Fins and Sorel were occupied at the beginning of April 1917, in the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. They were lost on the 23 March 1918 and regained in the following September. The first British burials at Fins were carried out in the Churchyard and the Churchyard Extension, and the New British Cemetery was not begun until July 1917. It was used by fighting units (especially the 40th, 61st (South Midland) and 9th (Scottish) Divisions) and Field Ambulances until March, 1918  It was then used by the Germans, who added 255 burials, including 26 British. Another 591 burials were moved here from smaller cemeteries after the war. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.