La Targette British Cemetery, Neuville-St. Vaast
- Country France
- Total identified casualties 599 Find these casualties
- Region Pas de Calais
- Identified casualties from First & Second World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.35054, Longitude: 2.74877
Location information
Neuville-St. Vaast is a village 6.5 kilometres north of Arras, a little east of the road from Bethune to Arras. La Targette British Cemetery lies to the south-west of the village on the north-west side of the road (D55) to the village of Maroeuil.
Visiting information
ARRIVAL
The route to the cemetery is signposted.
PARKING
It is possible to park in a layby in front of the main entrance, adjacent to the Cross of Sacrifice.
There are spaces for approximately 2 vehicles. The spaces are within 10 metres of the main cemetery entrance.
It is also possible to park on the opposite side of the road from the cemetery. There is space for up to 5 vehicles, approximately 25 metres from the main entrance.
ACCESS, LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE
The cemetery is a square shape and adjacent to the French Military Cemetery.
There are stone steps that run in a downhill direction from the side of the parking area to a low level (waist height) metal gate, with a (bracket sliding latch) opening on either side of the Cross of Sacrifice. The gates are 1 metre wide and open inwards into the cemetery. There is a small level difference between the paved area in front of the entrance and the steps leading down into the cemetery.
The Cross of Sacrifice is part of the main entrance feature, close to the road and parking area.
The steps lead down to a platform on either side of the Cross of Sacrifice, with an additional small step down to a lower-level platform in front of the Cross. Five steps lead down from this platform into the Cemetery.
The Stone of Remembrance is positioned at the rear of the cemetery and is raised on a grassed platform edged with a low stone wall. Three stone steps lead up to the platform from the grass burial area. A narrow strip separates the grass from the first step.
The low stone wall continues on either side of the steps along the length of the raised area.
There are seating areas with benches inside two shelters at the rear of the cemetery, on the raised section of the cemetery. The shelters are located on either side of the Stone of Remembrance.
There is also a seating area located in front of the Cross of Sacrifice, looking into the cemetery.
The Register Box is located in the left-hand shelter at the rear of the cemetery.
The ground is gently sloped, and the internal paths are grass.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS
There is an alternative entrance to the cemetery is located on the left-hand side, close to the rear of the cemetery.
To access, follow signs from the parking area into the French Military Cemetery, (Necropole Nationale de Neuville-Saint Vaast).
Follow the hedgerow along the left-hand side of the British cemetery. Towards the rear there is a gap in the hedge approximately 2 metres wide. There is a stone edge at the entrance, with grass levels slightly lower and sloping down, creating an uneven level.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The cemetery is permanently open.
History information
La Targette British Cemetery, formerly known as Aux-Rietz Military Cemetery, was begun at the end of April 1917 and used by field ambulances and fighting units until September 1918. Nearly a third of the graves have an artillery connection; in March-April 1917, the artillery of the 2nd Canadian and 5th Divisions, and certain heavy artillery units, had their headquarters in a deep cave at Aux-Rietz. Sixteen graves were brought into the cemetery from the immediate neighbourhood after the Armistice and a further 26 sets of First World War remains were added during the Second World War.
The cemetery contains 638 First World War burials, 41 of them unidentified. There are also three Second World War burials, two of which are unidentified.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.