Dranouter Churchyard
- Admin
- 10 hours ago
- 12 min read
Dranoutre (now Dranouter) was occupied by the 1st Cavalry Division on 14 October 1914. Dranoutre was an important centre for Field Ambulances and for various Battalions who were billeted in the many camps around the village. It was captured by the Germans on 25 April 1918, in spite of the stubborn resistance of the 154th French Division, and it was recaptured by the British 30th Division on 30 August 1918. Dranoutre Churchyard was used for Commonwealth burials from October 1914 to July 1915 when the Dranoutre Military Cemetery was begun. In 1923, 19 graves were moved from the churchyard to the Dranoutre Military Cemetery when the church was rebuilt.
Alias
L/10145 Private Albert Filer (served as A. A. Adams), 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment, 85th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division. Killed in action 19 July 1915, age 26. Grave VI.11. Son of William and Katherine Filer, Ethel Road, Custom House, Newham. The Battalion were in the line in front of Wulverghem with the War Diary recording the casualties on 19 July as ‘Killed three other ranks, wounded eight other ranks. Quiet day.’ Albert was one of the trench wastage statistics.
Two brothers buried here
Second Lieutenant Geoffrey Staniland, 1st/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, 138th Infantry Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division. Killed in action 13 April 1915, age 34. Grave VI.15. He was married to Millicent Ellen Staniland and they lived with their two sons at The Abbey House, Louth, Lincs. He
was a Solicitor when he joined the 4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment in October 1914. He was killed by shrapnel at Pond Farm whilst directing his men from a barn to safety the War Diary recording: ‘Germans shelled Frenchmans and Pond farms. No damage at farms. Lieut Staniland + 3 Pts killed + 6 wounded by shells.’ Captain Meaburn Staniland, 1st/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, 138th Infantry Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division. Killed in action 29 July 1915, age 35. Grave VI.1. Husband of Frances Sophia Dickinson, of Wyberton, Boston, Lincs. The Battalion was in the line at Sanctuary Wood sector. He was inspecting his Company’s sentry posts when he was shot in the face, dying within three minutes. A contemporary report reads as follows: ‘Thursday 29 July. Fine day. In the early morning we were heavily bombed with trench mortars and ‘sausages’ (black cylinders about 18″ long and 6″ in diameter, filled with high explosive and a time fuse). Our field artillery replied very effectively and eventually quietened them. Captain Staniland and Lieut. Fox of the 4th Lincolns were killed.'
Officers of the 1st/4th Lincolnshire Regiment, 138th Infantry Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division.
Second Lieutenant Wilfred Bertram Hirst, Killed in action 22 April 1915, age 25. Grave VI.2. Son of Lt. Col. W. L. B. and Mrs. Hirst, of Frith Grange, Upper Halliford, Shepperton, Middx. The Battalion were in the line in the trenches in front of Packhorse Farm with the War Diary recording on 21 April: ‘In the trenches. Lt W.B. Hirst killed. Quiet day and night.’ Wilfred died of wounds. Lieutenant Charles Hugh Ellwood, ‘C’ Company, Killed in action 1 June 1915, age 27. Grave VI.4. Youngest of two sons and a daughter of Arthur and Caroline Ellwood, of Mareham, Boston. He was educated at Lincoln Grammar School and joined the Horncastle 1st Volunteer Battalion in 1904 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1909 and was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1911. He went to France with the Battalion in March 1915. His older brother Captain Arthur Albert Ellwood, 1st/4th Lincolnshire Regiment, 138th Infantry Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division commanded
