Duisans British Cemetery - Battle Damage WW2

Paul Reed · 05-09-2007, 08:26 PM

I had to take a group to this cemetery today for a WW1 wargraves visit, but I also managed to take some photos. Been here before, but never with my digi-camera.

It is a WW1 cemetery, but it was involved in the fighting around Arras in May 1940. A British A-T gun was set up in the cemetery entrance, which is an elevated position, with a good field of fire, thus:

Paul Reed · 05-09-2007, 08:27 PM

Having problems with my flickr account - will come back and post all the photos later.

Rich Payne · 05-09-2007, 08:57 PM

Which unit was involved there Paul ? That's a wonderfully atmospheric photo. Imagine waiting there with a 2pdr or worse still a 25mm Hotchkiss as the panzers rolled into view. I bet there were a few good old Anglo-Saxon expletives in the air !

Paul Reed · 05-09-2007, 09:39 PM

Hi - have yet to find out. The photos will look better, but there is a major server problem with Flickr tonight, so I can't post them properly. Whoever was there, they took quite a few hits, as you will see later!!

Paul Reed · 05-09-2007, 09:42 PM

Got photos back!

This is the front of the cemetery entrance in colour, you can pick out some of the imact marks:

Paul Reed · 05-09-2007, 09:43 PM

Close up again of impacts:

Paul Reed · 05-09-2007, 09:43 PM

Close up of impact marks; 20mm rounds?

Paul Reed · 05-09-2007, 09:48 PM

Lower impact marks, partially repaired by CWGC:

Hopefully these are of some interest?

Google earth Location:

Latt: 50°18'58.54"N
Long: 2°40'20.22"E

Rich Payne · 05-09-2007, 09:55 PM

Have the lower blocks been replaced or was the enemy shooting high ? It would seem like quite a risky place to set a gun up as the co-ordinates would be known and it would be very visible. However, who am I to wonder about the correct course of action in those desperate days ? Brave men indeed.

Are there any May 1940 burials there ? I thought about looking on CWGC but sadly there are rather a lot of WW1 names there to look through.

Paul Reed · 05-09-2007, 10:01 PM

No, there are no WW2 burials at all, which is surprising. I haven't checked the local communal cemetery, however.

05-09-2007, 08:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	Duisans British Cemetery - Battle Damage WW2 I had to take a group to this cemetery today for a WW1 wargraves visit, but I also managed to take some photos. Been here before, but never with my digi-camera. It is a WW1 cemetery, but it was involved in the fighting around Arras in May 1940. A British A-T gun was set up in the cemetery entrance, which is an elevated position, with a good field of fire, thus: __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm Last edited by Paul Reed; 05-09-2007 at 09:49 PM.

05-09-2007, 08:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	Having problems with my flickr account - will come back and post all the photos later. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

05-09-2007, 09:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	Hi - have yet to find out. The photos will look better, but there is a major server problem with Flickr tonight, so I can't post them properly. Whoever was there, they took quite a few hits, as you will see later!! __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

05-09-2007, 09:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	Got photos back! This is the front of the cemetery entrance in colour, you can pick out some of the imact marks: __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

05-09-2007, 09:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	Close up again of impacts: __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

05-09-2007, 08:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rich Payne Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 629	Which unit was involved there Paul ? That's a wonderfully atmospheric photo. Imagine waiting there with a 2pdr or worse still a 25mm Hotchkiss as the panzers rolled into view. I bet there were a few good old Anglo-Saxon expletives in the air !

05-09-2007, 09:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	Close up of impact marks; 20mm rounds? __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

05-09-2007, 09:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	Lower impact marks, partially repaired by CWGC: Hopefully these are of some interest? Google earth Location: Latt: 50°18'58.54"N Long: 2°40'20.22"E __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

05-09-2007, 09:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rich Payne Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 629	Have the lower blocks been replaced or was the enemy shooting high ? It would seem like quite a risky place to set a gun up as the co-ordinates would be known and it would be very visible. However, who am I to wonder about the correct course of action in those desperate days ? Brave men indeed. Are there any May 1940 burials there ? I thought about looking on CWGC but sadly there are rather a lot of WW1 names there to look through.

05-09-2007, 10:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	No, there are no WW2 burials at all, which is surprising. I haven't checked the local communal cemetery, however. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

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