Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery & Extension

Admin
Nov 14
11 min read

The CWGC Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery was begun by field ambulances of the 48th (South Midland) and 58th (2/1st London) Divisions in August 1917. It continued in use until January 1918 and at the Armistice contained 86 graves. The Cemetery and Extension are within the same boundary wall and are considered to be one cemetery. Between 1924 and 1926, the original cemetery was considerably enlarged when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and some small burial grounds in the area. The cemetery and extension essentially form a single site, but the records of the original burials and concentrations were kept separately until they were combined in 2001. The CEMETERY comprises Rows B to E of Plot I, the original burials are near the Cross of Sacrifice Rows A to E, and in addition to the original burials, special memorials have been erected to two casualties known to have been buried in Westroosebeke Churchyard, whose graves could not be located. In all, 88 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War are now buried or commemorated in the cemetery. There is also one German war grave. The EXTENSION is a concentration cemetery, these graves face the War Stone and the road, made up of Rows F to S of Plot I and all of Plot II, a total of 676 Commonwealth burials. Of these, 511 are unidentified. The cemeteries concentrated here were Deerlijk Churchyard, which had twenty British burials, from the 31st Division, who were killed in action between October and November 1918. De Voorstraat German Cemetery, this was located south west of Zandvoorde and contained two British burials from 1914-15. Houthulst Forest Chateau West Cemetery, this was a German cemetery located in the middle of the forest and had two British burials from 1914. Westroosebeke Churchyard, this was a German cemetery and had nine British burials. This area had a major rail junction and various camps in March 1918.

Reverend Geoffrey Maynard Evans M.C., Chaplain attached to the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, 7th Infantry Brigade, 25th Division. Killed in action 11 August 1917, age 35. Grave II.E.12. Son of Samuel and Eleanor Sophia Evans, of Cartref, Dovercourt, Essex. He was buried near St Jan his body was exhumed and reburied here on 16 September 1925. He put off his theological training to join the army in the Boer War, where he served with the Leicestershire Militia and received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with two clasps. He later obtained a commission in the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment, and saw service in South Africa, Egypt, and England. Evans retired in 1911 and, returning to theological studies, entered Bishops’ College, Cheshunt, to prepare for ordination. He was ordained a Deacon in October 1913 by the Bishop of London, and was appointed a full priest of the Church of England in October 1914. He received a commission with the Army Chaplains’ Department on 19 May 1915, and was attached to the Worcestershire Regiment. He went to France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force, where he served with distinction, ‘He was an ideal Chaplain to the troops, and was simply worshipped by the men. He knew just how to deal with them, and there wasn’t a man in either battalion to which he ministered who could help being affected by his courage and energy, cheerfulness, and total absence of side.’ He received the Military Cross (London Gazette for 11 June 1917) for ‘gallant and distinguished service in the field.’ On the 11 August the Battalion was in the line at Westhoek Ridge supporting the 13th Cheshire Regiment which had heavy casualties, and assisting them in consolidating the line. During the morning Geoffrey was killed by shell fire and the Battalion Medical Officer Captain H D Willis mortally wounded.

RAMC

497418 Private William Henry Gay, 2nd/3rd (Home Counties) Field Ambulance, 58th Division. Killed in action 29 August 1917, age 21 Grave I.C.9. He was one of five sons and a daughter of Habert John and Alice Gay, Staverton, Wilts. He was employed as a Factory Hand when he enlisted on 21 April 1915 age 19. 437104 Corporal Charles Ernest Martin, 1st/2nd (South Midland) Field Ambulance, attached to 2nd/3rd (Home Counties) Field Ambulance, 58th Division. Killed in action 29 August 1917, age 27. Grave I.C.10. Son of Robert and Emily Martin, 171 Lozells Road, Birmingham. He married Elsie on 1 January 1915, and they lived at 238 Aston Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham. He was employed as a Coach Builder when he reenlisted in the Territorials on 30 March 1914. He had previously served from 1908 to 1912. On the 29 August half of the Field Ambulance took over the Advanced Posts east of the Yser Canal from half of the 1st/2nd (South Midland) Field Ambulance, with the remainder of the Field Ambulance going to Gwent Farm. The stretcher bearer were allotted posts in the line of evacuation with the HQ of 2nd/3rd (Home Counties) Field Ambulance opened at Duhallow ADS. At 10pm Corporal Martin and Private Gay were killed with the Divisional Collecting Post shelled with one 4.9 which blew in the end of a dugout.

Royal Berkshire Regiment

There are four men from the Regiment buried here.

