Although it is called Dury Mill British Cemetery, a number of Canadian military personnel are also burried there. My great great uncle, Alfred Ernest Howell (born January 18th 1880), is buried in this cemetery. Although actually my great great uncle was in the Canadian army when he died, he was actually Welsh, and move to Canada with his wife, Harriett Howell. I am trying to find out why he moved to Canada. (I believe that he was also in the British army first, I am also trying to research this).
The cemetery is literally in the middle of nowhere, it can be access via dirt tracks. These are just about doable in a normal car. If you have a satnav, you can navitate go latitude 50.238979, longitude 2.998379.
- Center of map
- map
- Dury Mill British Cemetery
Close up view, still from the dirt track.
Amazingly, there is a beautifully kept turf walkway leading to the cemetery. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have done an amazing job.
View from the opposite direction, looking into the cemetery.
The grave of my great great uncle, Alfred Ernest Howell of the 54th Batallion Candian Infantary. He died on 2nd September 1918, aged 38. He was a seargent, number 237386.
A view of the neighbouring graves.
Some more general views.
The memorial.
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The bench and stone dedication.
View of all of the stones.
Information about WW1.
There is a nice guest book giving details of visitors.
Period photos of Alfred Ernest Howell and his subsequent burial
Happier times standing outside their house at 61 Stafford Street, Toronto, Ontario.
A makeshift grave. The mourner is his wife, Harriett Howell.
The subsequent re-burial in Dury Mill British Cemetery.
As you acknowledge, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission does an excellent job in many places round the world, although its existence and activities may not be known to many of those who owe their present way of life to the sacrifice of those commemorated by the CWCG. My only concern (as someone whose christian grandfather is commemorated by the CWCG) is that I find it difficult to reconcile the cross placed prominently on many – perhaps all – CWGC gravestones with the admirable principle stated on the CWCG website that ‘There should be no distinction made on account of military or civil rank, race or creed’. Whilst the American assumption that all those who are not jewish, etc are christian and should therefore be commemorated by an actual cross is perhaps even more unthinking, such emblems can offend surviving relatives. Interestingly but confusingly, I have encountered church graveyards in England which do not now allow headstones in the form of crosses.
Comment by John Clare — January 29, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
Hi Chris,
I was searching Dury Mill Cemetery and stumbled on your page. Nicely done and a tribute to both your great uncle and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
I visited Dury Mill Cemetery in Sept. 2005. Like your great uncle, my grandfather (George Nicholas Riddell) fought with the 54th Kootenay Battalion and was wounded on Sept 2 1918. Unlike your uncle, my grandfather survived. He lived a full life and passed away in 1987 at the age of 96. He has 42 descendants living today who wouldn’t be here if he would have died that day.
In case you haven’t found it, the 54th has a website: http://www.54thbattalioncef.ca/
You can also see your G uncle’s attestation papers at the Library and Archives Canada page: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-100.01-e.php
His previous service is mentioned.
Hope this helps you.
Geo.
Comment by George Smith — April 17, 2010 @ 2:56 am
I was just at this cemetery on Easter Sunday, 2010 visiting my great uncle’s grave . He was from St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada and died on Sept. 2nd 1918 at 23. It is very beautiful and thank you for those pictures. It is so wonderful that CWGC does an amazing job and this particular cemetery is so peaceful.
Comment by Linda Keddy — May 26, 2010 @ 3:57 pm