Historical Information (Source: CWGC)

The British Cemetery at Étreux was created in the aftermath of a fierce rearguard action fought by a detachment of the British Expeditionary Force during the retreat from Mons in August 1914. Many of the British soldiers killed at Étreux belonged to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers, a regular regiment that recruited in Ireland’s southern province.

After the armistice, the orchard in which the casualties had been buried was purchased by the family of Lieutenant Frederick Styles, an officer of the Munsters who had been killed during the rearguard action. The family erected the large Celtic Cross in the centre of the cemetery which lists the First World War battle honours of the Munsters, as well as a stone memorial bench and plaque. In 1924 the cemetery was handed over to the French state and its care became the responsibility of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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• United Kingdom (99)

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• Army (99)