Acheux British Cemetery
The Acheux British Cemetery is a World War I military cemetery located in the French Commune of Acheux-en-Amiénois in the Somme Region. Location. Acheux-en-Amiénois lies on the main road between Albert and Doullens, the D938. The cemetery is around 10 km from Albert. The cemetery is located around 800m from the Acheux-en-Amiénois church, the Church of Saint Cyr and Saint Juliette, West in the direction towards Lealvillers. Background. In 1916 the VIII Corps field hospital prepared a collection station in preparation for the Somme Offensive. The first burials occurred in  the period between July and August 1916. A small amount of burials then occurred in an 18 month period from August 1916 to early 1918. The remaining graves belonged to those who were killed between April and August 1918, a period in which the German Army had launched the Spring Offensive bringing the front line closer to Acheux-en-Amiénois. The Cemetery. A 90 m grass path leads from this road to the entrance. The cemetery was designed by Noel Rew and has the shape of a parallelogram with an area of approximately 967 m². It is bordered on three  sides by a low natural stone wall, the southern boundary is delimited by a hedge. In a semicircular indentation of the wall there is a metal gate between two columns for access. The Cross of Sacrifice is central to the south wall. The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Burials. There are a total of 180 burials in the cemetery, 179 British Soldiers and 1 Canadian soldier. Notable Burials. A deserter by the name of Private William Barry Nelson of the 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry is also buried here after he was executed by firing squad  at dawn on the 11th August 1916, aged 22. Military Medal recipients. The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire" on land. It was first established in 1916, with retrospective application to 1914, and discontinued in 1993. Meritorious Service Medal recipients. The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is a military decoration awarded for distinguished service, or for gallantry, principally by non-commissioned officers of all of the  British armed forces.