CWGC Cemetery: RUE-DU-BOIS MILITARY CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX

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Local Information

The village of Fleurbaix is approximately 5 kilometres south-west of Armentieres and Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery is 3 kilometres south-west of the village.

Historical Information

The village was in Allied hands during the greater part of the war but it was captured by the Germans on 9 April 1918 after a very gallant defence by the 12th Suffolks. It remained within the German lines until the following September. The original Rue-du-Bois Cemetery, now comprising Plot I and Rows A and B of Plot II, was begun in November 1914 and used until December 1916. It was reopened in January 1918, and again in October. The majority of the graves were Australian, and Plot I, Row B, contained the graves of 27 soldiers of the 5th Australian Division who died in the Attack at Fromelles (19-20 July 1916). The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from certain small cemeteries. Rue-du-Bois Cemetery now contains 844 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 395 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 13 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. There is also one German grave. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.