Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery

Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, CWGC. The church tower at Wytschaete is in the back ground Authors image

Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, CWGC, Wijtschate, is located within The Oosttaverne Line a German defensive line that ran northward from the River Lys to the Comines Canal, passing just east of Oosttaverne. It was one of the main objectives on the first day of the Battle of Messines and was captured on 7 June 1917, the first day of the Battle of Messines, the village and the wood being taken by the 19th (Western) Division and the 11th Division. Two German pillboxes, part of the defensive line, can be seen near to the cemetery. Read more about the German dugouts and bunkers.

Two remaining bunkers that formed part of the German Oosttaverne Line. Authors image

Memorial to the 19th Division, known as the ‘Butterfly’ Division. Authors image

There were originally two cemeteries, No.1 and No.2, now contained in Plots I, II and III, and were made by the IX Corps Burial Officer on the present site and used until September 1917. The cemetery was completed after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields (including many from Hill 60). Opposite the cemetery is the Memorial to the 19th Division, known as the ‘Butterfly’ Division, and marks the site of their advance on 7 June 1917. There are an unknown number of German graves in Plot I. There was a German cemetery at the edge of the road to Wytschaete, which contained approximately 1,100 graves that were concentrated here after the Armistice, and were removed in the 1950’s.

Body Identified One Hundred Years After His Death

Captain Cecil Thomas Tuff, ‘D’ Company, 3rd Battalion attached 1st Battalion Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), 13th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. Killed in action 18 April 1915, age 29. Grave VI.B.4. Son of Charles Tuff, J.P. and the late Mary Ann Tuff, of Westfield, Singlewell, near Gravesend, Kent. He was originally listed on the Menin Gate Memorial. He served with the Militia and then the Territorial Battalion from 1905 to 1911 when war broke out he was working in a farm in Kent. He was mobilised and joined the 3rd Battalion as a Lieutenant

Captain Cecil Thomas Tuff

and went to France in December 1914 and was attached to the 1st Battalion. The Battalion took part in an attack to retake Hill 60, which had been held by the Germans since 10 December 1914. On 17 April 1915 five mines were exploded under Hill 60 and they were followed up by an attack by the British to retake the hill. The 1st Battalion The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) took part in the attack and it was during this assault that Captain Cecil Tuff was killed on 18 April 1915. His body remained on Hill 60 until after the Armistice when he was recovered and buried in Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery as an unknown Captain. Following the research work by a local historian into the names listed on the local war memorial his body was identified and a rededication ceremony held at Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery in 2019. His brother Second Lieutenant Frank Noel Tuff, Royal East Kent Yeomanry, died on 5th November 1915 from wounds received in the Dardanelles.

Army Chaplain

Chaplain 4th Class The Reverend Clifford Hugh Reed, M.C., Army Chaplains’ Department, Killed in action 7 June 1917, age 28, Grave I.A.12. One of five sons and a daughter of William Henry and Caroline Reed, of "Thornlea", Cowley Road, Exeter. Clifford Reed was educated at Queen’s College, Taunton and Trinity College, Cambridge. From Cambridge, Reed entered the Wesleyan Methodist Ministry, becoming Chaplain of The Leys School in 1912 and joined the Army Chaplains’ Department during the war. His award of the Military Cross was gazetted on 14 November 1916: ‘For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty on many occasions in the firing line, in helping with the evacuation of wounded. On one occasion, he led a party of stretcher bearers under heavy shell fire to the advanced aid posts, rendering conspicuous service at great personal risk. He has previously rendered valuable service under fire.’ Clifford Reed was killed in action whilst ministering to the wounded under heavy fire on the Messines Ridge on 7 June 1917.

