For much of the First World War, Vlamertinghe (now Vlamertinge) was just outside the normal range of German shell fire and the village was used both by artillery units and field ambulances. Burials were made in the original Military Cemetery until June 1917, when the New Military Cemetery was begun in anticipation of the Allied offensive launched on this part of the front in July. Although the cemetery continued in use until October 1918, most of the burials are from July to December 1917.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Cemetery Location
Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery is located 5 Kms west of Ieper town centre and to the south of the village of Vlamertinge (Vlamertinge is the modern spelling of Vlamertinghe). Vlamertinge is located along the Poperingseweg. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then straight over two small roundabouts in the J. Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of J. Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. The cemetery is located after turning left in the village of Vlamertinge onto the Hugo Verriestraat. This road crosses a railway and the main road N38, where the name of the street changes to Bellestraat. The cemetery lies 200 metres on the left hand side of the Bellestraat, after crossing the N38.
Victoria Cross holder
Grave XIII.H.15 6895 Company Sergeant-Major John Skinner, D.C.M., V.C., 1st Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 87th Brigade, 29th Division. Died 17 March 1918, age 35. Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Walter Skinner; husband of Annie E. Y. Skinner, of 173 St. Andrew's Road., Pollokshields, Glasgow. Native of Glasgow.
John skinner won his V.C. on 16 August 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. As his regiment was advancing it came under fire from three blockhouses near Langemark. Skinner and his commanding officer, Captain Currie, crawled forward and silenced three machine-guns and two trench mortars. An extract from the Second Supplement to the London Gazette dated 14th Sept 1917, recording the award of V.C., reads- "For most conspicuous bravery and good leading. Whilst his company was attacking, machine gun fire opened on the left flank, delaying the advance. Although C.S.M. Skinner was wounded in the head, he collected six men, and with great courage and determination worked round the left flank of three blockhouses from which the machine gun fire was coming, and succeeded in bombing and taking the first blockhouse single-handed; then, leading his six men towards the other two blockhouses, he skilfully cleared them, taking sixty prisoners, three machine guns, and two trench mortars. The dash and gallantry displayed by this warrant officer enabled the objective to be reached and consolidated."
He received his V.C. from King George V and was also given fourteen days leave and on trying to return to his battalion was posted to the reserve in Edinburgh. He used his travel warrant to get back to his battalion, risking Court Martial. Skinner had a bet with Quarter-Master Sergeant Major Victor Ross on which of them would be wounded for the ninth time first. Skinner won the bet however; he didn’t live to collect his bet. Ironically, he had already been wounded nine times, having joined the Army age 16 in 1900 and taken part in the Boer War when he was wounded on three separate occasions and wounded a further six times between 1914 to 1917. At his funeral on 19 March, a ceremony unique in military history, his coffin was carried on a gun carriage to the cemetery and he was then carried to his last resting place by six V.C. holders from the 29th Division.
Shot at Dawn
335727 Private Edward Delargy, Age 19, Grave IX.H.19 1/8th Royal Scots, Pioneer Battalion, 51st (Highland) Division
He was the son of Mrs Winnifred Delargy, of 42 Mount Pleasant, Leslie, Fife.
When still in the UK he was sentenced to 112 days detention in July 1916. He joined his unit in January 1917 and at the end of that month they moved to Arras were they were employed building roads and repairing the trenches. During February he was admitted to a Field Ambulance. On his discharge on 15 February he was given a pass to a nearby village and he promptly deserted. He was caught in Arras in August. His battalion moved to the Salient where he was tried and subsequently executed on 6 September 1917.
Epitaph – He died that we might live Gone but not forgotten
Click on the link to read more about the Shot at Dawn https://www.theypressalient.com/home/categories/shot-at-dawn
British Airmen Buried Here
German Airmen Buried Here
FALKIRK AND DISTRICT MEN BURIED HERE
Falkirk
13794 Private Alexander Mason
7th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers
22.9.17
V.G.13
Transferred to Labour Corps 382448
Carron & Carronshore
285031 Private John McDonald
1st/6th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Age 19
2.7.17
I.E.6
Son of Mr & Mrs Angus and Jane McDonald, 437 Cullen Terrace, Carron Road
Larbert
288042 Private Alexander Esslemont
1st/6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders
Age 22
10.7.17
I.F.17
Son of Mrs Mary Esslemont, 1 Low Town, Larbert and of the late James Esslemont.
Stenhousemuir
288047 Private Albert Duff Milne
1st/6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders
Age 32
8.7.17
I.F.11
Son of Mrs Jane Milne and the late James Milne, 11 Tryst Road, Stenhousemuir. Some years before the war he was also a prominent footballer in the district having played for Stenhousemuir and East Stirling Football Club.
Grangemouth
274570 Sergeant John Donaldson Kerr
343rd Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers
6.8.17
VI.C.3
Husband of Jessie Kerr, 33 St Mary Avenue, St Anne de Bellevue, Quebec. His wife remarried and moved to Canada. He was born in Grangemouth
Bo’ness
S/2908 Private James Wittet Imrie
9th (Service) Battalion Gordon Highlanders
Age 26
9.7.17
IV.G.9
Husband of Alice McCarthey Imrie, 28 Furnace Row & they had two children
Burials
UK – 1609
Australian – 44
New Zealand – 1
Canadian – 155
South African – 3
Guernsey – 1
German - 7