the 138th Machine Gun Company and was promoted to Major and won a DSO. The Battalion was in the line in front of Packhorse Farm, Wulverghem, with the War Diary recording: ‘Lt C.H. Ellwood killed by rifle bullet.’ Second Lieutenant Wilfred Armstrong Fox, Killed in action 29 July 1915, age 22 Grave VI.16. Son of George and Mary H. Fox, of West Street, Horncastle, Lincs. He entered Keble College, Oxford in 1912 and was a member of the University Contingent of the Officers’ Training Corps. He enlisted as a Private on the 4 August 1914 and received his commission in October 1914 and was gazetted Second Lieutenant and joined the 4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. A contemporary report reads as follows: ‘Thursday 29 July. Fine day. In the early morning we were heavily bombed with trench mortars and ‘sausages’ (black cylinders about 18″ long and 6″ in diameter, filled with high explosive and a time fuse). Our field artillery replied very effectively and eventually quietened them. Captain Staniland and Lieut. Fox of the 4th Lincolns were killed’. Entry in ‘De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, 1914 – 1919’, Volume 1, pg. 141: ‘The unfortunate death of Lieut. Fox occurred in these trenches. It would have been a job to find a more capable man in the battalion. His cheery manner was just the thing that’s wanted out here, and although he was not in our company and had not been with us very long, his loss was felt acutely by the whole of the battalion, who appreciated his readiness to help in any concert or sport that was arranged to pass the evenings while we were resting. Most of us knew him as a Private, and all agree that he was a jolly good Private and an ideal officer.’ Lieutenant Colonel John William Jessop, Commanding Officer, Killed in action 4 June 1915, age 55. Grave VI.5. He was married to Marian A. Jessop, 10 The Broadway, Woodhall Spa, Lincs. Jessop had been due to retire after the 1914 annual summer camp, from which his regiment returned on 2nd August
1914. Two days later his retirement plans were abandoned as Germany declared war, the Battalion embarking for France, after further training, on 1st March 1915, their first experience of trench life being in the Spanbroekmolen area in early April. J.D. Hills in ‘The Fifth Leicestershire: A Record of the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment’ recounts what happened to Jessop: ‘…Colonel Jessop, of the 4th Lincolnshires, was talking to Colonel Jones (5th Leicesters) in the road outside the house (this was the Doctor’s House in Kemmel village) while an orderly held two horses close by. The first shell fell almost on the party, killing Colonel Jessop, the two orderlies… and both horses. Colonel Jones was wounded in the hand, neck and thigh.’ The War Diary records: ‘O.C. Battn., Col. Jessop, was killed by a shell at Kemmel while visiting hdqrs. of 5/Leicesters with Maj. Banell & Maj. Cooper – all three officers horses were killed.’ On the 5 June the War Diary records his burial: ‘Col. Jessop was buried at Dranoutre at 3pm G.O.C. Division & staff were present.’
Royal Engineers
Lieutenant Douglas Edward Gosling, 1st North Midland Field Company. Killed in action 20 May 1915, age 21. Grave VI.3. Son of Howard and Nellie Gosling, of "Courtlands," Oxford Road, Moseley, Birmingham. He was one of five children and was educated at King Edward’s Grammar School, Birmingham and after leaving school worked in the family business which manufactured packing cases. He joined the Territorial 1st North Midland Field Company, Royal Engineers in August 1912 and was gazetted Second Lieutenant and then promoted to Lieutenant in August 1913. He was attached to the 1/5th Lincolns as Mining Officer and on 20 May 1915 the Germans blew a mine beneath trench E.1 Left opposite Spanbroekmolen and he was killed by a sniper when attempting to dig out one of the wounded. Private Harry Wordsworth who witnessed the action recalled later: ‘...Then we were banging in rescuing the poor lads. It was awful to see them, poor chaps, and to hear their cries, and the German devils were shooting our men down as they were trying to get the buried out. I didn't feel very happy seeing them carry out all the lads one knew. Poor old Priestley. He and the R.E. Officer were the first up and they were both shot down like dogs, but I am pleased to say that the lad did his duty. I was working there all the afternoon and I hardly know how I missed it, but I am pleased to say I am no worse for my experience. Our Colonel and Major were there working like men, helping to get the wounded out and building the trench up again. I think our Colonel is a toff...' The first to react were Private George Priestly ‘D’ Company and Lieutenant Douglas Gosling, Gosling had been supervising the improvement works in trench E.1 Right, and both men rushed over open ground and found Private Harry Gibson buried up to his neck and began to dig him out when they were shot and killed and Gibson was rescued some nine hours after the explosion.
