Saint-Symphorien Cemetery

Here lie 229 Commonwealth soldiers and 284 German soldiers, virtually hand in hand.

Enemies on the battlefield, united in death. This could be the motto of Saint-Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons. Here lie 229 Commonwealth soldiers and 284 German soldiers, virtually hand in hand.

This cemetery contains the graves of German and Commonwealth soldiers (United Kingdom and Canada) who fell on the territory of Mons and its region during the Battles of Mons on August 23-24, 1914, and November 11, 1918.

It was established by the German occupiers in 1916 to bring together in one place the soldiers who had been buried in the fields of the region following the battle of August 1914. The land was graciously provided in perpetuity, on the condition that it remains a military cemetery, by Jean Houzeau de Lehaie, a scientist from Mons.

This cemetery was designed according to the Waldfriedhof principle, the forest cemeteries that began to develop in Germany in the early 20th century. The first was created in 1907 by Hans Grässel in Munich. The war grave planting service used numerous tree species, mainly conifers, sourced from the collection of Jean Houzeau de Lehaie through the German dendrology society. Many monuments dedicated to soldiers of both nationalities are made of blue stone, including the obelisk overlooking the entire cemetery. The graves of German and British soldiers are arranged in homogeneous groups within the cemetery, where several small islands of varying sizes and heights have been created.

During the liberation of the area, additional burials took place in the cemetery. The Imperial War Commission (now the CWGC) installed white Portland stone elements at the two entrances, along with a Cross of Sacrifice designed by British architect Reginald Blomfield, a prolific designer who completely redeveloped Regent Street in London at the end of the 19th century. Individual gravestones for each Commonwealth soldier were also added.

On August 4, 2014, a new commemorative stone was inaugurated at the entrance of the cemetery during the centenary commemorations of Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, in the presence of, among others, the British Royal Family and the President of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Visit this peaceful and serene site with your family, surrounded by fields and trees. Recognized by UNESCO in 2023 and awarded two stars in the Michelin Guide, this site rivals the greatest memorial sites in Belgium.

Address: Rue Nestor Dehon, 7030 Saint-Symphorien