Notable Graves
This cemetery contains the burial places of two Victoria Cross winners namely
- Frederick Birks, 2nd Lt, 6th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, died 21st September 1917
- William Henry Johnston, Major, Royal Engineers, died 8th June 1915
The cemetery also contains the burial places of seven soldiers executed by their own side for cowardice or desertion:
- Private George Ernest Roe, of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, from Sheffield. He was executed for desertion in June 1915, aged 19.
- Private Thomas Harris, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). He was executed for desertion in June 1915, aged 21.
- Private Thomas Docherty, King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was executed for desertion in July 1915.
- Corporal Frederick Ives, Worcestershire Regiment. He was executed for desertion in July 1915, aged 30.
- Private Ernest Fellows, Worcestershire Regiment, from Birmingham. He was executed for desertion in July 1915, aged 29, leaving a wife, Annie, and his parents James and Emma.
- Private Louis Phillips, Somerset Light Infantry. He was executed for desertion in August 1915, aged 23.
- Private Evan Fraser, Royal Scots. He was executed for desertion in August 1915, aged 19. He is commemorated on a special memorial, his original grave having been lost. Fraser absconded from his regiment at 4pm on 24 May 1915. He was arrested the next day at a local railway station in possession of a forged pass and handed back to the British. Whilst in British custody he escaped, but again was caught after little more than 24 hours. Two weeks later, he escaped custody for a second time and again was arrested within a day. On 13 July he was charged with having deserted on three occasions and of conduct to the prejudice of good order (having a forged pass). He was undefended at his trial. He pleaded guilty to the forgery, but not guilty to the counts of desertion. His battalion adjutant gave evidence, saying that Fraser was "a continual source of annoyance", a shirker and a continual deserter. He was shot at 4am on 2 August 1915.
On 7 November 2006, the British government reversed its previous decision and announced a pardon for all soldiers executed in the Great War.
Read more about this topic: Perth (China Wall) Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
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