Torreken Farm Cemetery No.1
Torreken Farm Cemetery (there is now only one) was begun by the 5th Dorset Regiment, 11th Division, in June 1917 and established an aid post in the German dugouts here and it was used as a front line cemetery until April 1918. The cemetery is approximately 100m from the road and through a garden and a field, the field is fenced off with a sign ‘Beware of the Bull.’ Wytschaete (now Wijtschate) was taken by the Germans early in November 1914. It was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was recovered for the last time on 28 September. See Wytschaete Military Cemetery.
18th Battalion The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), 21st Infantry Brigade, 30th Division
There are 21 men buried here from the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) from the 18th and 20th Battalions. Five are from the 20th Battalion. The Battalions were in this sector in September 1917. Alias – There were many men who sought anonymity for various reasons and served under an alias. 22868 Private William T Ennis (served as William Turton), Killed in action 3 September 1917, age 21. Grave C.12. Foster-brother of Miss Mary Ennis, 33 Springfield, St. Anne Street, Liverpool. Mary was listed as his next-of-kin. The Battalion was in support at Torreken Farm providing working parties for digging, wiring, and carrying material from RE dumps to the front line. William was one of the two men killed and 12 wounded between 1 and 6 September. On the 21 September they were in the process of relieving 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment when the enemy heavily shelled the area. Casualties were six men killed and eight men wounded. 235281 Private Charles Henry Bitten, age 27. Grave E.11. One of four sons and a daughter of Harry and Francis Bitten, Pidley, Huntingdon, Hants. He attested on 29 January 1915 and joined the Hunts Cyclist (Reserve) Battalion a Territorial Battalion. He was then discharged on 8 March 1915 ‘as not likely to become an efficient soldier’ as a result of heart disease. Not uncommon for men to be discharged in the early days of the war as a result of medical conditions however, later in the war when men were required by the Army were not so selective. He later enlisted and joined the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and in July 1917 the regiment was sent for infantry training and absorbed by the 18th Battalion. 300040 Private James Boon, age 31. Grave E.15. Only Son of, they also had three daughters, William and Ellen Boon, 84 Nicol Road, Brynn, Ashton-in-Makerfield. He was employed as a Colliers Drawer when he enlisted in the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry. 307277 Private Henry Clifford, age Grave E.17. Son of Rose Ann Clifford, 5 St Martins Place, Raymond Street, Liverpool. 57859 Private Henry Arthur Dodd, age 20. Grave E.14. Son of Joseph and Catherine Dodd, 30 Suffolk Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 29693 Private James Lyon, age 19. Grave E.12. Son of Nathaniel and
Sarah Jane Lyon, 10 Rowson Street, Prescot, Lancs. 300042 Private William Hill Reed, age 24. Grave E.13.Son of Joseph and Margaret Gordon Reed, 2 Lytton Grove, Seaforth, Liverpool. He enlisted on the 1 November 1915 in the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry. On the 22 September they were providing working parties for the front line for digging and strengthening the wire. They were shelled and the casualties were six killed and nine wounded and two subsequently died of their wounds. Alias There were many men who sought anonymity for various reasons and served under an alias. 202830 Private Patrick McCabe (served as James Conway), 18th Battalion The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), Killed in action 22 September 1917, age 23. Grave B.12. Son of Patrick and Annie McCabe, of Dublin. Epitaph: NOT FORGOTTEN BY HIS LOVING BROTHERS & SISTERS R.I.P. His sister Mrs M J O’Neill, 15 Glenville Street Dublin was listed as his next-of-kin. Learn more about next-of-kin here
13th Battalion Rifle Brigade, 111th Infantry Brigade, 37th Division
There are 13 men from the 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade buried here. They occupied this sector in July and August 1917. On the 26 July 1917 the Battalion relieved the 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment and took over the front line with one Company in front line, one in immediate support in the trenches at Joye Farm and Odour Trench, and One company in the trenches at Guy Farm and Torreken Farm. On the night of the 27/28 July a patrol left their lines to reconnoitre the ground in front of the trenches and they reported that May Farm, shown on trench maps as March Farm, was held by the enemy and that there was a machine-gun position there. On the night of the 28/29 July a special patrol went out to capture May Farm and the enemy garrison. No enemy were encountered and May Farm and the trenches in the vicinity were found to be empty. No casualties are recorded in the War Diary however, there are five men from the Battalion killed on 28 July and buried here. S/1977 Rifleman Charles James Bromwell, age 30. Grave B.1. He was married to Sophie and they lived at 24 Trafalgar Square, Stepney with their one year old son. Charles was employed as a Paper Packer when he attested on 11 December 1915 under the Derby Scheme and was mobilised on 29 May 1916 and went to France on 22 October 1916 joining the 13th Battalion on 17 November 1916. S/8029 Sergeant Robert Carney, age 18. Grave D.1. Son of Thomas and Annie Carney, 118 Hancock Street, Blackburn, Lancs. B/200823 Rifleman William Ion, age 29. Grave D.2. He was married to Mary Hodgson Ion and they lived with their two young children at, Oughterby, Kirkhampton, Carlisle. S/4376 Rifleman Harry Taylor Laws, ‘D’ Company, age 23. Grave D.3. Son of William Laws, 23 Dobing Street, Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham, and the late Kate Laws. P/1617 Rifleman Samuel Pegg, ‘C’ Company, age 28. Grave C.1. He was married to Ellen and they lived with their six year daughter Lilian and four year old twins at 33 Granville Road, West Kilburn, London. Ellen married Harry Gilbert-Hawes, a Stoker in the Royal Navy, on 24 January 1918 and he deserted on 8 March 1918 and was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment and to be discharged after his sentence was complete. Samuel attested on 18 July 1915 and gave his age as 26 and employment as a Flower Seller. He went to France on 14 April 1916 and joined the Battalion in the field on the 12 May and was wounded in the left arm on 5 September 1916. He rejoined the Battalion on 17 April 1917 and then to hospital on 26 May with haemorrhoids rejoining the Battalion on 15 June.