Royal Scots

16390 Private Alexander Hutchison, 1st Battalion, 81st Infantry Brigade, 27th Division. Died of wounds 24 April 1915. Grave VIII.F.14. He is listed as being married to Isabella MacKenzie however, she is recorded on the pension records as being the ‘Guardian’ of one adopted son, Thomas McKenzie, and three other sons, and living at 20 Annfield Street, Glasgow. He arrived in France on 24 March 1915 as part of a draft and joined the Battalion. On the 24 April they were in the front line astride the Menin Road at Inverness Copse. The War Diary records that they were subjected to Minenwerfer (German trench mortar) shelling that ‘are very effective in breaking down parapets but are, fortunately, less so as man-killers.’ Their trenches were also exposed to enfilade fire from a German light field guns. They recorded casualties of three officers and 29 other ranks killed, and three officers and 190 men wounded when they were relieved on 4 May. Alexander was a battle field burial, identified by his clothing, badge, watch and ring, and reburied here on 27 June 1926. 15842 Private Thomas Cummings, 12th Battalion, 27th Infantry Brigade, 9th Scottish Division. Died of wounds 29 April 1918, age 43. Grave II.E.8. He was married to Mary Rutherford Cummings and they lived with their two children at 8 Pirries Close, Canongate, Edinburgh. He went to France on 11 May 1915 as part of a draft. 9107 Private Charles Dick, 12th Battalion, Died of wounds 29 April 1918, age 32  Grave II.E.9. He was one of two sons and a daughter of Charles and Annie Dick, 6 Northcote Street, Edinburgh. He was a regular soldier on the outbreak of war and had gone to France with the 2nd Battalion on 11 August 1914. On the 25 April 1918, the Battalion was holding the front line at Lagache Farm near Wytschaete with the French on their right. The Germans heavily shelled their lines with H.E. and gas shells and the French troops fell back leaving the Battalion lines exposed and gradually the Germans worked round behind them and surrounded their positions. The remaining few men fought their way back to the Cheapside Line near Vierstraat. Both were originally buried at Hoogemotte Farm German Cemetery, Wervicq, and reburied here on 3 November 1923.

Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, CWGC. Authors image

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

253148 Private Thomas McLay, 2nd Battalion, 98th Infantry Brigade, 33rd Division. Killed in action 25 September 1917, age 31. Grave VIII.C.9. Son of  John and Margaret McLay, 15 Queen Margaret Drive, Glasgow. They also had four daughters. He was unmarried and was working as a salesman in the spirits industry in Glasgow. The Battalion was involved in the Battle of the Menin Road and on the night of 24/25 September relieved the 11th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment in the area of Glencorse Wood taking over shell holes and partly demolished trenches in the front line. The Battalion was involved in a counter attack on the afternoon of the 25 September in support of the 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment and to retake trenches lost. ‘A’ and ‘C’ Company’s advanced through heavy German shell fire and came into line with elements of the 1st Middlesex and carried them forward and established and consolidated a position on a slight ridge running from Black Watch Corner towards Lone House. At 3.30pm the position was consolidated and at 10.45pm they were relieved by the 4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. Battalion casualties were four officers and 201 Other ranks killed, wounded or missing. Thomas was to be listed on the new Menin Gate Memorial however, his body was found on the battlefield and reburied here on 23 September 1926, it was identified from his service number marked on two pieces of his boot and a piece of kilt.

Throughout the 23 to 27 April 1915, the 1st/9th Battalion, 81st Infantry Brigade, 27th Division, was in the line at Glencorse Wood and were under constant shelling. On the 23 April one man was killed and one wounded, 24 April, three men wounded and a relief was expected but did not arrive. On the 27 April they were still in the wood and recorded one man killed and 6 wounded. 1852 Private William Howie, 1st/9th Battalion, Killed in action 23 April 1915, age 39. Grave VIII.E.19. He was married to Mary Sharpe Durpin Newlands Howie and they lived with their two children at 358 Dumbarton Road, Dalmuir, Glasgow. He was employed as a Plumber. He was to have been listed as missing on the Menin Gate Memorial. His remains were found on the battlefield and reburied here on 7 August 1926. He was identified from a spectacle case addressed to ‘James Trotter, 40 Gordon St, Glasgow’, and his kilt. 1580 Private John Mulgrew, 1st/9th Battalion, Killed in action 24 April 1915, age 21. Grave VIII.E.17. One of four sons and three daughters  of Patrick and Mary Mulgrew, 5 Gavin Burn Street, Old Kilpatrick, Dumbarton. He enlisted in the Territorial on 14 March 1912, he was employed as a Rivetter in the Clydebank ship yards. He was found in the same location as the other two killed in April 1915 and was identified from his disc. 1722 Private John Healy, 1st/9th Battalion, Killed in action 27 April 1915, age 23. Grave VIII.E.16. He was the son of James Healy, Filshies Land, Duntocher, Dumbartonshire. He enlisted in the Territorials on 12 December 1912, and was employed as a Cabinet Maker. His body was found on the battlefield and reburied here and was identified from his disc.

