The Scottish War Graves Project

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Country: France
Locality: Pas de Calais

Location Information: Roeux is a village about 8 kilometres east of Arras. Brown's Copse Cemetery is about one kilometre north-west of Roeux on the eastern outskirts of the neighbouring village of Fampoux. It is signposted from Fampoux village.
Historical Information: Roeux was built over a system of caves which helped to make its capture in 1917 exceptionally difficult. It was attacked by the 9th (Scottish) Division without success on 12 April. The chemical works close to the railway station were taken by the 51st (Highland) Division on 22 April and after incessant fighting, the village was cleared by the same Division on 14 May. The chemical works were lost again and retaken on 16 May. The Germans re-entered the village at the end of March 1918, and it was finally retaken by the 51st Division on the following 26 August. The cemetery is named from a small copse (the Bois Rossignol) on the east side. Plots I to IV are composed almost entirely of graves cleared from the battlefield in the summer of 1917. Plots V to VIII were made after the Armistice when 850 graves were brought in from a wide area north and east of Arras. The following were the only considerable burial grounds from which British graves were taken to Brown's Copse Cemetery:- SEAFORTH CEMETERY, ROEUX, North-East side of the road from the village to the station, where 18 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried in April, 1917, and 21 of the 6th Seaforths in August and September, 1918. VITRY-EN-ARTOIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY and GERMAN EXTENSION, in which 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly officers of the Royal Flying Corps) were buried by the enemy. The cemetery now contains 2,069 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 859 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate two casualties buried in Vitry-en-Artois Communal Cemetery German Extension, whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
No. of Identified Casualties: 1210

Name: MACKINTOSH, DONALD
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 3rd Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 11/04/1917
Awards: V C
Additional information: Son of Col. Donald J. Mackintosh, C.B., M.V.O., M.B., LL.D. and Margaret F. Mackintosh, of Western Infirmary House, Glasgow. Educated at Fettes College. Joined the Seaforth Highlanders in 1914.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 49.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 8th June, 1917, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and resolution in the face of intense machine gun fire. During the initial advance he was shot through the right leg, but though crippled he continued to lead his men and captured the trench. In the captured trench Lt. Mackintosh collected men of another company who had lost their leader, and drove back a counter-attack. He was again wounded, and although unable to stand, he continued, nevertheless, to control the situation. With only fifteen men left, he ordered his party to be ready to advance to the final objective, and with great difficulty got out of the trench and encouraged his men to advance. He was again wounded and fell. The gallantry and devotion to duty of this officer were beyond all praise."

John Houston

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

Brown's Copse Cemetery is the only CWGC cemetery in which I have felt very uneasy. I think it has much to do with the tragic history of the numerous Scottish battalions who were ordered to take the infamous Chemical Works at Roeux not far away.
_________________
There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

Name: MILNE, FORBES
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: "A" Coy. 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 200413
Awards: M.M.
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Milne, of 8, Grant St., Woodside, Aberdeen.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 6.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX.

Name: HAY, JAMES GLEGG
Initials: J G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Date of Death: 28/04/1917
Service No: 41235
Additional information: Father of James Glegg Hay, of 310, Great Northern Rd., Woodside, Aberdeen.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. G. 39.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: SMITH, JAMES D.
Initials: J D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 292192
Additional information: Son of James D. H. Smith and Charlotte Smith, of 86, Mayfield Terrace, Dalston, London. Place of birth, Aberdeen.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 46.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: HARRIGAN, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Irish Fusiliers
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 11/04/1917
Service No: 23404
Additional Information: Place of birth, Glasgow.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 59.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: McDONALD, JOHN MURRAY
Initials: J M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 292526
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald McDonald, of East Kirkton, St. Vigeans, Arbroath.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 60.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: GUNNING, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Date of Death: 03/05/1917
Service No: S/9221
Additional Information: Place of birth, Helensburgh. (SNWM)
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. B. 30.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

Name: MORTON, ALBERT
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 292536
Additional Information: Place of birth, Forfar. (SNWM)
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 39.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: DEVANEY, FRANK
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Date of Death: 25/04/1917
Service No: 292960
Additional Information: Place of birth, St. Patrick’s, Forfar.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 40.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: CLARK, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Date of Death: 29/08/1918
Service No: 202948
Additional Information: Place of birth, Greenock. (SNWM)
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. A. 28.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

The Headstone is inscribed A. Clark, however the CWGC & SNWM details show him as J. Clark.

Name: COUPAR, JOHN JOSEPH
Initials: J J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 291479
Additional Information: Place of birth, Dunfermline. (SNWM)
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 47.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: HALL
Initials: G H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: South Staffordshire Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Date of Death: 16/05/1917
Service No: 20579
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 48.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: MILTON, WILLIAM SMITH
Initials: W S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 202623
Additional information: Son of John and Christina Milton, of 23, George St., Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 16.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: KIDD, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 202715
Additional information: Son of Robert and Isabel Kidd, of Middle Lodge, Dunnikier, Kirkcaldy; husband of Minnie W. Kidd, of 297, Holburn St., Aberdeen. Place of birth, Direlton, Haddingtonshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. G. 3.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

Name: EASTON, CHARLES DONALD PATON
Initials: C D P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 290050
Additional information: Son of William and J. Easton, of Georges Terrace, St. Monan's, Fife.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 50.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: EASTON, STEWART MACALISTER
Initials: S M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 25/09/1915
Service No: 16232
Additional information: Son of William and Jane Easton, of 1, George's Terrace, St. Monan's, Fife.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 46 to 49.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

Name: McKENZIE, GEORGE
Initials: G.
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 310272
Additional Information: Place of birth, Loch broom, Ross and Cromarty. (SNWM)
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 51.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: WALLACE, JOHN KENNEDY
Initials: J K
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Additional information: Son of Robert and Elizabeth Wallace, of Reigate, Ayr.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 41.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: MacLENNAN, RODERICK
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Age: 37
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: S/40626
Additional information: Son of Kenneth and Isabella MacLennan, of Holme Rose, Croy, Gollanfield, Inverness-shire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 42.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: MORRIS, ALEXANDER RAMSAY
Initials: A R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: between 23/04/1917 and 25/04/1917
Additional information: Son of George Wilson Spence Morris, of "Broadleys," Crail, Fife, and the late Cecilia F. Morris.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 58.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

Name: McDONALD, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 201732
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 3.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: JOHNSTON, FRED
Initials: F A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 200774
Additional information: Son of William Johnston; husband of Lillian R. Howie Johnston. Born at Hatton, Fintray, Aberdeen.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 29.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: McNEILL, MICHAEL
Initials: M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders, formally 3618 A&SH.
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 11/04/1917
Service No: S/40618
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 31.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: ORR, HENRY
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/6th Bn.
Date of Death: between 12/05/1917 and 16/05/1917
Service No: 267457
Additional Information: Place of Birth, Bridgeton, Lanarkshire. (SNWM)
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 32.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: McCALLUM, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 202667
Additional Information: Place of birth, Inverkeithing, Fife.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 28.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: NOAKES, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 9499
Additional information: Adopted son of Katherine O'Connor, of 31, Dartrey Rd., Chelsea, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 27.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: ROSS, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: "A" Coy. 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 201396
Additional information: Son of Mrs. Catherine Ross, of 36, East North St., Aberdeen.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 26.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

Name: LAMPEY, FREDERICK
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 11/04/1917
Service No: S/7415
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Charlotte Lampey of Shoreditch, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 25.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX

John