Historical Information (Source: CWGC)

The cemetery was made at the end of September and the beginning of October 1918, after the capture of Sains-les-Marquion (on the 27th) by the Canadian Division. It contained, in its original form, the graves of 144 soldiers from Canada and ten soldiers (or sailors of the Royal Naval Division) from the United Kingdom; the majority of the Canadian graves belonged to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions, all of which were raised in Ontario. It was enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves, partly from the battlefields, but mainly from the neighbouring German cemeteries.

There are now over 300, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a quarter are unidentified and memorials are erected to three soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom and one soldier from Canada, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The Cemetery covers an area of 949 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.

Private Samuel Harry Chickegian, 2393367, born in Arek, Armenian (present day Turkey), he listed his occupation as “soda dispenser”.  Age 14 at enlistment, he volunteered and had the opportunity of being returned to Canada on this account but he refused. He wanted to go to the battlefield to do his duty to his country and to Canada to avenge his many relatives, the deeds of massacre by the Turks. Samuel wanted to stay in France and kill as many Germans as he could, the same as killing Turks he said.

A naturalized Canadian serving with the Service Battalion, Canadian Defence Force, Toronto’s 48th  Highlanders when he attested June 5, 1917 into the newly formed 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment.  Samuel was admitted to Base Hospital, Toronto for removal of a “sebaceous cyst” being discharged October 22, 1917. He arrived in England in a draft on the S.S. Scotian, December 7, 1917 and was immediately assigned to the 5th Reserve Battalion, Sandling, then on February 15, 1918 to the 12th Reserve Battalion in Witley. April 8, 1918. Private Chickegian was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, in the field in France arriving at this unit April 28.

“Killed In Action” September 2, 1918.  Age 15.