Lieutenant Leslie Hall Douglas, 447th Field Company, Royal Engineers, 50th Division. Killed in action 9 July 1915, age 27. Grave VI.6. The only son of John and Dorothy Jane Douglas, 33 Brighton Grove, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Leslie was educated at the Royal Grammar School and Armstrong College and qualified as a Marine Engineer and was employed as the Assistant Surveyor with Swan & McFarlane in Newcastle. He volunteered on the outbreak of war and was gazetted Second Lieutenant on 8 September 1914 and went to France on 16 April 1915 and was then promoted to Lieutenant on 12 June 1915. On the 9 July the Company was in the area of Pack Horse Farm and Frenchmans Farm and the trench line in this sector and Leslie was commanding Nos 2 and 3 sections in wire repairs the War Diary recording: ‘Lieut L H Douglas was killed shortly after 12am by being shot through the head by a bullet which came through the sandbag breastwork. Death was instantaneous. He had been on the wire in front of the 1st line trench and had just returned and was talking to the sappers in the trench when he was shot. He was buried in the Churchyard at Dranoutre at 3pm by the Rev H J Shaddick, most of the Coy being present.’
Lieutenant Robert Bradford Flint, DSO, Mentioned in Despatches, Legion d’Honneur. 59th Field Company, Royal Engineers, 5th Division. Died of wounds 23 January 1915, age 23. Grave II.A.2. Son of the late Capt. James George H. Flint. He joined the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in 1911 and was gazetted Second Lieutenant joining the 59th Field Company and went to France on 18 August 1914. His DSO was awarded for his actions at Missy-sur-Aisne on 14 September 1914. The Field Company created a river crossing that enabled the men of 13th Infantry Brigade to cross the Aisne. Flint along with Captain, later Major, Johnstone, worked two rafts with their own hands all day until 7pm that ferried wounded men back as well as delivering ammunition. For their actions Flint was awarded the DSO and Johnstone the V.C. Johnstone is buried in Perth Cemetery (China Wall). On the 22 January 1915 the Company were working on the front line near Wulverghem strengthening revetments, trench drainage, and the wire entanglements with the War Diary recording: ‘The company lost one officer wounded who died shortly afterwards – Lieut R.B Flint DSO.’
2nd Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 85th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division
Lieutenant Kenneth Rowley Forde, Killed in action 23 July 1915, age 28. Grave VI.7.
Son of Canon Hugh Forde, LL.D and Dorothea Josepha Potter Miller Forde, 18 Salisbury Terrace, Poltrush, Co. Antrim. He was in Japan on the outbreak of war and returned to enlist. His brother was Lt-Colonel Gordon Miller Forde DSO and Bar and MC and Bar Commanding Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, he survived the war, despite being wounded on five occasions, and mysteriously disappeared in 1936. On the 20 July 1915 the Battalion relieved the 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment on an eight day tour in the line north east of Wulverghem. During this time the enemy were sending over rifle grenades and their snipers were active. The War Diary records that casualties for the period were: ‘One officer killed Lieut K R Forde 23.7.15. Other Ranks killed or died of wounds 6. Wounded 20.’
Bedfordshire Regiment
Captain Basil John Orlebar, 3rd Battalion attached 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. Killed in action 15 January 1915, age 39. Grave II.A.1. He was married to Barbara F. Orlebar, of The Dene, Triangle, Yorks. He was educated privately and at the Currie Engineering Schools, Folkstone and was employed as a Civil Engineer. He joined the 3rd Battalion (Reserve) Bedfordshire Regiment in November 1909 as a Second Lieutenant and was promoted to Lieutenant in March 1911 and to Captain in June 1912. On the outbreak of the war he was attached to the 1st Battalion. The Battalion was in the line at Wulverghem and on the 15 January War Diary recorded: ‘Enemy shelled our left trenches in the afternoon. Capt Orlebar killed by shrapnel. Casualties 1 officer & 4 men killed, 11
wounded.’ Captain William Fitzroy Landon 3rd Battalion Suffolk Regiment attached 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 15th Infantry Brigade, 5th
Division. Killed in action 15 February 1915, age 47. Grave II.B.4. Son of Major Landon, of Creaton House, Northampton, and the late Mrs. K. L. Landon. He had only joined the Battalion on 28 January 1915. On the 15 February the Battalion was in the line near Wulverghem having taken over the trenches in D sector and the War Diary recorded: ‘Quiet except for sniping during day. Heavy artillery & rifle fire to North during night. Baling and pumping in trenches all night. Casualties – Lt Landon (attached) killed, 4 wounded.’