Captain Oliver Steele Mentioned in Despatches, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division. Killed in action 25 October 1914, age 32. Grave I.R.20. The eldest of six sons and four daughters of Thomas James Steele and Malvina Florence Steele, of Cricklewood, Arney Road, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand. He attended Auckland Grammar School and was a keen sportsman. Following his time at the Grammar School, his early military experience saw him serve for three years, reaching the rank of Corporal, in the Auckland College Rifles. He was employed as an accountant at Jackson and Russell, Barristers and Solicitors in Auckland before he volunteered for service in the South African War seeing active service while serving in the 5th New Zealand contingent of the New Zealand Rhodesian Field Force artillery. His ability was recognised by the Army and he was nominated a commission in the British Army and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment in May 1900 and completed his service in South Africa with the Battalion. He saw service in India, he was stationed there for eight years and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1902, and to Captain in 1910. At the outbreak of the First World War he was in Portsmouth undertaking a military course and went to France with a draft on 10 September 1914, joining his regiment at Hazebrouck. He fought at the Battle of the Aisne. On the 24 October the Battalion were in billets at Frezenberg and were at the disposal of the GOC 4th Guards Brigade and the GOC 22nd Brigade. They were ordered forward to take over the trenches of 22nd Brigade at Zonnebeke and to be part of the 6th Brigade attack, which was to keep close touch with the French 17th Division on their left, while supporting the 22nd Brigade which held a line running from north and south between the level crossing at Zonnebeke and the north east edge of Polygon Wood. At 2.30pm the Berks began to take over the trenches occupied by the 22nd Brigade from the level crossing west of Zonnebeke southwards. At 3.30pm the Berks went forward. Captain Steele was in command of ‘D’ Company on the right and the attack and it began under heavy rifle and shell fire and by 6pm they had taken their objective of clearing the ground from Noordemhoek to the Becelare – Passchendaele Road and dug in. The Battalion had the strange experience in finding that at one point a trench full of Germans was only six yards from them, though separated by a hedge. On the 25 October they were heavily shelled all day however, they managed to capture the German trench, with one officer and 70 men taken prisoner, and they destroyed a German gun. One eye witness reported that they had gone forward and succeeded in removing the gun sights before regaining their own lines. The War Diary records that ‘Captain Steele was killed by a big shell. A great loss to the regiment he was a first rate officer and has done some fine work.’ He was originally listed on the Menin Gate Memorial as one of the missing but recent research has revealed that he was buried here. His epitaph reads GALLANT, COURAGEOUS NEW ZEALANDER DIED WITH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO HIS REGIMENT AND COUNTRY

Three men all from ‘B’ Company, 8th Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Division and killed in action on 12 November 1917. 36830 Private Edwin George Townsend, age 20. Grave I.B.18. Only son of George Arthur and Sarah Jane Townsend, 283 Clifton Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham. 18612 Private John White, Grave I.B.16. He was born and lived in Smethwick and he also enlisted there. 11300 Private Ernest Charles Wiggins, age 29. Grave I.B.17. Nephew of Mrs Harriet Beckford, of "The Nook," Pinkney's Green, Maidenhead. The 1911 census records Ernest and his sister Maud age 19, living with their widowed aunt and Ernest employed as a Gardner and single. The Battalion were in tent billets at Irish Farm when an enemy aircraft dropped a bomb on the camp killing the three men and wounding nine. Today, the site of Irish Farm is the location of New Irish Farm Cemetery which is some 500m from this cemetery.

Royal Scots

There are six men from the Royal Scots buried here. One is from May 1915, and five are from the fighting in December 1917. 11624 Private David Hall, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division. Killed in action 16 May 1915, age 24. Grave II.O.18. Son of Nicol and Mary Hall, 3 Coltswood Road, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. His grave is one of those concentrated here after the Armistice. The Battalion was in the line at Hill 60 holding trenches 47 to 51 with ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies in the line and half of ‘D’ company holding a redoubt with the other half in billets at the Tuilleries in Zillebeke. On the 13 May the War Diary recorded that the trenches were no more than 30 yards apart with the trenches opposite occupied by Saxons. On the 16 May the Germans were active with trench mortars with the Battalion casualties listed as ‘2 Killed, 2 Wounded.’