Tank Corps

During April 1918, following the German Spring offensive known as the Battle of the Lys, the 13th Battalion, 4th Tank Brigade, Tank Corps, was being utilised as infantry and using their Lewis Machine guns as support. From the 24 April 1918, they were in the Vierstraat Line as infantry support. They were involved in the defence of the Cheapside Line, ‘B’ Company was surrounded and wiped during a gallant defence of their positions on 25 April. The other companies were involved in a counter attack on the 26 April, incurring casualties. 305367 Private John Hayden Fidler, 13th Battalion, 4th Tank Brigade, Tank Corps, Killed in action 28 April 1918, age 19. Grave II.E.5. Son of Edward and Elizabeth Fidler, 5 March Vale, Rotherham. 301573 Corporal Horace John Smith, 13th Battalion, Killed in action 30 April 1918, age 33. Grave I.H.5. Son of John Smith, of Yeovil, Somerset. He was married to Ethel Annie Smith and they lived with their two children at 4 Hazelwell Villas, Station Road., Ilminster, Somerset. Both men died of their wounds and were originally buried at Hoogemotte Farm German Cemetery, Wervicq, and reburied here on 3 November 1923

Royal Flying Corps

Learn more about the Ypres Salient airmen

Lieutenant Thomas Frederick Preston, 53rd Squadron, Norfolk Yeomanry attached Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action 24 January 1917, age 27. Grave I.H.13. Son of Sir Jacob Henry and Mary Hope Preston, Beeston Hall, Beeston St Lawrence, Norfolk. They had five children. Thomas trained as a pilot and joined 53rd Squadron. Lieutenant Charles Melvill Buck, 53rd Squadron, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, attached Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action 24 January 1917, age 22. Grave I.H.12. Only son of Sir Edward J. and

Lieutenant Charles Melvill Buck. Authors image

Lady Buck, of Simla and Delhi, India. He was educated at boarding school in the United Kingdom, first at Twyford School and later at Winchester College. After leaving school, Charles went first to Argentina and later Australia, to learn ranching. He was in Australia upon the outbreak of war in August 1914, and immediately enlisted in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery.   He appears to have served with them on Thursday Island, which guarded the Torres Straight between Australia and Papua New Guinea. On 15th January 1915 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers and he joined the 31st Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers (a Cavalry Regiment) at Kohat, India. In June 1915, Charles was ordered to France and at the end of August he was attached to the 2nd Lancers (Gardner Horse) and Indian Cavalry Regiment. In February 1916 he was hospitalised in the UK with pneumonia and on being discharged from hospital in May 1916 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and trained as an Observer. They were shot down with by Vitzfeldwebel Alfred Ulmer from Jasta 8, whilst on a photographic mission flying in BE2e (6308). The aircraft crashed near Warneton, both were killed. They were the first airmen from 53rd Squadron to be killed in action. Originally buried at Houthem German Cemetery and concentrated here in November 1923. Vizefeldwebel Alfred Ulmer was severely wounded in action on 5 February 1917 over Dranoutre, and on his return to Jasta 8 was shot down and killed on 29 June when in combat with aircraft of 20 Squadron his aircraft, an Albatross DV, was set on fire over Hollebeke.

Nieuport 17 Tri-plane

Lieutenant Maxwell Gerrard Cole, 1st Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action 18 May 1917, age 18. Grave I.H.19. Son of Mr. W. H. and Mrs. C. M. Cole, of Bourne House, Bromscombe, Gloucestershire. He was commissioned in August 1916 while still at Marlborough College and joined the Royal Flying Corps. He went to France in early February 1917. He was flying a Nieuport 17 (B1555) on a Kite Balloon Patrol when he was killed in action. His commanding officer wrote to his parents: ‘I deeply regret to have to inform you that your son has been reported missing. He was engaged in a balloon attack and failed to return. Second-Lieutenant Cole was a very gallant officer and popular with his brother officers, who deeply deplore his loss, and beg you to accept their deep sympathy.’ His was one of four aircraft from the Squadron shot down that day. Observation balloons were nearly always protected by a substantial anti-aircraft defence and were dangerous targets. The attacking aircraft had to get in close to shoot them down and the balloons were quickly hauled down when attacking aircraft were spotted. This meant that the attacking aircraft had to fly very low. Originally buried at Houthem German Cemetery and concentrated here in November 1923. His brother Lieutenant Clifford Cole, 5th Battalion Gloucester Regiment, was killed in action on 19 June 1916, age 20, and is buried in the Royal Irish Rifles Cemetery, Laventie.