Norfolk Regiment
Captain Robert John Charles Otter, 2nd Battalion attached 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. Killed in action 15 February 1915, age 34. Grave II.B.2. He married Gwendoline Ethel in 1914 and they had a daughter who was born on 31
May 1915, after her father’s death. She remarried following his death. Robert was educated at Charterhouse and then the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was gazetted Second Lieutenant in January 1901 and joined the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment in South Africa in April 1901 and fought in the Boer War being wounded. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 22 January 1904 when in India and was promoted to Captain in February 1909 when still in India. His two brothers also served during the war. Henry joined the Royal Navy in December 1914 and was accidentally and fatally shot in the head during target practice with a revolver. His other brother Robin joined the Norfolk Regiment and survived the war. Robert had only just returned to the Battalion from sick leave when on 15 February the Battalion were in the trenches on the Wytschaete Road with the War Diary recording: ‘Captain Otter killed & Capt Jickling wounded.’
Mauled by a Leopard - Lieutenant Herbert Gough Davis, 3rd Battalion. Killed in action 14 February 1915, age 37. Grave II.B.1. Son of A. D. O. and H. R. Davis, of Blackheath, London. He was educated at the Merchant Taylors School in Charterhouse Square, London and was then employed as a clerk when he joined the Imperial Yeomanry (Pagets Horse) on 10 February 1900 and served in the South African Campaign. He returned to South Africa after the war and served in the Natal Police and then moved to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Shortly before the outbreak of the war he was to be severely mauled by a leopard when he was Assistant Native Commissioner in Rhodesia and had both arms broken. He was carried for three days some 150 miles to Mongu where he arrived in a delirious state to be treated and then sent on to Hospital. He was on sick leave in England in November 1914 when he obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. On the 14 February the Battalion were in the trenches on the Wytschaete Road the War Diary records: ‘2Lt Davis killed.’
Royal Field Artillery
Lieutenant Basil Lee Nicholson, ‘C’ Battery, 231 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (the Leek Battery), North Midland Division, Killed in action 24 July 1915, age 24. Grave VI.8. Third son of Sir Arthur Nicholson, Kt., and Lady Nicholson, of Highfield Hall, Leek, Staffs. He was educated at the Priory School in Malvern before going to Rugby, then to Burscheid in Germany and finally to Vevey in Switzerland to complete his education. On the outbreak of war he was employed as a manager in his father’s dye works in Bridge End. He had been gazetted as a Second Lieutenant in the Battery in 1909, his brother Falkner was also serving as a Lieutenant in the Battery and was wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel on 20 July 1915. He survived the war with the rank of Major and post war reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. On the 24 July 1915 the Battery were located at the White Chateau and Basil was in the forward observation post with the War Diary recording: ‘1530 Lieut B Nicholson FOO (he was Forward Observation Officer) killed by sniper.’ He was killed by a sniper when he put his head above the parapet to assess the accuracy of an artillery barrage. He was the first casualty of the Battery in the war.
Location
Dranouter Churchyard is located 11.5 kilometres south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Dikkebusseweg (N375). From Ieper town centre the Dikkebusseweg is reached via Elverdingsestraat, straight over a roundabout onto J.Capronstraat (for 30 metres), then left along M.Fochlaan. Immediately after the train station, the first right hand turning is the Dikkebusseweg. On passing through the village of Dikkebus the road continues for 6 kilometres to the village of Loker. Continuing through the village of Loker, the road becomes Dikkebusstraat which runs for 2 kilometres to the village of Dranouter. The church and churchyard are located in the centre of the village.
Burials
Dranouter Churchyard contains 79 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
UK – 79 (includes two unnamed)
Comments