CWGC Cemetery: HEM FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, HEM-MONACU

Visiting Information

Wheelchair access to site possible - maybe by alternative entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our enquiries dept. on 01628 634221.

Local Information

Monacu and Hem-Monacu are two villages about 13 kilometres south-east of Albert, a little south of the road from Albert to Peronne and north of the River Somme. 16 kilometres from Albert on the D938 (Albert-Peronne), turn south on to the D146 to Hem-Monacu. After 500 metres turn west onto the D1 to Curlu. Continue for 1.2 kilometres and then turn south. Hem Farm Military Cemetery can be seen next to a large farmhouse 300 metres down this road. Hem Farm Military Cemetery lies to the west of the village of Hem.

Historical Information

Hem-Monacu was captured by French troops in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and taken over by British troops later in the year. Hem Farm Military Cemetery was begun by British troops in January, 1917, and used until the following March, and again in September, 1918; and these graves now form part of Plot I, Rows E, F and G. It was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields on both sides of the Somme. There are now nearly 600, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, one-third are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to one soldier from the United Kingdom, believed to be buried among them. Another special memorial records the name of a soldier from the United Kingdom, buried in Clery-sur-Somme French Military Cemetery, whose grave was destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery covers an area of 2,198 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall. The following were among the burial grounds from which British graves were removed to this cemetery:- ACHILLE BRITISH CEMETERY, FLAUCOURT, on a trench named Achille Alley, about 1 kilometre East of Flaucourt. This cemetery, begun by French troops, was continued in February and March, 1917, by units of the 48th (South Midland) Division, and contained the graves of 55 soldiers from the United Kingdom. CLERY-SUR-SOMME FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY, near the road to Marrieres Wood, where seven soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Canada were buried in January-March 1917. (The present French National Cemetery is on the Maricourt road). CLERY-SUR-SOMME GERMAN MILITARY CEMETERY, midway between Hem and Clery, which contained the graves of two R.A.F. Officers. CURLU FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY, midway between Curlu and Hem Farm. Curlu was captured by the French on the 1st July, 1916, and again by the 3rd Australian Division on the 28th August, 1918, and the cemetery contained the graves of 46 Australian soldiers who fell in August and September, 1918, and seven from the United Kingdom, all but one of whom fell in the same months. Thirty-two of these graves were taken to Hem Farm and 21 to Suzanne Military Cemetery No. 3. FEUILLERES BRITISH CEMETERY, in the South part of the village, containing the graves of 27 Australian soldiers who fell in August and September, 1918. FRISE FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY, FEUILLERES, on the South bank of the Canal, midway between the two villages, in which one soldier from the United Kingdom was buried in April, 1917. MEUDON BRITISH CEMETERY, FLAUCOURT, called also Meudon Quarry Cemetery, near the North-East corner of Meudon Wood. This cemetery was made by the 1st Division in February and March, 1917, and contained the graves of 22 soldiers from the United Kingdom. NEEDLE WOOD CEMETERY, CLERY-SUR-SOMME (called also Andover Place) between Clery and Rancourt, which contained the graves of 18 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the winter of 1916-17.