Mons Communal Cemetery
The extension of the communal cemetery, begun by the German army and later used by multiple nations, gives its British section a park‑like, curving‑path layout centred on circular motifs: a semicircular bench on a round stone terrace, War Stone and Cross of Sacrifice aligned on the main axis, and radially arranged graves around the Cross.
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Description
The extension of the communal cemetery was begun by the German army. There are Russian, French, Italian, Rumanian, German and Belgian soldiers buried here. After the Armistice, the British graves were transferred from another cemetery that was used by Casualty Clearing Stations and field ambulances. The British part of the cemetery has a park-like layout with curved paths and, as such, deviates from other war cemeteries designed by Lutyens. In the design, a number of circular shapes complement the park structure. A semicircular bench, the War Stone and the Cross of Sacrifice form the central axis of the cemetery. The War Stone and the Cross of Sacrifice stand on either side of the main path. Around the Cross of Sacrifice, the graves have been laid out radially. On a higher part, opposite the War Stone, there is the semicircular seat, which recalls the seats in the gardens designed by Lutyens in England. The seat is situated on a round white stone plateau. (Geurst, 2010, p.369)
Bibliography
Geurst, J. (2010) Cemeteries of the Great War by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Rotterdam: 010 Publishers.
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