Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt

Historical Information (Source: CWGC)

Roclincourt was just within the British lines before the Battles of Arras, 1917; the 51st (Highland) and 34th Divisions advanced from the village on the 9th April, 1917, and the 1st Canadian Division attacked on their left, across the Lens road. Arras Road Cemetery was begun by the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade soon after the 9th April, 1917, and until the Armistice it contained only the graves (now at the back of the cemetery) of 71 officers and men of the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion (British Columbia Regiment) who fell in April, May and June, 1917; but in 1926-29, it was enlarged by the addition of 993 graves from a wide area, mainly North and East of Arras.

 

There are now over 1,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. The cemetery covers an area of 4,084 square metres. It is enclosed on three sides by a stone rubble wall, and against the road by a retaining wall. Old dug-outs exist under the North-East corner and on the South-West boundary.

 

Served with

  • United Kingdom (170)
  • Canadian (86)
  • Australian (7)

Served in

  • Army (259)
  • Air Force (3)
  • Navy (1)
Arras Road, Roclincourt
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VICTORIA CROSS

Captain Arthur Forbes Gordon KILBY _ "C" Coy. 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment

Died 25 September 1915 Age 30

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Awards: Victoria Cross, Military Cross, Twice Mentioned in Despatches

Kilby London Gazette
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Citation

An extract from the London Gazette, dated 30th March, 1916, records the following (and it is known that a memorial of the event was erected by the enemy on the spot):-

"For most conspicuous bravery. Captain Kilby was specially selected at his own request, and on account of the gallantry which he had previously displayed on many occasions, to attack with his Company a strong enemy redoubt. The Company charged along the narrow towpath, headed by Captain Kilby, who, though wounded at the outset, continued to lead his men right up to the enemy wire under a devastating machine gun fire and a shower of bombs. Here he was shot down, but, although his foot had been blown off, he continued to cheer on his men and to use a rifle. Captain Kilby has been missing since the date of the performance of this great act of valour, and his death has now to be presumed." 

Grave Reference: III. N. 27.

(Source: Wikipedia)