Wytschaete Military Cemetery
Updated: Oct 2
Wytschaete Military Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated positions surrounding Wytschaete (now Wijtschate). The village was known to the Tommies as ‘Whitesheets’ and was taken by the Germans early in November 1914. It was recovered by the British 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. The village was held by the French and British from the start of the war until the Germans attacked on 1 November 1914 and captured the village. On 2 November troops from the British reserve, grouped to the west of Wytschaete, which included 12th Battalion (Prince of Wales’s Royal) Lancers, 1st Battalion Lincolns some 800 men, 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers numbering 350 men, 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars, 20th Hussars and a detachment from the French 32nd Division, counter-attacked in support of the 1/14th (London Scottish), the first Territorial Battalion to see action, in pushing back the Germans across the Messines Road and reaching the area of what is Torreken Farm Cemetery No.1 today. However, the Germans rallied and subsequently overran the village and pushed the British off the Messines Ridge which they held until June 1917. In his book ‘Wet Flanders Plain’, Henry Williamson describes how, in the early 1920’s, he and his friend when visiting the area, had an argument with a group of Belgian youths in a café at Maedelstedt Farm before being chased out, only escaping on a passing tram on its way from Kemmel to Wytschaete.
Memorial to the 16th (Irish) Division
This memorial is located next to the cemetery. This Division was raised in the winter of 1914 by the leading nationalists Hugh Devlin and John Redmond, a relative of William Redmond. The Division comprised New Army Battalions of southern Irish regiments. The local community erected the Memorial as a tribute to the men who liberated the village, It was consecrated in 1926 by the War time divisional commander Major-General W.B. Hickie. Read more about William Redmond MP here
Unnamed Wood and Hospice Redoubt
This wood and Hospice Redoubt were on the road running north of Wytschaete. The wood and the Hospice had been turned into formidable defensive positions by the Germans and had been designated as objectives to be taken by the 7th Inniskilling Fusiliers,7/8th Irish Fusiliers, with the 8th Inniskilling fusiliers following as ‘ moppers up’, 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division on 7 June 1917. These objectives were designated Red and Blue Line on the map and were reached and overrun in good time but as was expected, vicious fighting was experienced before they reached the Blue Line.
Hospice Redoubt saw the heaviest of the fighting taking three-and-a-half hours of bitter fighting before it was cleared. It was clear that the 49th Brigade, in particular the 7th Inniskilling Fusiliers, had achieved a major success in taking these two objectives. On the 11 June Major-General W.B. Hickie showed his appreciation by renaming Unnamed Wood Inniskilling Wood, and a sign was erected accordingly. The Battalion lost 14 dead and 127 wounded (5 later died of wounds). Today, the wood is privately owned and closed to the public. The Hospice was never rebuilt after the War and is now the tennis courts. There is a painting by Paul Nash, held in a private collection, of the Hospice the ‘Sunrise, Ruins of a Hospice, Northwest of Wytschaete.’ Nancy Communication Trench ran through the Hospice Wood and there are the remains of a German bunker in the wood as well as the remains of a German counter-mine shaft system used in attempting to intercept and destroy with camouflets the British galleries.
Cratering the Ridge
It was 250th Tunnelling Company who were responsible for six mines and today, a walk along the front line in the Wytschaete area will lead you to them at Hollandscheschuur Farm, Petit Bois, Maedelstedt Farm, and Peckham. Read more about the craters here
The stand at Onraete Wood
This is a small woodland with a farm complex at its rear on the left-hand side of the road running from Wytschaete to St Eloi. The British map makers retained its Flemish name rather than designate one of the common military names to identify the wood. On the 24th April 1918 the wood saw one of the most heroic actions of the Battle of Lys, during which the Germans tried to break the British line and split the allied command forcing a retreat towards the Channel ports. On the 24th April British units were fighting to halt a vastly superior German force and to stop them from retaking the Messines Ridge, which the Germans had lost in June 1917. On the 21st April Haig had issued his famous ‘Backs to the Wall’ message to the British troops to stand and hold their ground. The 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 21st Division, were in shallow fire-pits and trenches on the edge of the wood. The Battalion was a professional unit with several years fighting experience. It had been in action for several days and was now under sustained German artillery fire of all calibres with all sections of the area which was now cut off from all sources of supply and reinforcement. Under covering fire and smoke screens the Germans advanced on the wood from the direction of Wytschaete and Torreken Farm and they expected an easy passage. The East Yorks drove back the Germans with determined fire from riffle and machine-gun however, German pressure was beginning to tell and as the line was thinning a lone unnamed N.C.O. climbed on top of a pill-box and worked his machine-gun unsupported. This heroic act saved the situation and allowed what was left of the Battalion, numbering three officers and some thirty men. to withdraw across the nearby Wytschaetebeek stream. The wood was replanted after the war and the nearby farm rebuilt on its original location. The pill-box that featured in the heroic action was demolished when the ground next to the wood was developed into a garden centre. There are still several German shelters in and around the wood standing as reminders of the action by the East Yorks. Read more about the German dugouts and bunkers in teh Ypres Salient
FALKIRK AND DISTRICT MEN BURIED HERE
Links to the area
5th Battalion, Australian Pioneers
Age 42
21.3.18
I.A.8
Native of Carronshore. Son of Joseph & Jane Sneddon
Talbot House connection
19067 Corporal Frederick G Burrow M.M., 15th Battalion Hampshire Regiment. Killed 1 August 1917. Grave VI.D.8. His great friend 19075 Corporal Herbert Charles Hoptrough, 15th Battalion Hampshire Regiment. Age 21. Killed 20 September 1917. Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 88 to 90. Son of Herbert and Annie Hoptrough, of 13, Hampshire St., Buckland, Portsmouth.
