Country: France

Locality: Calvados

Identified Casualties: 903

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Cemetery Location

Hermanville-sur-Mer lies 13 km north of Caen on the road to Lion-sur-Mer (D60). To reach the War Cemetery go northwards right through Hermanville; after leaving the Mairie (Town Hall) on your left, turn right. Here is is signposted with a green CWGC sign. The gates to the War Cemetery and parking will be found after 300 metres. Alternatively, coming from Ouistreham, go through Colleville-Montgomery towards Hermanville. On the main road is a local sign on the left indicating to the cemetery; there is no green CWGC. Follow this road to the end past camp sites to the parking area in front of the cemetery.

Cemetery Information

The cemetery was started just after D Day, and was originally known as Sword Beach Cemetery because of its close proximity to that landing area. Most of the original burials were men from the 3rd Division who stormed ashore here on 6th June 1944, and liberated Hermanville. Indeed, the stone work of the parking area of this cemetery takes the form of the 3rd Division battle flash - a red triangle in a larger black triangle.

WW2 Graves

Some graves were moved in after the war, and while the early operations from D Day towards the liberation of Caen are well represented here, there are also casualties from the armoured units involved in Operations Goodwood in July, and the fighting for the Falaise area in August. Amongst the British casualties are a large number of Naval personnel, and Marine Commandos.

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