Foncquevillers WWI war cemetery

Foncquevillers was just behind the British front lines in the 1916 battles. The Cemetery was originally begun by the French (when they held this part of the line). When the British took over this sector, they continued to use it, with many burials dating from July 1916, the early Somme offensives. It remained in use by units and field ambulances until March 1917. The cemetery was used again from March to August 1918, when the German offensive brought the front line back to nearly the old position. Seventy-four graves were brought in after the Armistice from the battlefields of 1916 and 1918 to the east of the village and the 325 French military graves were removed to La Targette French National Cemetery, near Arras.

The cemetery contains 648 burials of the Great War. 53 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to two casualties known to be buried among them. There are five airmen of the Second World War buried in the cemetery, and four Germans. There is also 1 French Non World War burial. Many Chinese provided labour during the First World War, and there are two Chinese Labour Corps men buried here.