RE8 reconnaissance aircraft

Second Lieutenant Frederick Adams, 53rd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, Killed in action 12 May 1917, age 28. Grave I.H.20. Son of W. H. and E. Adams of Coventry. He trained as a pilot. Second Lieutenant Oscar Ralph Kelley, 53rd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, Killed in action 12 May 1917, age 28. Grave I.H.21. He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers and later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and trained as an Observer. They were flying in an RE8 (A3243) on photographic reconnaissance near Messines when they were shot down over Hollebeke by Leutnant Max Ritter von Muller of Jasta 28, this was his tenth victory. Both men were originally buried at Houthem German Cemetery and concentrated here in November 1923. Muller was an ace and had accumulated many decorations only surpassed by Manfred von Richthofen. He was killed in action on 9 January 1918 when he jumped from his blazing aircraft following combat with two British aircraft above Moorslede. He was Bavaria’s highest scoring ace with 38 victories. After the war he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Military Max-Joseph Order, effectively a posthumous Knighthood. He was 31 years old when he was killed in action.

Second Lieutenant Paul Charles Stacpoole O'Longan

Second Lieutenant Paul Charles Stacpoole O’Longan, Royal Irish Regiment attached 41st Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action 1 June 1917, age 19. Grave I.H.8. He was the son of Paul O’Longain and Elizabeth O’Longan, Blackrock Co. Cork. He transferred from the Royal Irish Rifles to the Royal Flying Corps and trained as a pilot. He was flying an FE8 (A4887), this was an early British scout aircraft, on an offensive patrol over Houthem when he was shot down by Oberleutnant Hans Bethge of Jasta 30. Hans Bethge was an ace with twenty victories to his name. This was his seventh victory. He was nominated for the Pour le Merite on his twentieth kill but it had not been approved when he was killed in action over Passchendaele on 17 March 1918. He was buried in his native Berlin. Paul O’Longan was a promising poet with a small booklet produced in Cork in 1917 that featured some of his works written when only 16. The last poem he wrote is prophetic:

Sleep  on ! Sleep on, beneath the deepest wave.

Unmeasured e’en as thine own genius ; swayed

Not by a careless breath. Thou wert obeyed

Within thy span by us ; but naught could save

‘ E’en thee, our firmest rock : thou hadst to slide

Also into the sea of death. Have rest

Within thy ghostly sphere, for we are blest

By thine example. Thy virtues still abide

With us, stern warrior : they must always last

Until the very stars fall from the sky.

I heard our guns afar (and held my breath),

Smiting the foe upon the Danish waste. . b

The loud victorious echoes rolled by

And formed fit wreath for thy brow Wrapt in death.

Originally buried at Houthem German Cemetery and concentrated here in November 1923.

Royal Engineers

132414 Sapper Daniel McFarlane, 250 Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, Killed in action 24 February 1917, age 27. Grave I.H.16. One of three sons and four daughters of James and Elizabeth McFarlane, 11 Bush Terrace, Musselburgh. He was employed as a Miner when he enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 27 September 1915. The 250 Tunnelling Company took part in a raid by the 124th Infantry Brigade on the Hollandscheschuur Salient. The party of Tunnellers detailed to accompany the raid consisted of 2 Officers, 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal, and 7 Sappers. They were divided up into three parties each with a definite objective. A mine system at the enemy crater opposite the British line and known to the British as the ‘Nags Nose’ and a mine or dugout system at Hollandscheschuur Farm were successfully destroyed along with some connected dugouts along the northern section of the Salient. The Tunnellers casualties were 1 Sergeant and 2 Sappers wounded. Daniel was reported wounded and missing following the raid. The Germans were mining beneath the British lines from the crater at the Nag’s Nose and the British were uncertain as to the distance the gallery had gone out. They thought the target of the mine was the junction of the Vierstraat Road with the British Front line. He was originally buried at Houthem German Cemetery and concentrated here in November 1923. Learn more about the Tunnellers war

Trench map showing the areas of the trench raid

Boy Soldiers

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 are two Boy Soldiers buried at Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery and both were concentrated here after the Armistice. 9876 Private Alfred William Mills, 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division. Killed in action 21 October 1914, age 17. Gave III.E.3. Son of Alfred William Mills, 22 Rutland Street, Cheltenham.

