Hersin Communal Cemetery Extension
- Country France
- Total identified casualties 223 Find these casualties
- Region Pas de Calais
- Identified casualties from First World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.44973, Longitude: 2.6541
Please note:
The cemetery is open to visitors but please be aware that a part of this cemetery has been temporarily closed due to a structural issue. This has been investigated by Structural Engineers and we will be carrying out repairs as soon as possible. The cemetery is 100 years old, and the work required involves significant rebuilding to part of the building to address a problem with the boundary wall.
The rebuilding project has been designed by a Conservation Architect and has been tendered to specialist contractors. The works are scheduled from August to December 2024. The cemetery will remain open to visitors. As part of the work, seventeen headstones will be temporarily relocated, inside the cemetery, to allow families to commemorate their loved ones.
Location information
Hersin is a village about 5 kilometres south of Bethune and about 2 kilometres west of the main road from Bethune to Arras. The Communal Cemetery and Extension lie to the north-east of the village.
History information
The extension to Hersin Communal Cemetery was begun by French troops, who made over 100 burials, and was taken over by Commonwealth troops and field ambulances in March 1916. It was used until October 1918. The extension contains 224 Commonwealth burials of the First World War; many of the graves are of engineers, mostly from tunneling companies. All but seven of the French graves have been removed. The extension was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.