Messines Ridge British Cemetery
- Admin
- Aug 23
- 13 min read
Updated: Oct 7
This CWGC cemetery stands on ground that belonged to the 'Institution Royale' (the Cross of Sacrifice is on the site of the Institution's windmill), was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefield around Messines. At the entrance to the cemetery is a New Zealand Memorial to the 840 men who are missing from the fighting that took place. There is also a pavilion, not unlike that at Buttes New Cemetery at Polygon Wood, within the cemetery which commemorates the men from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who died in or near Messines in 1917 and 1918 and who have no known grave. On the south side of the village is the NEW ZEALAND PARK. An Obelisk memorial stands here to the men from New Zealand who fought in the Battle of Messines in 1917. This was unveiled by King Albert on 1 August 1924. There are also two German bunkers within the park and you get good views of the battlefield. The park is a main venue for ANZAC Day commemorations every 25 April.
Messines (now Mesen) was considered a strong strategic position, not only from its height above the plain below, but from the extensive system of cellars under the convent known as the 'Institution Royale.' Messines Church is a prominent landmark visible from all around the ridge. The church we see today was rebuilt after the war and is based on the Abbey church which was not rebuilt. The crypt of the church is a shrine to Countess Adela of Messines, who died in 1079, Duchess of Normandy who was married to Baldwin V, Count of Flanders who maintained close links with the Anglo-Saxon monarchy which was overthrown by his son-in-law William the Conqueror. The crypt was used by the Germans as a shelter, Corporal Adolf Hitler a regimental runner served in the trench system here until 1916 and he regularly took shelter in the crypt. The church was completely destroyed by shell fire by 1916 and Corporal Hitler caught this destruction in one of his paintings.
On the 31 October 1914 the village was held by the 1st Cavalry Division, 10th (Prince of Wales’s Own Royal) and 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Hussars, 2nd (Queen’s Bays), 4th (Royal Irish), and 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s) Dragoon Guards, who have formed an outer line of defences on the eastern side of the village. Attacks by the Württemberg Regiment were repulsed by British rifle fire. The Germans of the 119 Grenadier and 125 Infantry Regiments attacked and captured some of the British line with the Cavalry units and the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers forced back and by noon on 31 October the front line was along the main street, today the N365 road to Wytschaete. Both sides brought up reinforcements with the 2nd King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the 2nd King’s Own Scottish Borderers working their up the western slope of the ridge into the village. On the left on the Wytschaete Road the 1/14th (London Scottish), the first Territorial Battalion to see action in the Salient, took up positions. They had made their way up the western slope and carried on storming past 4 Huns Farm which had been prepared for defence by the 1st Field Squadron, Royal Engineers, and under heavy artillery and machine gun fire had joined up with the cavalry to engage the German 122nd Fusiliers. The London Scottish casualties were 321 men from 750 who took part and the London Scottish memorial can be found on the Messines to Wytschaete Road. The village fell to the Germans on 1 November 1914 with the British retiring down the slope to Wulverghem. This was the front line until 7 June 1917 and the Battle of Messines when the village was retaken by the New Zealand Division. On 10-11 April 1918, the village fell into German hands once more after a stubborn defence by the South African Brigade, but was retaken for the last time by the British 34th Division on 28-29 September 1918. The dates of death of those buried here range from October 1914 to October 1918, but the majority died in the fighting of 1917.
Cratering the Ridge – The Battle of Messines
On the 7 June 1917 the British Second Army launched its attack along the Messines Ridge with the detonation of nineteen mines comprised of one million pounds of ammonal explosive beneath the German defenders. Read more about the tunnellers and Cratering the Ridge. The Battle of Messines was the most effective integration of mines with an infantry attack that was supported by an artillery barrage which stupefied the German defenders
Lance Corporal Samuel Frickleton VC, 3rd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand (Rifle Brigade), part of II Anzac Corps, was from Slamannan in Falkirk District. He emigrated in May 1913 to New Zealand and won his VC at Messines Ridge on 7 June 1917 for destroying two German machine guns after he was wounded.
