Talana Farm Cemetery
Talana Farm Cemetery is in the fields approximately 400 yards from the Ieper to Boezinge road. The cemetery is named after the historical village in Kwa-Zulu Natal famous for the Battle of Talana Hill during the Second Boer War. The cemetery was begun by French troops in April 1915, taken over by the 1st Rifle Brigade and 1st Somerset Light Infantry in June 1915, and was used by fighting units until March 1918. Buried in Plot II, Rows E and F are a number of men of the 1st East Lancashire Regiment who died in a small, but successful raid on 6 July 1915. Plots III and IV contain many 49th (West Riding) Division graves and also those of the artillery units that took over the ground in August 1917. The farmer likes to grow corn and the access route during the late summer can look like a scene from the film Field of Dreams as the corn towers over you.
Royal Engineers
102296 Sapper Edward Pattison, 177th Tunnelling Company, Killed in action 11 July 1915, age Grave II.E.1. The Company were tunnelling under the Canal near bridge 6D and they had driven inclines to 35 and 48 feet and sunk shafts to 15 feet in each. The work was constantly interrupted by heavy shelling. They recorded one Other Rank as wounded. Edward died of his wounds at No.2 West Riding Field Ambulance Advanced Dressing Station at Hulls Farm. The War Diary of the Field Ambulance describes Hulls Farm: ‘This farm has two good rooms and a cellar with a number of out houses, it is surrounded by a moat. About 100 yards away is the Canal side a communication trench runs down to the road running along the western side of the Yser Canal. The trench continues on other side of road to the embankment and northwards to M.O.S. dug out which is near 6D Bridge. The collecting arrangements are that squads of bearers are sent down at dusk each night to bring up cases to the Adv. D. Stn at Hulls Farm, from this point they are conducted or carried across the fields to Modder Farm.’ By 31 July they had abandoned Hulls Farm as it had received so many shell hits that it had become untenable. Learn more about the British dugouts and bunkers that remain on the Canal Bank.
The Phosgene Gas Attack of 19 December 1915
The 49th (West Riding) Division had moved into the Canal sector of the Ypres Salient in July 1915 with the divisional front covering from Boesinghe to Morteldje Estimanet on the Ypres to Langemarck Road a front line of approximately two miles. 148th Brigade held the left of the line, 147th Brigade the centre and 146th Brigade the right. The Division occupied the camps around Elverdinghe and the Chateau. On the 19 December 1915 the Germans attacked the Division’s trench positions with poison gas. The Germans opened a heavy bombardment on the Canal Bank, communication and reserve trenches and the gas reached the support lines and dugouts, where the sleeping men were gassed before they could react.
1st/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division
There are 23 men killed in action on 19 December 1915 from the 1st/4th and 1st/6th Battalions of the Regiment. Four from each Battalion have been selected.
The Battalion had relieved the 1st/4th Battalion in the line and were occupying trenches 7.31, 7.32, S32, 7.33, 7.34, and 7.35, note this numbering is used in the War Diary and the trench map is using F.31 etc,
On the 18 December in front of sections 7.33 and 7.34 they recorded: ‘.. sounds of hammering on metal heard. Also in one section considerable coughing.. orders given to evacuate front line at 5am, as arrangements were made to bombard the German front line (to commence at 9.30am).’ At 5.30am they recorded: ‘When evacuation was proceeding – gas was noticed to be coming from German trenches in form of whitish cloud and loud buzzing noise heard – alarm given by Telephone & klaxon horns – some detachments caught by gas whilst relieving – one machine gun section gassed and gun lost – rapid rifle and machine gun fire opened. French guns open on German parapet opposite F.34 and F.35.’ At 5.35am the occupants of trench 7.31 withdrew to Colne Valley Trench with casualties recorded as ‘one signaller killed one wounded by shell – no gas casualties – garrisons of 7.32 caught by gas while with drawing to S32 – the inmates of dugouts on East side of Canal caught by gas and suffer badly – the men in the trenches no worse for gas.’ By 7am the gas attack was over and the Battalion recorded casualties of ’22 killed, 47 wounded and suffering from gas poisoning – 6th Battalion take over sections 7.34/5.’ 1847 Private John Mclarnon, ‘D’ Company, age 45. Grave IV.H.12. Son of Michael and Margaret McLarnon, late of Marchioness Street, Belfast. He was married to Agnes Cecelia McLarnon, 27 Launds, Golcar, Huddersfield and they had six children and one grandchild. He had served in the South African Campaign and was on the reserve when war was declared. The 1911 census records that he was employed as an Assistant Gardener working in a garden nursery. 1033 Sergeant Charles William Akroyd, age 22. Grave IV.H.11.Youngest of two son of Joseph and Hannah Akroyd, 12 Rochdale Road, Ripponden, Halifax. He was employed as a Plumbers Apprentice when he enlisted when aged 17 on 23 June 1910. He died from gas poisoning. 3527 Private Herbert Bramley, age 22 Grave IV.H.8. Son of Robina Bramley, Stonegate, Whixley, York, she was a widow. He enlisted on 18 December 1914 and gave his address as 44 Union Street South, Halifax and was unemployed. 1300 Corporal Percy Albert Fletcher, age 20. Grave IV.H.6. One of four sons and four daughters of Henry Francis Elizabeth Fletcher, 9 Pleasant Street, Commercial Road, Halifax.
