Redan Ridge Cemetery No.1, Beaumont-Hamel

• Country France
• Total identified casualties 81 Find these casualties
• Region Somme
• Identified casualties from First World War
• GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.09293, Longitude: 2.65187

Location information

Beaumont-Hamel is a village about 24 kilometres south of Arras and the Redan Ridge Cemeteries (Nos. 1, 2 and 3) are situated to the north of the village. Using the D919 from Arras to Amiens you will drive through the villages of Bucquoy, Puisieux then Serre-les-Puisieux (approximately 20 kilometres south of Arras). On leaving Serre-les-Puisieux, 700 metres further along the D919, turn left onto a small lane and continue for 1.4 kilometres. A CWGC signpost on the right hand side will lead you to Redan Ridge cemeteries.

Visiting information

ARRIVAL

The cemetery is surrounded by agricultural land.

There are several other cemeteries in the area visible from the cemetery.

A single lane farm track leads west from Rue de la Montagne. There is a CWGC Cemetery Direction sign visible when travelling south along the road. A tall iron crucifix is also located at the junction of the track and road.

Redan Ridge No 3 Cemetery is located approximately 50 metres along the track on the north side of the track. Redan Ridge No 2 Cemetery is a further 250 metres west along the track.

PARKING

It may be possible to park on the edge of the main road close to iron crucifix. The farm track is narrow with no turning areas and is very muddy when wet.

ACCCESS LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE

A grass track leads south from the farm track, approximately 50 metres to the entrance gate for the cemetery, near the end of the western boundary wall of the cemetery. There is paving in front of the entrance leading into the cemetery, level with the path outside and the grass inside the cemetery. The main gate is black, metal, mid-level (thigh height) with the latch on the top left-hand corner of the main gate and opens inwards into the cemetery.

The Cross of Sacrifice is at the far end of the cemetery in line with the entrance gate.

The Register Box is inside the cemetery, mounted into the left-hand pillar at the main entrance.

All internal paths are grass, the ground is flat and firm.

ALTERNATIVE ACCESS

The is no alternative access into the cemetery.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The cemetery is permanently open.

History information

Redan Ridge lies to the North of Beaumont-Hamel village; it was named from The Redan, a group of British front-line trenches of 1916. The cemetery was made by the V Corps in the spring of 1917, when these battlefields were cleared. Redan Ridge No.1 is on the top of the Ridge, midway between the old front lines.

There are now over 150, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly half are unidentified. Most belonged (with few exceptions) to the 4th Division, which attacked between Beaumont-Hamel and Serre on the 1st July 1916, or to the 2nd, which gained ground here on the 13th November 1916.

The cemetery covers an area of 508 square metres and its approach road 107 square metres. It is enclosed by a low wall.