Mailly-Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension
- Country France
- Total identified casualties 126 Find these casualties
- Region Somme
- Identified casualties from First World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.08581, Longitude: 2.59639
Location information
Mailly-Maillet is a village about 9 kilometres north of Albert. At the traffic lights in Mailly Maillet take the D120 in the direction of Colincamps following the CWGC sign. About 600 metres further on there is a small lane towards the Communal Cemetery and the Extension is on the east side of the Communal Cemetery.
Visiting information
The Commonwealth War Craves Commission (CWGC) plot is attached to the civil cemetery with an access point between the two, with a gap in a hedge at the top end of the civil cemetery. It is possible to use either the main entrance or the entrance to the civilian cemetery for access.
ARRIVAL
The cemetery is signposted with a CWGC Cemetery Direction sign visible when approached from either direction off the main road (D129), north of Mailly-Maillet. A single lane gravel track leads to the cemetery.
PARKING
At the side of the main road opposite the civil cemetery approximately 50 metres from the main entrance to the CWGC cemetery there is a layby with space for up to two vehicles.
The ground is flat and firm with a tarmac surface.
ACCESS LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE
There are 12 stone steps up a steep bank going uphill from the side of the main road to the burial area. There are no handrails. The ground in front of the paving at the bottom of the steps is uneven and 150 mm lower than the paving slab.
At the top of the steps is a mid-level, thigh height, black, metal, gate, 900 mm wide, with a latched handle on the top left side of the gate, and opens inwards into the cemetery. There is paving under the gate level with paving inside the cemetery leading to the Cross of Sacrifice, located in front of the main entrance. The paving is level with the grass inside the cemetery.
The Register Box is built into the gate post on the left side at the top of the steps inside the cemetery.
There is no seating in the cemetery.
All internal paths are grass; the ground is firm with a gentle uphill slope towards the rear of the cemetery from the main entrance.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS
There is an opening in the hedge between the civil cemetery and CWGC cemetery, towards the rear of the civilian cemetery, which allows step-free access into the site. There are large metal gates into the civil cemetery, which may be locked outside normal working hours.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The CWGC cemetery is permanently open.
History information
Mailly-Maillet was comparatively quiet until the German advance at the end of March 1918. It remained in Allied hands, but was severely shelled and the catacombs under the village were prepared for use by the troops.
The extension was begun by French units (mainly Engineers) in June 1915. Commonwealth forces relieved the French here in August 1915, and field ambulances and fighting units continued to use the extension until December 1916, then again in March-July, 1918. The 51 French graves and those of two German prisoners have been removed to other cemeteries.
Mailly-Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension contains 126 First World War burials.
The extension was designed by W C Von Berg.