Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville

• Country France
• Total identified casualties 871 Find these casualties
• Region Calvados
• Identified casualties from Second World War
• GPS Coordinates Latitude: 49.29981, Longitude: -0.60116

Location information

Bazenville is a village 8 kilometres east of Bayeux. Leave Bayeux on the D112 to the east; at the village of Sommervieu carry straight on, following the D112, and after 3 kilometres turn right onto the D87. After climbing round a bend to the left, the cemetery will be found on the left hand side.

Visiting information

ARRIVAL

The route to the cemetery is signposted.

PARKING

There is vehicle parking along the front of the cemetery, alongside the road, with space for up to 6 vehicles.

The road surface is flat with a concrete and tarmac surface.

The parking area is approximately 10 metres from the main entrance. There is a flat grass area divided by paving level with the grass between the parking area and the main entrance.

ACCESS LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE

At the main entrance are two, 2 metre gaps in the wall. Inside each gap are 2 stone bollards linked with a chain, and a clear space of 1 metre between the bollards. The chains can be lifted from a hook at either bollard. There are no level or step changes from the road to the inside of the cemetery.

The Cross of Sacrifice is in the centre of the cemetery, between the main entrance and the shelter building at the rear of the cemetery.

There are pergolas and shelter buildings on either side of the Cross of Sacrifice.

There are stone benches located in each of the three shelter buildings, as well as along the inside wall of the main entrance structure.

The Register Box is located in the shelter building on the right side of the Cross of Sacrifice, (facing into the cemetery).

The internal cemetery paths are grass, the paths are flat and firm.

ALTERNATIVE ACCESS

There is an alternative entrance at the side of the cemetery with a mid-level height (thigh height) metal gate, the gate is 2 metres wide.

The entrance gate opens inwards into the cemetery.

The route from the parking area to alternative entrance is approximately 45 metres and follows a mowed grass path along the front of the cemetery.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The cemetery is permanently open.

History information

The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.

Ryes War Cemetery is not far inland from the beaches at Arromanches, where the 50th Division landed on 6 June. The first burials were made there just two days after the landings.

The cemetery contains 652 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. There are also one Polish and 335 German graves.