Poppy In memoriam Poppy

Two unknown North Irish Horseman

 

 

Two unknown North Irish Horsemen lie in the Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery, Aisne, in graves VI.F.7 and VI.F.8. The bodies of both men were recovered after the war from their burial place near the village of Cugny (map reference 66.D.R.14.d.3.2).

When found, their graves were not marked by a cross or anything else to assist with identification. However North Irish Horse shoulder titles found on their bodies suggested their regiment. Their date of death was recorded as March 1915. However I believe this was probably a mis-transcription, and that both were men of the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, killed during the German offensive of March 1918.

Recently (2022) the Commonwealth War Graves Commission came to the same conclusion and their gravestones were replaced (see image below).

Their gravestone inscriptions now read:

A SOLDIER
OF THE GREAT WAR
ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS
MARCH 1918

KNOWN UNTO GOD

 

 

 

Their identities would be among the following six names: Thomas Sittlington, Thomas Rowland Cartmill, Thomas Berry Lyons, Arthur Sidney Crawford, John Forbes and John Moon.

 

I am grateful to Le Maire Adjoint of Seraucourt le Grand, Paul Remy, for sending me the first image of the gravestones. Second image Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. The image of the reburial register is sourced from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.