1st/6th Battalion, 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division
At 5.30am on 19 December the Germans attacked the Division’s positions with poison gas and the sentry at Battalion HQ located at Malakoff Farm gave the alarm. The site of Malakoff Farm is located near to Solferino Farm Cemetery. The Battalion stood to and moved up from reserve into the attack-move positions. At 7.30am they were in position. No casualties occurred moving into position but casualties were considerable with many occurring at the dugouts on the Canal Bank north of Bridge 6D, and were mostly amongst ‘B’ Company with the War Diary recording: ‘who were in the dugouts at Canal Bank and did not wake up in time to grasp what was happening.’ 2413 Lance Corporal Fred Gallagher, age 23. Grave III.F.3. One of two sons and two daughters of Elizabeth Ann Gallagher, 20 Sheep Street, Skipton. Fred joined the 1st/6th Territorial Battalion on 1 April 1908 at the age of 17. He was employed by Johnson and Mason as a weaver. He shot himself with a revolver at Hulls Farm Aid Post after being gassed. 244 Corporal Frank Bulcock, age 24. Grave III.F.2. Oldest of two sons and a daughter of Thomas and Rose Ann Bulcock, Wapping Cottage, Settle. He married Emily in the spring of 1915 and they lived at Castleborough, Settle, Yorks. He was employed as a Clerk. Killed by black shrapnel while in the observation trench. Black shrapnel was a term used to describe a German artillery shell that produced a dark smoke puff when detonating in the air. Sergeant PH Barrett although gassed himself attended to Corporal Bulcock and in so doing was wounded himself. 2736 Private Maurice Smith, age 20 Grave III.F.4. Eldest of four sons and two daughters of John Henry and Elizabeth Jane Smith, 5 Rowland Street, Skipton. He was employed as a Bookbinder. Died of gas poisoning. 3166 Private Harry Cuthbert Taylor, ‘B’ Company, age 22. Grave III.F.5. Son of Timothy and Sarah Elizabeth Taylor, 4 St. Luke's Terrace, East Morton, Bingley, Yorks. Died of gas poisoning.
Attack on International Trench 6 July 1915
The plan was to attack International Trench, located north of the Canal at Boesinghe, to improve the British tactical position in the sector and to distract the Germans from a British attack at Hooge. The Hooge operation did not go ahead but the attack on International Trench went ahead. The aim was to capture Fortin 17, a small temporary field defence, and then to move forward to take Ferme 14, a ruined farm that sat on a rise fourteen metres above seas level and was 600 yards to the rear of the German lines.
The attack was to be made by 1st Rifle Brigade with the 1st Somerset Light Infantry in support. At 5am the British artillery opened their barrage on the International Trench with the Germans replying with their counter barrage and casualties occurred in the British assembly trenches. At 6am the 1st Rifle Brigade went forward and captured the International Trench however, heavy fighting now ensued as the Germans counter attacked and 1st Somerset Light Infantry had to advance in support and with the Royal Engineers began to create new fire and communication trenches. They were supported by two companies from the Hampshire Regiment that had come up in support and helped to defend the trench. The German bombardment of the new British positions eventually died down and by midnight had ceased altogether. The Rifle Brigade was relieved by the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and the Somersets by the 1st Battalion Warwicks. They had advanced 75 yards on a 300 yard front and taken 30 prisoners belonging to the 215th Regiment and 213th Regiments which were Landsturm units from Schleswig Holstein, two machine guns, two trench mortars, telephone and other trench stores. The prisoners reported that their side of the International Trench Sap had been mined and one of them pointed out the switch for exploding the charge. Casualties were three officers killed, 33 Other Ranks killed, 175 Other Ranks wounded, and 25 missing.
