Carnoy Military Cemetery combines a precise location with a clearly defined historical focus. It lies south of the village, on the north side of the road to Maricourt. It was established in August 1915 by the 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers and the 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry; it was closed in March 1917. Today, it commemorates 854 casualties of the First World War of 1914 to 1918. For travellers interested in local war history, its location, timeframe and commemorative purpose offer a concrete starting point for exploring Carnoy.
War History in Person and Time
The dates of the cemetery and the war refer to different things: the cemetery was established in 1915 and closed in 1917, while the commemoration relates to the First World War of 1914 to 1918. This makes it possible to distinguish the cemetery’s limited history from the duration of the war as a whole. Captain W.P. Nevill brings one specific event within this timeframe into focus.
Nevill was killed on 1 July 1916 during the attack between Carnoy and Montauban-de-Picardie. His grave is in the cemetery, Row E28. The location of the attack and the row of the grave refer to two different points in his story: the place of his death and the place of his burial. Bringing together the date, the person and the grave row makes the chronology of the war tangible through one individual fate.
In connection with the attack, four footballs belonging to the battalion were to be taken into the German trenches. This unusual, concrete object adds a vivid detail to the military information.
Saint-Vaast: Destruction and Reconstruction
Another glimpse of Carnoy leads to the church of Saint-Vaast. It was completely destroyed during the First World War and faithfully rebuilt in 1925. The exact year dates the reconstruction; the main altar dates from the broader period of the first half of the 20th century. The details thus mark different levels: an exact year for the church’s reconstruction and a period for the altar. The cemetery represents burial and remembrance, while the church represents destruction, reconstruction and furnishings.
Location and Visiting
The cemetery is wheelchair accessible via a side gate, but the route is over grass. If the ground surface is a consideration for you, take both details into account when planning and check local conditions before your visit, as they may change.
In the broader geographical context, the host municipality of Carnoy-Mametz lies on the Circuit du Souvenir and near the Haute Somme valley. This information refers to Carnoy-Mametz; in Carnoy itself, the cemetery and the church of Saint-Vaast lead to the local histories discussed here.
Discover more destinations: BĂ©thencourt-Sur-Mer, Cerisy-Buleux, Esclainvillers, Ailly-Le-Haut-Clocher, Doingt, Mesnil-Domqueur, Albert, Beauval.
For the broader travel overview: Somme.