Boy Soldiers - There are two boy soldiers buried here
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 underage 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 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 I recommend Richard Van Emden’s excellent book Boy Soldiers of the Great War. 38416 L/Cpl Albert Edgar Furness, 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, 74th Infantry Brigade, 25th Division. Killed in action 7 June 1917, age 16. Grave II.E.20. Son of Mrs. Mabel Susannah Shepherd, of "Greenroyd", Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston. The 1911 Census shows Albert, then aged 10, living at home with his mother, father John having died, and three sisters and two brothers. His mother later married. His body was exhumed from Bell Farm Cemetery, where 32 soldiers of the 25th Division were buried in June 1917, and he was reburied here after the Armistice. As part of 25th Division the Battalion took part in the opening attack of the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. On the night of 6/7 June the Battalion was in their assembly area at Souvenir Farm located east of Wulverghem. From 11am to 3pm they were shelled with gas and lachrymatory shells while in their assembly trenches. At 3.10am with the detonation of the mines, the one in the Brigade sector was at Ontario Farm, which was opposite the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies went forward in artillery formation. By 4am the Battalion was now beyond Messines, which was on their right, and had captured Occur Trench with two machine guns and 61 prisoners and was at Intermediate Trench, which the War Diary records as not existing, by 4.30am. At 5am they had reached October Trench and in conjunction with the 9th Loyal North Lancs and taken Swaynes Farm and 4 Huns Farm and a concrete dugout in conjunction with the 1st Wiltshires. They now consolidated the line at October Support Trench and were relieved by the 13th Cheshires and took up a line at Occur Trench at 1pm. Battalion casualties were: 1 officer killed, 7 wounded. Other Ranks, 33 killed, 136 wounded, and 6 missing. 9704 Rifleman Bernard McAllister, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, 74th Infantry Brigade, 25th Division. Killed in action 22 June 1917, age 17. Grave II.D.24. Son of Mrs Annie McAlister, 5 Downshire Court Lower Water Street, Newry. His body was exhumed and reburied here after the Armistice. The Battalion were in Support Trenches south east of Messines, the front line being opposite Warneton. The War Diary records that on 22 June they were relieved by the 43rd Battalion Australian Infantry and they then moved to the transport lines on the Wulverghem to Neuve Eglise Road. The War Diary recording Battalion casualties as 2 killed in action and one dying of wounds.
Aliases
There are three men buried here who served under an alias. Two are Australian and one is from New Zealand. 767 Private Sidney Henry John West (served under the alias of Herbert Allan Grace), ‘C’ Company, 36th Battalion, 9th Brigade, 3rd Australian Division. Killed in action 7 July 1917, age 25. Grave V.A.23. Husband of Ethel May West, 7 Oaks Street, North Sydney, New South Wales. They had a son William. He had originally enlisted on 10 February 1915 under his real name and correct family history and was posted to the 5th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion. Having been posted to Egypt and was admitted to hospital in Abassia on 18 June 1915, he was returned to Australia suffering from Venereal Disease on 3 August 1915 and then discharged from hospital as fit for duty on 9 October 1915. He then deserted and reenlisted under his alias. He enlisted on 5 January 1916 under his false name and giving his trade as a ‘Carter’. He went to England arriving in August 1916 and then to France in October 1916. He was killed in action on 7 July 1917 and his body was exhumed from Middle Farm and reburied here. The Brigade War Diary simply records that they were west of Messines holding the line from the River Douve in the south to the Blauwepoortbeek in the north and were engaged in providing working parties. The 36th Battalion were to be relieved during the night of 6/7 July from 3am by the 34th Battalion. The Brigade War Diary records the Other Rank casualties for the month of July as 116 killed, 272 wounded, and 6 missing. 