British Airmen - Westoutre British Cemetery
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Westoutre British Cemetery, CWGC, is located within the village of Westoutre (now Westouter) and the village remained in Allied hands from the early months of the First World War to the Armistice, but in the summer of 1918, after the Battles of the Lys, it was within 2.4 Kms of the front line. Westoutre British Cemetery, CWGC, was begun in October 1917. It was used until the following April and again in August-October 1918, and 50 graves were concentrated here from BIXSCHOTE GERMAN CEMETERY, also known as Friedhof XI, and KEMMEL FRENCH CEMETERY No.2, which was near Kemmel French Cemetery No.1, after the Armistice. French units used the cemetery in April-August 1918, when they were defending the Mont des Flandres but these graves were later removed. The cemetery is located some 500 metres from the Westoutre Churchyard and Extension.
Royal Airforce
Second Lieutenant Fred Butterworth, 4th Squadron, RAF and 1st/2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), Killed in action 14 September 1918, age 25. Grave O.4. Son of John and Alice Butterworth. Lieutenant Tom Ormand Henderson, 4th Squadron RAF, Killed in action 14 September 1918, age 19. Grave O.5. Son of Tom Ormand Henderson and Sara Helen Henderson, 1 Massey Park, Liscard, Cheshire. On the 14 September they were flying in an RE8 on a combat patrol south east of Ypres when they were shot down and killed by Leutnant Friedrich Kresse of Jasta 7. This was his only victory as he was to be shot down on 16 September by Camel aircraft of number 209 Squadron over Houplines and died of his wounds as PoW.
Sergeant William Robinson Clarke, the first black pilot to fly for Britain, flew for the squadron. On the outbreak of war Clarke, aged 19, travelled to England from Jamaica at his own expense. He joined the Royal Flying Corps on 26 July 1915 as an Air Mechanic and then as a driver for an observation balloon company. Read more about the airmen of the Ypres Salient
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