1st Battalion Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own), 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division - 2nd Lieutenant Patrick Charles Bentley Blair, 5th Battalion attached 1st Battalion, age 24. Grave Special Memorial I.E.10. Son of the Rev. C. Patrick Blair, M.A., and Jeanie Bogle Smith Blair, of Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire. He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh before going to Cambridge University. He played Rugby for Fettes College and at Cambridge achieving his Blue in 1910. He was capped five times for Scotland between 1912 and 1913. After graduating, he went on to serve in the Egyptian Civil Service Finance Department. He was commissioned in March 1915 joining the Rifle Brigade. 2nd Lieutenant Bernard Gibbs M.C., Mentioned in Despatches. 6th Battalion attached 1st Battalion, age 22. Grave I.D.8. Son of George R. and Elizabeth Gibbs, of "Rycott," St. Helens Park Road, Hastings. Educated at Pencarwick, Exmouth, Macclesfield Grammar School, Shrewsbury, and Pembroke College, Cambridge. He won his M.C. for cool and
capable command during an attack on a Canadian Dressing Station The London Gazette of 3 July 1915 records: ‘Second Lieutenant Bernard Gibbs, 6th (attached 1st) Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). For the cool and capable way in which he commanded the Canadian Dressing Station and outbuildings while the Germans sapped to within 40 yards of it. He opened enfilade fire on a considerable force attacking his left, bringing them to a standstill. Later he ran into the open and threw hand grenades at the German sapping party, compelling them to retire.’
2nd Lieutenant George Francis Juckes, 6th Battalion attached 1st Battalion, age 21. Grave I.D.9. Son of Ambrose and Henrietta Juckes. He was educated at King’s School in Canterbury. He was a rugby player, having turned out for St
Bartholomew’s Hospital, Blackheath and Rosslyn Park RFC. Commissioned in the 6th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade on 15 August 1914, he went to France on 1 January 1915. His brother Lieutenant Thomas Roland Juckes, 3rd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment attached 2nd Battalion was also killed in action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915 and is listed on the Le Touret Memorial to the Missing.
228 Company Sergeant Major William Halliwell M.C., 1st Battalion, age 29. Grave Special Memorial I.E.8. One of five sons of Thomas Bennett Halliwell and Martha Elizabeth Halliwell, 11 Thurland Road, Bermondsey, London. He enlisted in 1904 as a regular soldier and joined the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade and rose through the ranks to Company Sergeant Major. On 19 December 1914, when the Battalion was in the line at Ploegsteert Wood they took part in an attack on the German line, after two of his men had been killed in an attempt to establish a line of communication to the front trenches, he volunteered and was successful in his attempt, although exposed to a very heavy fire. He was awarded the M.C. The War Diary recording: ' for very good work throughout, especially on 19 December 1914.’ The G.O.C. reported: 'This N.C.O. volunteered to take a message back to 'B' Company during the action after two men had been killed in the attempt and returned immediately to the firing line under heavy fire. He has worked hard and conducted himself gallantly throughout the campaign.' Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 17 February 1915. His brother Ernest, age 33, was killed in action on 12 October 1917. He was a Gunner in ‘D’ Battery, 232nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery Grave XXVIII.H.18. Z/666 Rifleman Charles Timson, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, age 20. Grave I.C.20. Son of Charles and Sarah Priscilla Timson, of 119, Hall Cottages, Baxterley, Atherstone. Epitaph: ONLY A PRIVATE SOLDIER BUT A MOTHER'S SON RESTING ON A FIELD OF BATTLE DUTY DONE.MOTHER & FATHER 475 Rifleman Frank Francis May, 1st Battalion, age 27. Grave I.C.12. Brother of Charlotte May, 66 Waghorn Street, Peckham, London. Epitaph: WELL DONE FRANK LOTTIE
HQ 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 103rd Infantry Brigade, 34th Division
At 9am on the 17 October 1917 they were in the HQ at Stray Farm near Pilkem when it was struck by a shell killing all four. Lieutenant Colonel Alan Bryant DSO, Twice Mentioned in Despatches, 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment attached 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, Commanding Officer, age 48. Grave III.K.1. Son of G. R. Bryant. He was married to husband Millicent Bryant. He was educated at Marlborough College and was commissioned in the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1890 and served in Ireland, Malta, Egypt, India, and the South African War. He was promoted to Captain in 1900 and attended the Staff College in 1901 and was Instructor at Sandhurst from 1903 to 1905, Brigade Major, Plymouth from 1905 to 1907, Coast Defence Dover 1908 to 1912. He was Major and G.S.O Canada 1912, C.G.O France 1915, Lieutenant Colonel and GSO1 in 1916. Captain William Ford Robertson, Twice Mentioned in Despatches, Adjutant, age 23. Grave III.K.2. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Robertson, 60 Inverleith Row, Edinburgh. He was married to Annie Burns Robertson, 19 Stirling Road, Trinity, Edinburgh. Lieutenant Robert Rodham, Intelligence Officer, 27th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion attached 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, age 26. Grave III.K.4. Son of Robert and Annie Ellen Rodham, 160 Cheetham Hill Road, Dukinfield, Cheshire. Native of Willington Quay, Northumberland. Captain Frederick Charles Davies, Medical Officer, RAMC attached 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, age 33. Grave III.K.3. Son of William and Ellen Davies. M.A., M.B., B. Chir. (Cambs), M.R.C.P.