2027 Private Albert Edward Duminski (served as Albert Edward Allen), 41st Battalion, 11th Brigade, 3rd Australian Division. Killed in action 3 July 1917. Grave III.D.14. Son of Julius August Duminski and Caroline Duminski, Montpelier Street, Clayfield, Queensland. His body was exhumed and reburied here. It was some of the battalion's more ‘routine’ tasks that proved its most trying experiences. At the end of June 1917, the 11th Brigade was ordered to establish a new front line west of Warneton, in full view of the Germans. Work carried on night and day under heavy shellfire and the period became known to the battalion as "the 18 days". The Brigade War Diary reports that an officer’s patrol encountered a German patrol and fire and grenades were exchanged with the Australians suffering three casualties. The German artillery was also active with shelling landing on Gapaard, Steignast Farm, Wellington Avenue and Owl Trench. 23/2308 Rifleman John Pearce Ede, (served as John Pearce White), ‘C’ Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Died of Wounds 7 June 1917, age 37. Grave IV.B.18. Son of Ann Ede, Irvine Street, Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand, and the late John Ede. He enlisted on 1 December 1915 and was employed as a Labourer. He was unmarried. The Battalion was in the opening attack of the Battle of Messines. Originally posted as missing an investigation established that Ede had been wounded in the abdomen by a shell that had also killed Lieutenant Fleming with one witness stating that they had seen Ede in a shell hole in the German support line. The Court of Enquiry finding was that he was ‘Missing believed died of wounds.’ His body was exhumed and reburied here.
Four Officers from East Surrey Regiment
2nd Lieutenant Leonard George Bruce Crabb, 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment, 85th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division. Killed in action 12 March 1915, age 18. Grave Special Memorial B.1. Son of Richard William and Maud Mary Crabb, O.B.E., of Ceylon. He was a cadet Lance Corporal at King Alfred’s School with the London Gazette of 6 December 1912 listing him in the Special Reserve of Officers as a Second Lieutenant (on probation) from 7 December 1912. 2nd Lieutenant John Kirtland, 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment, 85th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division. Killed in action 12 March 1915, age 32, Grave Special Memorial B.3. Son of William and Susannah Kirtland, Weston Turville, Bucks. He was an Assistant Master at Weston Turville School before he joined the regular army and was a Sergeant with the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 7 November 1914. Lieutenant Jonathan Otto Gustavus Becker, 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment, 85th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division. Killed in action 12 March 1915. Grave Special Memorial B.2.
2nd Lieutenant John Philip De Buriatte, 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment, 85th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division. Killed in action 12 March 1915, age 27, Grave II.B.3.
Son of William Warwick de Buriatte and Mary de Buriatte, of The Mill House, Wraysbury, Staines. Born at Aylesford, Kent. His father owned a papermill business. He was educated at Slough Secondary School and Dulwich College before entering the Faculty of Technology in 1905 to study Paper Making. In 1908 he was awarded a Certificate in Technology (Applied Chemistry). He played Rugby Union for Bowden Rangers. John joined his father’s firm in 1911, Wraysbury Paper Mills, and went to the United States to gain experience in works’ methods. In 1912 he joined the 28th Battalion London Regiment (Artists Rifles) and distinguished himself in Bayonet fighting. He was chosen to compete in a team that went through to the finals at Olympia in 1913, for which each member received a special bronze medal. Early in the war John was promoted to Sergeant and the unit went to France on 28th October 1914. On 14th February 1915 he was given a commission in the 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment. His father used words from Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Requiem” for his son’s headstone inscription: “Under the wide and starry sky, Dig the grave and let me lie.” John’s older brother, Warwick Huxley de Buriatte served with the Royal Garrison Artillery and died in a motorbike accident in Enfield, Middlesex, on the 19th October 1918.
The Battalion War Diary records that on 12 March the 7th Brigade was to attack the German line at Spanbroekmolen at 8.40am. Owing to a heavy mist the attack was delayed until 4.10pm. In the delay the British E1 trench, occupied by the Battalion, was shelled by their own artillery causing many casualties with 5 Officers killed, and 1 wounded. Other Ranks 27 killed, 41 wounded, and 7 missing. The planned attack was not a success.