10th Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 112th Infantry Brigade, 37th Division There are five men from the Battalion buried here and killed in action on 22 and 23 July 1917. On the 22 July the Battalion was in the line when a British aeroplane came down in No Man’s land with the crew rescued by an officer and NCO from the Battalion. At 7am on 23 July ‘D’ Company carried out a raid on the German positions at Rifle Farm with the aim of taking prisoners and ‘clearing up the situation.’ They reached May Farm (March Farm on trench maps) and found this empty but came under ‘moderate’ machine-gun and rifle fire and on reaching Rifle Farm enclosure came under very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire however, they got into the western edge of the enclosure and pushed out the Germans here but they continued to fire from the centre of the enclosure. About forty German reinforcements were seen to come from the direction of Beek Farm and opened heavy fire, the Germans now had fire superiority and at 7.30am the signal to withdraw was given and they retired with two prisoners. Casualties were 8 killed and 21 wounded. 32820 Private Ebenezer Anders, Killed in action 23 July 1917, age 33. Grave C.3. Son of James and Mary Ann Anders, 122 Dorset Street, Bolton, Lancs. He was employed as a Railway Porter and was unmarried.32835 Private Henry Haydock, ‘D’ Company, Killed in action 23 July 1917, age 29. Grave B.5. Son of Ellen Haydock, 13 Pear Grove, Boaler Street, Liverpool, and the late Henry Haydock. Epitaph: WITH UNDYING LOVE AND SORROW FOR OUR DARLING HARRY MOTHER & SISTER R.I.P. 27622 Private Thomas Smart, Killed in action 23 July 1917, age Grave C.4. Son of Sarah Ann Smart, 89 Hulme Street, Bolton. His sister Elizabeth was unmarried and lived with her mother.
2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, 90th Infantry Brigade, 30th Division
202774 Private Albert Samuel King. Killed in action 31 October 1917, age 31. Grave C.8. Son of William Henry and Eliza King, 22 Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick, Staffs. He was married to Amphless King however, she died on 16 February 1915. Their four year son Albert was cared for by Eliza as his guardian. On the 28 October 1917 the Battalion relieved the 2nd Yorkshire Regiment at Torreken Farm and went into support and on the 29 October they went into the line relieving the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. At 6.30am on 31 October two officers and 22 men of ‘B’ Company took part in a raid on enemy dugouts however, the Germans were waiting for the raid and had three machine-guns ready and the raiders had to withdraw. Casualties were one man killed.
Royal Flying Corps
2nd Lieutenant Paul John Rodocanachi. Pilot 53 Squadron RFC. Killed in action 27 July 1917, age 17. Grave C.6. Son of Nettie Hulme King (formerly Rodocanachi), of Park Farm, Holbrook, Horsham, Sussex, and the late John Matthew Rodocanachi. His father died in Calcutta in 1912 and the family had cotton business interests in both Liverpool and Calcutta. Paul was born in Calcutta and was educated in England at Rugby School and was a member of the cadets. The CWGC give his age as 17 however, this is incorrect as he enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service age 18 in March 1917. He was 19 when he was killed. After just 16 weeks in the service he joined 53 Squadron RFC on 5 July 1917 operating RE8s from Bailleul with their sector of operations between Armentieres and Messines. 2nd Lieutenant Norman Lindley Watt. Observer. 1st King Edward’s Horse attached 53 Squadron RFC. Killed in action 27 July 1917, age Grave C.5. He was born in Belfast and a Rhodes Scholar having gone to Maritzburg College and then Natal University College before studying at Oxford University. He enlisted as 644 Private in 1914 and went to France on 22 April 1915 and joined ‘C’ Squadron He was gazetted Second Lieutenant on 27 July 1915 and transferred to the RFC. They were flying in an RE8 (A4303) on an artillery ranging flight over the Messines Ridge when they were shot down by Leutnant Ernst Hess of Jasta 28. Rodocanachi was killed in the action and the plane was landed by a wounded Watt, he later died of his wounds. The plane was wrecked on landing. They were buried by the chaplain on 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade who were occupying the line at Torreken Farm. Read more about British airmen buried in the cemeteries of the Ypres Salient here
The cemetery was designed by W C Von Berg.
Location
Torreken Farm Cemetery No.1 is located 7.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on the Langebunderstraat, a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, connecting Ieper 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. Just beyond the village of Wijtschate, Langebunderstraat is located by turning left from the N365. The cemetery itself is located 200 metres along the Langebunderstraat on the left hand side of the road.
Burials
The cemetery contains 90 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 14 German war graves.
UK – 70
Australian – 20
German - 14
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