The cemetery was begun and used by the 3rd Australian and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations when they moved to Poperinghe (now Poperinge), from Brandhoek and Lijssenthoek respectively, in September 1917. Nearly all the burials in Plots I to IX came from these Casualty Clearing Stations, whilst they operated in this area during the 1917 Battle of Ypres, up until December 1917. Plots X, XI, XIII, XIV and XV cover the dates between the beginning of March 1918 and the 12th October 1918, the period of the German offensive in Flanders, the British counter attacks and the final advance of August-September. The burials in these cases were carried out almost entirely by fighting units.
There is a German Plot containing the graves of prisoners of war who died from September 1917 to March 1918.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Cemetery Location
Nine Elms British Cemetery is located west of Poperinge on the Helleketelweg, a road leading from the N33 Poperinge ring road. From Ieper follow the signs to Poperinge. At the traffic lights at the end of the expressway turn left onto the Poperinge ring road, the Europalaan. Follow the ring road to the roundabout and take the second exit. At the next roundabout take the second exit, follow the ring road and take the first turning on the left, the Helleketelweg. The cemetery is along here on the left.
Shot at Dawn
There are two men buried here who were shot at dawn.
265427 Private John McFarlane, Age 27, Grave XI.A.2 Son of William and Margaret McFarlane, of 14, Gerard Street, Byrom Street, Liverpool. 4th Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. Shot for desertion on 22 May 1918.
11682 Private Joseph Nisbet, Grave XV.C.21 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, 71st Brigade, 6th Division. During his four years of service he already had two convictions one of which was for violence and he had been sentenced to four years the other was for disobedience for which he was under a suspended sentence of death. In the summer of 1918, he reported sick on the day the battalion was warned for the front and was ordered to attend the next sick parade. He deserted instead and was arrested in Calais. He was shot on 23 August 1918.