder. It reminds us of individual lives. It reminds us of the global impact of war. It is a place to honor sacrifice. It is a place to remember the human cost of conflict.