Trench map showing the area of the action

He gave his trade as Labourer when he enlisted on 10 September 1913. On the 21 October 1914, the Battalion was in the area of Langemarck. At 8.30am they received orders to attack and hold the farm of Koekuit. ‘D’ Company advanced to attack on the right and ‘C’ Company direct on the farm attacking 300 yards beyond the railway level crossing. ‘B’ Company advanced on the left of the Koekuit Road, on the left of ‘C’ Company who were able to take the farm. The Germans attacked with a force of about 150 men from the direction of Mangelaare and got to 600 yards of the farm and were checked by enfilade fire. They then retreated back to the village. About 90 minutes later they attacked again some 300 yards north of Koekuit and were stooped again this time they dug in some 400 yards from the farm. After this attack the farm was evacuated due to a retirement on the Battalions right however, it was reoccupied when reinforcements arrived from the Scots Guards. Had the farm not been reoccupied the British line would have been untenable. Alfred was originally buried in Koekuit German Cemetery, Langemarck. After the Armistice his body was removed and reburied at Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery.  3/5073 Lance Corporal Ernest John Linge, 2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 82nd Infantry Brigade, 27th Division. Killed in action 23 April 1915, age 17. Grave VII.F.22. He was one of four sons and a daughter of Arthur and Susan Linge, 43 Selborne Road, Wood Green, London. On the 22 April 1915, the Germans attacked the French line near Langemarck with poison gas and the French line broke leaving a large gap in the line. At 4.30am on 23 April the Battalion moved up, via the Menin Gate, to the 27th Division HQ at the Chateau at Potijze and halted in the wood behind the Chateau. They then moved to the left of the Canadian Division at Wieltje and came under the command of Colonel A D Geddes and his composite force known as ‘Geddes Force’. They were then ordered to attack northwards towards the Pilkem – Ypres Road in conjunction with the 13th Brigade who were to attack on the left of the road. The Battalion was on the right of the York and Lancaster Regiment. During the attack the Battalion suffered heavy casualties from machine gun and shell fire with twelve officers killed or wounded, 46 Other Ranks killed, 216 wounded and 6 missing. Ernest was to have been listed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the missing. His body was concentrated from a battlefield burial at Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery on 26 June 1926.

Trench map showing the location of the attack on 23 April 1915 at Hill Top Ridge

 Location

Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery is located 6 Kms south of Ieper town centre on the Rijselseweg N336 connecting Ieper to Lille. From Ieper town centre the Rijselstraat 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. 3 Kms along the Rijselseweg the road forks with the N365. The N336 is the left hand fork towards Lille. The cemetery is located 2 Kms after this left hand fork on the right hand side of the road.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Cemeteries Concentrated here:

HOOGEMOTTE FARM GERMAN CEMETERY, WERVICQ, on the Belgian side of the Lys, towards Comines; a permanent cemetery, which contained, in addition to German graves, those of twelve soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in April, 1918. HOUTHEM-LES-YPRES GERMAN CEMETERY, on the West side of the village; a permanent cemetery in which 17 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom were buried in 1916-17. IN DE STER GERMAN CEMETERY, BECELAERE, named from a cabaret on the road to Broodseinde; made by the XXVII Reserve Corps, and containing the graves of 53 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October and November, 1914. KOEKUIT GERMAN CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, on the road to Houthulst, in which eight soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried in October, 1914. TENBRIELEN-AMERIKA GERMAN CEMETERY, in the Haut-Bois, North of Comines, now containing about 850 graves. Six soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried here in April, 1917. THREE HOUSES GERMAN CEMETERY, HOLLEBEKE (or HOLLEBEKE CEMETERY No. 60), on the Kortevilde-Verbrandenmolen road, across the canal; three soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from Canada were buried there in 1916. ZWAANHOEK GERMAN CEMETERY, BECELAERE, on the South side of the Molenhoek-Reutel road; made by the XXVII Reserve Corps, and containing the graves of six soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October, 1914. CROONAERT CHAPEL was a shrine in a hamlet on the Wytschaete-Voormezeele road; and the cemetery is 160 yards West of that road, a mile North of Wytschaete village. It was in No Man's Land before the Battle of Messines, 1917

Burials

The cemetery contains 1,119 First World War burials, 783 of which are unidentified. Scattered among these graves are 117 from the Second World War, one of whom is French, five of them unidentified. There is a Special Memorial to one British soldier who was buried in Three House German Cemetery at Hollebeke and whose grave was lost.

UK – 923

Australian – 43

New Zealand – 19

Canadian – 133

German – Number unknown