Nieppe-Bois (Rue-Du-Bois) British Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin
- Country France
- Total identified casualties 95 Find these casualties
- Region Nord
- Identified casualties from First & Second World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.69206, Longitude: 2.59962
Location information
La Motte-au-Bois is a village approximately halfway between Hazebrouck and Merville. From the church in La Motte-au-Bois, take the D188 towards Vieux Berquin. The cemetery will be found on the right side of the road on the northern edge of the wood 2 kilometres from the village.
Visiting information
ARRIVAL
The cemetery is signposted, and located on Rue du Bois (D188), west of Vieux-Berquin.
PARKING
There is a parking area to the front of the cemetery, within 10 metres of the main entrance where there is space for multiple vehicles to park.
The ground is firm a flat with a gravel topped surface.
ACCESS LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE
The cemetery is rectangular in shape and surrounded by a low-level stone wall.
The main entrance has a mid-level (thigh height), 90 centimetres wide, black, metal gate that opens inwards into the cemetery. There is a knocker style twist handle in the top right-hand corner of the main gate which needs turned counterclockwise to lift the latch. The gate has raised paving underneath, which is 25 mm higher than the gravel in front of the entrance. The paving is level with the grass inside the cemetery.
The Cross of Sacrifice is at the rear of the cemetery.
There is no Register Box or seating in the cemetery.
The internal paths are grass, the ground is flat and firm.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS
There is no alternative access into the cemetery.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The cemetery is permanently open.
History information
The Battle of Hazebrouck (one of the Battles of the Lys), including the Defence of Nieppe Forest, lasted from 12 to 15 April 1918. The line east of Nieppe Forest was defended against overwhelming forces by the 29th and 31st Divisions, the latter including the 4th Guards Brigade. Although Vieux-Berquin village was lost on 13 April, the rest of the line was held until the 1st Australian Division had detrained and arrived on the field. The cemetery was used from April until September 1918.
The grave of one British officer who fell in 1915 was brought to this cemetery after the Armistice from LA MOTTE-AUX-BOIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY.
The cemetery was used again during the Second World War for the burial of casualties of the battles covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk in May 1940.
Nieppe-Bois (Rue-du-Bois) British Cemetery now contains 70 First World War burials and 33 from the Second World War.
The cemetery was designed by A J S Hutton.