Two Gordon Highlanders Buried Here
These are two men killed in the fighting in November and December 1914. 393 Private Alexander Allan, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 20th Infantry Brigade, 7th Division. Died of wounds 6 November 1914, age 23. Grave VI.A.12. Son of Archibald and Ellen Allan, 67 Commerce Street, Aberdeen. He was one of four British dead buried by a German Field Ambulance in November 1914 at Bousbecques East German Cemetery located on the south side of the village. His cross carried the words ‘Englander Allan G.G.’. He was exhumed and reburied here. The 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders were not engaged in any fighting in or around Messines on 6 November. Alexander died of his wounds on this day. The 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders were in action in and around Zandvoorde and Veldhoek. On the 6 November they were at Locre before moving onto Bailleul. 6118 Private William Kemp, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division. Killed in action 14 December 1914. Grave V.A.43. Son of James and Elizabeth Ann Kemp, 6 Aged Miners Homes, High Aspen, Rowlands Hill. He joined the Battalion as a replacement on 3 December 1914. See ‘It was a regular Valley of Death’ for details of the action that led to his death. The Commonwealth War Grave Commission has the wrong date of death. His pension records and Medal Index indicate his date of death as 14 December 1914.
Location
Messines Ridge British Cemetery is located 9.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre on the Nieuwkerkestraat, a road leading from the Rijselseweg, N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen and on to Armentieres. From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg. Nieuwkerkestraat is a right hand turning from the N365 in the town of Mesen. The cemetery lies 250 metres after this right hand turning on the left hand side of the road.
Both the cemetery and the memorial were designed by Charles Holden
Cemeteries Concentrated here:
BELL FARM CEMETERY, WYTSCHAETE, near the South side of the Messines-Kemmel road, where 32 soldiers of the 25th Division were buried in June 1917. BLAUWEPOORTBEEK CEMETERY, WYTSCHAETE, 1.6 kms North-East of Messines, where 16 Australian and seven United Kingdom soldiers were buried in August-October 1917. BOUSBECQUES EAST GERMAN CEMETERY, on the South side of the village, where four soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried by a German Field Hospital in November 1914. BRISTOL CASTLE MILITARY CEMETERY, MESSINES, on the Wulverghem road near Wulverghem, where 32 United Kingdom soldiers of the 36th (Ulster) and 14th (Light) Divisions were buried in September and October 1918. LUMM FARM CEMETERY, WYTSCHAETE, a little East of the Messines road, where 13 United Kingdom and two Australian soldiers were buried in June-September 1917. MIDDLE FARM CEMETERY, WYTSCHAETE, near the Messines road 500 metres North of Messines, where 16 Australian, 14 United Kingdom and four New Zealand soldiers were buried in July-December 1917. ONRAET FARM CEMETERY, WYTSCHAETE, between Wytschaete and St. Eloi, in which 29 soldiers of the 36th (Ulster) Division were buried in June-August 1917. QUEENSLAND CEMETERY, WARNETON, on the lower road from Messines to Warneton, where 30 Australian soldiers (of whom 23 belonged to the 41st Battalion) and three from the United Kingdom were buried in June and July 1917. RIVER DOUVE CEMETERY, MESSINES (also called Schnitzel Farm) on the river bank South of Messines, containing the graves of 24 Australian and four United Kingdom soldiers who fell in June-November 1917.
Burials
There are now 1,534 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery.
UK – 968
Australian – 332
New Zealand – 115
Canadian – 1
South African – 56
Unidentified (soldier whose regiment is identified but no name) – 954
Known Unto God – 1
Special Memorials commemorate a number of casualties known or believed to be buried here four British, ten Australian, thirteen New Zealand, and one South African. There are Special Memorials to thirteen British men who were buried in other cemeteries and whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
Comments