Compiègne is a town and commune in the Department of the Oise with a railway station on the main line from Paris to Quentin. Royallieu French National Cemetery is on the north-east side of the South Communal Cemetery at Royallieu, on the road to Senlis.

Compiègne was the site of G.H.Q. British Expeditionary Forces, from 28 to 31 August 1914 and H.Q. Royal Flying Corps, from the 28th to the 30th. It became the French G.H.Q. ("G.Q.G.") in March, 1917, but in June, 1918, it was within 9.6 kilometres of the front line. At Rethondes, in the forest country East of Compiegne, is the site on which the Armistice with Germany was signed on the 11th November, 1918. Royallieu French National Cemetery was begun in February, 1918, by No. 16 French Hospital, then placed in the barracks at Royallieu, and it was completed after the Armistice.

There are now over 80 World War I Commonwealth casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 20 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to five United Kingdom soldiers, known or believed to be buried among them.

In addition to the French and Commonwealth war graves buried here, there are also a number of Belgian and Russian graves as well.

There are 2962 French casualties of the First World War interred in the cemetery, as well as 167 identified and 180 unknowns accounted for in two ossuaries against the northeast wall. There are also over 80 Commonwealth World War I casualties commemorated at this site. Of these, over 20 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to five United Kingdom soldiers, known or believed to be buried among them. In addition to the French and Commonwealth war graves, there are also 11 Russian graves and 1 Belgian.