There are five men from the 5th/6th Battalion, 14th Infantry Brigade, 32nd Division killed during December 1917. 2921 Private James Fagan, Killed in action 6 December 1917, age 29. Grave I.E.7. He was married to Elizabeth and they lived with their two children John aged 3, and James aged 6 months, at 62 Clyde Street, Anderston, Glasgow. The Battalion was in the line the Spriet sector near Poelcappelle with the enemy and their own artillery very active. They also undertook active patrolling of No Man’s Land with the Battalion casualties reported as one officer wounded. No mention of Other Ranks. 325631 Private Frederick C Bostock, Killed in action 7 December 1917, age 21. Grave I.E.9. He was married to Lilian and they lived with their two children Nellie age 2, and Frederick age one month at 9 Garner Street, East Side, Longton, Stock-on-Trent. 250259 L/Cpl Peter Watson McAllan, Killed in action 7 December 1917, age 20. Grave I.E.8. Son of Martha R. McAllan, 26 Newington Road, Edinburgh, and the late John McAllan. On the 7 December the enemy and their artillery were active. The Battalion also carried out a minor operation against the German trench with a party of 24 Other Ranks led by Lieutenant G Denholm with the aim of capturing and consolidating a minor hill held by the Germans. The raid was unsuccessful due heavy machine gun fire. The Germans also attempted a raid on the Royal Scots and this was repelled with no casualties listed. 30669 Private Joseph Webster, Killed in action 27 December 1917, age 21. Grave I.E.14. Son of Annie Campbell, 14 Glamis Road, Forfar. The Battalion relieved the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment in the line at Kronprinz Farm on Gravenstafel Ridge. On taking over the line they carried out work on the trench system with the Royal Engineers also working in their area. This would have attracted the attention of the German snipers and artillery, the War Diary recording that enemy artillery was very active. 335179 L/Cpl George Alexander Dunn, Killed in action 29 December 1917, age 32. Grave I.E.12. He was married to Mary and they lived with their only child at 77 Kingsland Terrace, Peebles. The Battalion was in the line occupying the same trenches and they were carrying out active patrols of No Man’s Land. One officer was killed and one can assume that George was also killed. The War Diary not recording Other Rank casualties.

Boy Soldier

In the Ypres Salient, we are drawn to the graves of 6322 Private John Condon, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, killed in action in May 1915, age 14 and the youngest known battle casualty of the war, although this is now questioned, and the grave of 5750 Valentine Strudwick, 8th Rifle Brigade, killed in action in January 1916, age 15. Strudwicks grave attracts a great deal of attention because of its location at Essex Farm and that locations association with Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae and the poem ‘In Flanders Fields.’ There are many more ‘Boy Soldiers’ buried across the Salient and who are not remembered in the same way and these include three from Falkirk District Private William Jamieson, age 17, Private James Duchart, age 16, and Private Herbert Richmond, age 17. There were many reasons why under age boys enlisted in 1914 and 1915 boredom with their jobs, looking for adventure, and escaping family pressures. The checks on age and qualification to enlist were more relaxed than later in the war. The army preferred younger recruits, there was a history of boy soldiers in the army going back over one hundred years. At Waterloo the army had a number of boy soldiers in their ranks. The army preferred younger recruits as they would follow orders and accept discipline more readily than older men. The boys had a belief in their own indestructibility and were prepared to take more risks. We tend to also forget the number of boys who served in the Royal Navy and we do not seem to have the same passionate response to their service as we do those who fought on the Western Front. With regards to the army, the difference was the sheer number who served on the Western Front and there were more boy soldiers in 1915 than served in Wellington’s army at Waterloo. For further reading on this subject see Richard Van Emden’s excellent book Boy Soldiers of the Great War. There is one Boy Soldier buried here. 401521 Private Clarence E Bartlett. 25th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Killed in action 10 June 1916, age 17. Grave II.M.7. Son of Samuel and Clara Bartlett, 108 Askin Street, London, Ontario. He enlisted on 4 March 1915 and gave his age as 19 and joined the 33rd Battalion before being transferred to the 9th Reserve Battalion on 27 August 1915 at Shorncliffe, Canadian Base Depot. He went to France on 3 February 1916 and joined the 25th Battalion in the field on the 21 February. The Battalion was in the line at Maple Copse/Observatory Ridge on 10 June. The War diary records that they were subjected to shelling throughout the day and night with HE’s, Minenwerfer Trench Mortars, machine guns, and rifle fire. The casualties were 12 Other Ranks killed, 44 wounded, and 2 officers killed, two wounded.

Location

The cemetery is located to the North East of the town of Ieper. From the station turn left and drive along M.Fochlaan to the roundabout, turn right and go to the next roundabout. Here turn left into M.Haiglaan and drive to the traffic lights. Here turn right onto the dual carriageway direction Poelcappelle/A19. Carry on for about 1km over the river and you will see a sign for New Irish Farm Cemetery. Turn left here to the crossroads and turn left again, the cemetery is approximately 50 metres on the right.

The cemetery and extension were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.