Royal Army Medical Corps
Captain John Fitzgerald Gwynne M.C., Mentioned in Despatches, Medical Officer 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division. Killed in action 9 July 1915, age 26. Grave II.D.16. Son of Charles. N. Gwynne, M.D., and Grace M. Gwynne (nee Hanna), of "Upway," 5 Sydney Terrace, Guildford. Native of Sheffield. He was educated at Stancliffe Hall, Loretto School, Musselburgh 1901 to 1906 on a Choral scholarship, Sheffield University. He was House Surgeon at Sheffield Royal Infirmary 1911 to 1913, and afterwards Assistant Medical Officer Southwark Union Infirmary, East Dulwich. He was gazetted Lieutenant in the Territorial Battalion on 3 June 1912 and transferred to the RAMC on 3 February 1914 and was promoted to Captain on 30 March 1915. He was attached to the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment on 2 September 1914. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 4 January 1915 and won his M.C. for rescuing a soldier who had his leg blown off and he instantly rushed out and carried him to safety. His brother Lieutenant Owen Perrott Gwynne was killed in action in January 1916 at Mesopotamia age 25. On the 8 July 1915 the Battalion was ordered to send two companies to relieve the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in the line at the International Sap with ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies taking over. On the 9 July the War Diary records: ‘About 5.15am our splendid ‘Doc’ (Capt J F Gwynne RAMC) went up to the trench to see what he could do. He spent a long time tending to the wounded left by the Lanc Fus and then bandaged up a Rifle Brigade bomber who has just blown his hand off. No sooner had he finished and straightened himself than a sniper shot him through the head killing him instantly, and we lost one of the finest and bravest members of the Battn. He was buried in the evening in the brigade cemetery just behind Talana Farm (S. of Boesinghe).’
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 five Boy Soldiers buried here 1619 Private Reginald John Wright, 1st/4th Battalion, 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division. Killed in action 19 December 1915, age 17. Grave III.H.5. Son of Jesse and Florence Wright, 16 Stuart Street, Grantham. S/9175 Rifleman Robert Arthur Frederick Williams, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, Killed in action 6 July 1916, age 17. Grave I.C.16. Son of William and Susannah Williams. 1870 Private Joseph Henry Littlejohns, 1st/5th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, 148th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division. Killed in action 2 September 1915, age 17. Grave IV.B.10. Son of John Henry and Ada Littlejohns, 87 Wortley Road, Masborough, Rotherham. The Battalion was rotating in and out of the line at trenches F.31 to F.33 with casualties for period 26 August to 19 September one officer wounded and nine Other Ranks killed, 50 wounded. 2391 Private Charles Stephen Moorhouse, 1st/4th (Hallamshire) Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, 148th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division. Killed in action 11 September 1915, age 17. Grave IV.B.20. Son of Mrs. Florence Moorhouse, 120 High Street, Ecclesfield, Sheffield. Epitaph: A BRAVE BOY AT REST NEVER FORGOTTEN BY HIS LOVING MOTHER. They were in the line at F.31 and the enemy trench mortars were active and they recorded two men killed and six wounded. 3288 Private Norman Crowther, 1st/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division. Killed in action 23 November 1915, age 16. Grave IV.D.2. Son of John Crowther, 25 Victoria Road., Elland, Yorks, and the late Emma Crowther. There is no record of how Norman died. The War Diary records a number of men wounded on 21 November while crossing open ground during a relief. No casualties are recorded on 22 November and they are relieved on 23 November.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Location
From Ieper the Cemetery is located on the Diksmuidseweg road (N369) in the direction of Boezinge. From the station in Ieper turn left into M.Fochlaan and go to the roundabout, turn right and go to the next roundabout. Here turn left and drive to the next roundabout. Turn right into Oude Veurnestraat. Take the second turning on the left, which is the Diksmuidseweg, and carry on under the motorway bridge. The cemetery will be found a further 600 metres on the left hand side of the road. Talana Farm Cemetery is the second cemetery on the left, the first being Bard Cottage Cemetery.
Burials
There are now 529 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. There are 14 of the burials unidentified and there are special memorials to six casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be located and ten, in Plot I, Row E, are identified as a group, but not individually. It is probable that the cemetery contained other graves later destroyed by shell fire. Twenty seven French and two American graves were removed after the Armistice.
UK – 529
Unnamed - 14
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