Noeux-les-Mines Communal CWGC Cemetery (Nœux-les-Mines)

 memorial, monument, cemetery, First World War 1914-1918, interesting place

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This is a cemetery of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission containg the graves of British Commonwealth war dead of the First World War

The Communal Cemetery at Noeux-les-Mines was used by the Commonwealth forces (in succession to the French) from June 1915 to August 1917. The earlier burials were carried out by units and field ambulances but in April 1917, the 7th Casualty Clearing Station began to use the cemetery. After the war its official and lasting appearance was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens

The cemetery contains 980 Commonwealth burials of the First World War broken down by nation as follows:
UK 753,
Canada 226,
India 1

Of particular note at Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cem. are the burial of two Canadian Victoria Cross winners: Private Harry W. Brown, VC, and Major Okill Massey Learmouth, VC who earned their VC's in combat during the Battle of Hill 70, north of Lens, not far from the cemetery itself. Their details and burial locations are listed below

Private Harry W. Brown, VC, 10th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment), died of wounds 17/08/1917, plot II. J. 29.

Major Okill Massey Learmouth, VC, MC, 2nd Bn. Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment), died of wounds 19/08/1917, plot II. K. 9.