Funeral of Privates William Marmon & Harry Carter, 10th Battalion Essex Regiment – 19 October 2016

The LBSG were delighted to attend the reburial of Privates William Marmon & Harry Carter, 10th Battalion Essex Regiment at Albert Communal Cemetery Extension on 19 October 2016. Both men, along with six more of their comrades had been killed by falling spoil from a 15-tonne German mine blow at the Glory Hole, La Boisselle on 22 November 1915. Further information on this case can be found here: https://www.laboisselleproject.com/2016/09/08/british-first-world-war-soldiers-identified-through-dna-testing/

Please find below a selection of images from the day. The photographs of the two soldiers are provided by the families and are reproduced with their kind permission.

Private William Marmon, 10th Battalion Essex Regiment

Private William Marmon, 10th Battalion Essex Regiment

Private Harry Carter, 10th Battalion Essex Regiment

Private Harry Carter, 10th Battalion Essex Regiment

The five headstones of the Collective Grave I.DA. in Albert Communal Cemetery PRIOR to the removal of Carter and Marmon's names

The five headstones of the Collective Grave I.DA. in Albert Communal Cemetery PRIOR to the removal of Carter and Marmon’s names

Collective grave at Albert Communal Cemetery Extension with new gravestones

Collective grave at Albert Communal Cemetery Extension with new gravestones

Del Delaney stands to attention after laying a rose for the other 10th Essex men

Del Delaney stands to attention after laying a rose for the other 10th Essex men

LBSG archaeologist, Brian Powell, having laid a rose at the collective grave

LBSG archaeologist, Brian Powell, having laid a rose at the collective grave

The new collective grave with roses and wreaths laid in tribute

The new collective grave with roses and wreaths laid in tribute

The ceremony was very well attended

The ceremony was very well attended

The open graves before the beginning of the service

The open graves before the beginning of the service

Harry Carter's coffin is carried in by the soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment

Harry Carter’s coffin is carried in by the soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment

The soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment gently lower Harry Carter's coffin to his grave

The soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment gently lower Harry Carter’s coffin to his grave

William Marmon's coffin is carried in by the soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment

William Marmon’s coffin is carried in by the soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment

Flag draped coffins at the graves

Flag draped coffins at the graves

Committal of Private Harry Carter

Committal of Private Harry Carter

The folding of the flag for William Marmon's family

The folding of the flag for William Marmon’s family

Peter Barton and Cameron Ross laid wreaths for both men on behalf of the LBSG

Peter Barton and Cameron Ross laid wreaths for both men on behalf of the LBSG

Wreaths

Wreaths

Wreath for William Marmon from his family

Wreath for William Marmon from his family

The graves immediately after the service

The graves immediately after the service

Many wreaths were laid

Many wreaths were laid

Steve Brown of the JCCC MOD gives a speech at the reception afterwards in Albert Town Hall

Steve Brown of the JCCC MOD gives a speech at the reception afterwards in Albert Town Hall

Information board on both soldiers at the reception in Albert Town Hall

Information board on both soldiers at the reception in Albert Town Hall

The nephew of Pte George Pier, killed 22 November 1915, attended the reburial. He is pictured here with the Death Pennies of George and his brother Alfred John

The nephew of Pte George Pier, killed 22 November 1915, attended the reburial. He is pictured here with the Death Pennies of George and his brother Alfred John

George Pier's Death Penny

George Pier’s Death Penny

Later that day we visited the French Cemetery at Albert to lay a wreath at the grave of Louis Heurt, 118th Infantry Regiment whose remains were found alongside those of his comrade, Appolinaire Joachim Marie Ruelland, during the recovery work for Carter and Marmon. Both French soldiers were killed on 8 January 1915.

Later that day we visited the French Cemetery at Albert to lay a wreath at the grave of Louis Heurt, 118th Infantry Regiment whose remains were found alongside those of his comrade, Appolinaire Joachim Marie Ruelland, during the recovery work for Carter and Marmon. Both French soldiers were killed on 8 January 1915.

Cameron Ross, Anna Gow & Peter Barton at the grave of Louis Heurt

Cameron Ross, Anna Gow & Peter Barton at the grave of Louis Heurt

The grave of Louis Heurt

The grave of Louis Heurt

The following day we revisited Albert Communal Cemetery Extension. The graves of Harry Carter and William Marmon have now been landscaped by CWGC gardeners.

The following day we revisited Albert Communal Cemetery Extension. The graves of Harry Carter and William Marmon have now been landscaped by CWGC gardeners.

The new graves of Harry Carter and William Marmon.

The new graves of Harry Carter and William Marmon.

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