A Visit to the Orival Wood CWGC Cemetery
In Search of the Grave of Scottish War Poet Lt Ewart Alan Mackintosh MC of the Seaforth Highlanders
The Bois d'Orival is a small wood on the road from Flesquieres to Fontaine-Notre-Dame, cleared by the 2nd Grenadier Guards on the 27th September 1918. The Cemetery was begun in November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai and used again in September-October 1918. There are now nearly 300 First World War casualties commemorated in the site, including 74 officers and men of the 51st (Highland) Division and the Tank Corps transferred from the 51st Division Cemetery in Flesquieres and 135 graves from the Flesquieres Chateau Cemetery used by fighting units from November 1917 to March 1918. There are also 20 German burials and a lone Chinese labourer.
Flesquieres was attacked by the 51st (Highland) Division with tanks on the 20th November 1917 in the battle of Cambrai and was captured on the 21st. It was lost in the late stages of the battle and retaken on the 27th September 1918 by the 3rd Division.
Flesquieres was attacked by the 51st (Highland) Division with tanks on the 20th November 1917 in the battle of Cambrai and was captured on the 21st. It was lost in the late stages of the battle and retaken on the 27th September 1918 by the 3rd Division.
