St Symphorien Military Cemetery

St Symphorien Military Cemetery is a war burial ground in Mons containing about 513 graves of German and Commonwealth soldiers. The grounds feature organized pathways that guide visitors through distinct sections, each marked with descriptive plaques about those interred.

The burial ground was established in 1917 when the German Army created this cemetery during occupation. A private landowner named Jean Houzeau de Lehaie donated the ground on the condition that soldiers from both nations would receive equal treatment and respect.

The site bears the name of Saint Symphorien and serves as a place where visitors encounter soldiers from opposing nations resting side by side. This shared burial ground reflects a commitment to honor the fallen from all sides regardless of their uniform or origin.

The cemetery is easy to walk through thanks to well-maintained pathways connecting all sections. Informational panels throughout the grounds help visitors understand the stories of those buried and locate specific graves.

The grounds hold the graves of John Parr and George Lawrence Price, two soldiers recognized as the first and last Commonwealth casualties of World War I. This remarkable connection makes the site the symbolic bookend of a tragic chapter in military history.

Location: Mons

Architects: William Harrison Cowlishaw

Official opening: September 6, 1917

Part of: Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)

GPS coordinates: 50.43228,4.01076

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:48