Cpt Charles Frederick Sandoe MC

Cemetery:	ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France
Grave Reference:	I. R. I.
Location:	Achiet-le-Grand is a large village 19 kilometres south of Arras. The Communal Cemetery Extension containing the Commonwealth war graves is situated at the north-west side of the village alongside the Communal Cemetery. Take the main road from Arras to Bapaume (N17). At Ervillers turn right onto the D9 towards Achiet. At the first junction in the village a CWGC signpost indicates the way towards the right.
Historical Information:	Achiet-le-Grand was occupied by the 7th Bedfords on the 17th March, 1917, lost on the 25th March, 1918, after a defence by the 1st/6th Manchesters, and recaptured on the 23rd August, 1918. From April, 1917, to March, 1918, the village was occupied by the 45th and 49th Casualty Clearing Stations, and Achiet station was a British railhead. The CEMETERY EXTENSION was used by the British medical units from April, 1917, to March, 1918, by the Germans to a small extent in March and April, 1918, and by British troops in August, 1918. After the Armistice Plot III and most of Plot IV were made by the concentration of 645 graves, mainly of 1916 and March and August, 1918, from the battlefields round Achiet and from other burial grounds. There are nearly 1,500, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, some 200 are unidentified, and special memorials are erected to eight sailors and soldiers from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of eight soldiers from the United Kingdom, one from Canada and one from New Zealand, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found. The Extension covers an area of 3,505 square metres. It is enclosed by a rubble wall on three sides, and separated from the Communal Cemetery by a hedge. The following were among the burial grounds from which British graves were removed to the Extension. ACHIET-LE-GRAND GERMAN CEMETERY, on the road to Bihucourt, in which one soldier from the United Kingdom was buried by the Germans, and five by their comrades in August, 1918. ACHIET-LE-PETIT COMMUNAL CEMETERY and the GERMAN EXTENSION on the East of it. The former contained the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from New Zealand, buried by the Germans. The latter was begun by the Germans, carried on by the 1st Bedfords and other units in August, 1918, and completed after the Armistice by the concentration to it of 360 German Graves; it contained, in all, the graves of 50 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 39 from New Zealand and 1,147 German. BEAUMETZ-LES-CAMBRAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY, containing the graves of six soldiers from the United Kingdom, three from Australia and one from Canada, all buried by the Germans, and 201 German soldiers; and the GERMAN EXTENSION, containing the graves of one soldier from the United Kingdom and 298 German soldiers. BEHAGNIES CHURCHYARD, used by the Germans in 1916, and containing the graves of 86 German soldiers and one from the United Kingdom. BEHAGNIES GERMAN CEMETERY, on the main road through the village, used in 1918 and containing the graves of 100 German soldiers, four French and one from the United Kingdom. BEUGNATRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION, containing 200 German graves and those of two soldiers from the United Kingdom, (one of whom is now buried in Bancourt British Cemetery). BEUGNY CHURCHYARD and GERMAN EXTENSION, containing the graves of 46 soldiers from the United Kingdom and six from Australia (who fell, for the most part, in 1917, and of whom 34 belonged to the R.G.A.), and 19 French and 183 German soldiers. BEUGNY GERMAN CEMETERY, called the Heldenfriedhof, and one of many in BEUGNY. It was in the North-West quarter of the village, and it contained the graves of five soldiers from Australia, four from the United Kingdom and 831 German. BOURSIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION, containing the graves of 173 German soldiers, one R.A.F. officer, and one Canadian soldier. DOIGNIES GERMAN CEMETERY, on the South side of the village, containing the graves of 1 5 soldiers from the United Kingdom, one from Australia, and 150 German. HERMIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY, in which six soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and two Australian soldiers were buried by the Germans. LOUVERVAL GERMAN CEMETERY, DOIGNIES, outside the Eastern angle of Louverval Chateau grounds, containing the graves of seven unidentified Highlanders and 138 German soldiers. QUEANT COMMUNAL CEMETERY, containing the graves of 180 German soldiers and of three from the United Kingdom who fell in March, 1918; and the GERMAN EXTENSION, in which ten soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and 140 German and four Russian soldiers were buried by the Germans, and 420 German soldiers by the British. VELU GERMAN CEMETERY, on the East side of the village, containing the graves of 850 German soldiers, five from the United Kingdom, two from Newfoundland, one Australian, one Indian and one French. VILLERS-AU-FLOS GERMAN CEMETERY, now a permanent burial ground, on the North side of the village; it contained the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom and three from Australia who fell in 1916. VRAUCOURT CHURCHYARD, VAULX-VRAUCOURT, now closed to burials; it contained the graves of two Australian soldiers who fell in 1917.