Secqueville-En-Bessin War Cemetery

• Country France
• Total identified casualties 114 Find these casualties
• Region Calvados
• Identified casualties from Second World War
• GPS Coordinates Latitude: 49.23442, Longitude: -0.50812

Location information

Secqueville-en-Bessin is a village between Bayeux and Caen, some 14 kilometres from Bayeux or 12 kilometres from Caen. From Bayeux take the N13 towards Caen. After about 12 kilometres turn left onto the D217, and the village of Secqueville will be found about 2 kilometres to the north. Turn right in the village, and after a few hundred metres take the track to the left, signposted Farringdon Way. The War Cemetery will be found in open fields on the left hand side.

Visiting information

ARRIVAL

The cemetery is signposted.

The cemetery is surrounded by agricultural land and access is along a single lane width farm track, comprised of compacted dirt and grass. It will be saturated in wet weather.

PARKING

Parking is possible in front of the cemetery in a small layby. There is space for multiple vehicles. The ground is flat and firm, with a tarmac and loose gravel surface.

The closest accessible entrance to the parking is within three metres and is the main entrance.

ACCESS LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE

The cemetery is an L shape, with the main entrance located in the middle of the eastern boundary of the cemetery.

The main entrance has a mid-height, approximately 1.2 metres tall, light blue metal gate, approximately 800 mm wide. The gate opens into the cemetery burial area and has an upward lifting latch mechanism. Underneath the gate is a small paved area. There is a small stone lip, approximately 25 mm between the track and the entrance paving.

The Cross of Sacrifice is midway along the southern boundary of the cemetery.

There is a wooden bench seating area opposite the Cross of Sacrifice on the northern boundary of the cemetery.

The Register Box is built into the right-hand pillar at the main entrance and is (inside) the cemetery.

All internal cemetery paths are grass, the ground is firm. The ground is mostly flat, visitors should take care manoeuvring around the cemetery after adverse weather conditions.

ALTERNATIVE ACCESS

There are no alternative entrances into the cemetery.

ADITIONAL INFORMATION

The cemetery is permanently open.

History information

The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.

Secqueville-en-Bessin War Cemetery is a battlefield cemetery, containing the graves of men killed in the advance to Caen early in July and in the subsequent fighting up to the end of that month.

The cemetery contains 99 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War and 18 German burials.