On the 25 December 1916 they both visited Tubby Clayton in TOC-H with Herbert Hoptrough recording the details in a letter: ‘On 25th December Fred Burrow and myself stopped a motor lorry somewhere in (not blighty) and proceeded to a certain celebrated house, known as TALBOT HOUSE (his caps)….. We had been sitting down for about an hour, when a noise outside the door, told us that the one and only P.B.C. had arrived….. We then had the greatest joy in taking part in the little service of ‘Holy Communion’. Afterwards they then had dinner with Tubby in a restaurant he wrote: ‘.. Can you imagine P.B.C., F.H. H.C.H and another nice chap, sitting at a round table in an excellent restaurant, eating and talking at the same time.’ In a letter dated 25 September 1917 and featured in the newsletter ‘The Nutshell’ distributed to members of the Church Boys Club in Portsmouth that Tubby once organised when a curate he wrote: ‘Fred Burrow and Bertie Hoptrough spent both Christmas and Easter Day with me.... Of these Fred Burrow, Charlie Payne, Charlie Grant and Syd Nagle have died in action… I last saw Fred standing like a model of young manhood, with his shirt off, washing at the door of a hut. I had gone miles out of my way to find him.. Of his death I have only few details as yet…’ The same edition published a letter extract from Herbert Hoptrough in which he spoke of the death of his close friend Fred Burrow: ‘I simply cannot explain how I feel about Fred, but I know you will understand. We joined up practically together and have been together for the greater part of our 15 months in France, so please express my real grief.’ and just before going to press the Editor added a note recording the death of Herbert he wrote: ‘… we hear of the death in action of Bert Hoptrough and Fred Burrow’s great and constant friend.’ His great friend 19075 Corporal Herbert Charles Hoptrough, 15th Battalion Hampshire Regiment. Age 21. Killed 20 September 1917. Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 88 to 90.
Cavalry
Captain Alastair Grant Gwyer, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers), 4th Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division. Killed in action 22 October 1914, age 31. Grave VI.C.11. One of three sons and a daughter of Mary S. Gwyer (nee Mitchell), of Croftinloan, Pitlochry, Perthshire, and the late Cecil Francis Gwyer. Educated at Eton, Radley College in Oxfordshire from where he went to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was gazetted Second Lieutenant on 18 January 1902 and joined the 6th Dragoons Guards (Carabiniers). He was promoted to Lieutenant on 9 September 1903, and Captain on 7 May 1908. He saw service during the last few months of the Boer War and then in India from 1903 to 1907, and in Mhow in 1908, before returning to South Africa and serving in Harrismith and Bloemfontein until 1913. He had retired from the active list and was on the Reserve list on the outbreak of war and rejoined the regiment with the rank of Captain from 29 August 1914. The regiment were fighting as infantry and were in the line Oostaverne–Messines and were subjected to a heavy German attack from 8.30am to 9.45am which was fought off.
2nd Battalion Royal Scots, 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division
There are five men buried here. Two killed on 7 April 1915 have been selected. On the 7 April 1915 the Battalion was in the line in front of Petit Bois Wood holding trenches they had taken on 14 December 1914. One trench, taken on 14 December known as J.3, was formed from a drain and was in a poor condition, the plan had been to abandon this trench as it was 40 yards from the German front line and split in two with a gap of 60 yards between each section. It was also insanitary with many dead bodies lying around the trench. ‘B’ Company relieved ‘A’ Company in the fire trench with casualties recorded as ‘1 killed, 2 wounded.’ 8331 L/Cpl James McFarlane, age 30. Grave II.D.9. James was from Leith and had enlisted age 18 on 14 November 1902. He was married to Catherine on 4 October 1913 and they lived at 70 Douglas Street, Dundee. Most of his army service was spent in India and on returning to the UK he joined the Army Reserve on 11 January 1911. On the outbreak of the war he rejoined his regiment. 3855 Private Alexander Stirling, age Grave IV.D.17. He was a regular soldier and was married to Martha and they lived at 38 Vulcan Street, Springburn, Glasgow.
1st/4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division
There are twenty two named men buried here and six are from the 1st Battalion the remainder from the 1/4th Battalion. Two men killed in action on 19 March 1915. On the 19 March 1915 the Battalion were occupying trenches G 3 and 4 and H1,2,3,& 4 in front of the village of Wytschaete and down towards Petit Bois. ‘C’ Company had been relived by ‘D’ company and during this relief two men were killed. 2196 Private James Grant, ‘C’ Company, age 30. Grave II.E.1. Son of George and Margaret Grant, 103 West North Street, Aberdeen. He was a widow, his wife Joan predeceasing him. 1430 Drummer James Etak McKay, ‘C’ Company, age 20. Grave II.C.8. Son of James and Margaret McKay, 30 Urquhart Road, Aberdeen. Epitaph: WORTHY OF EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE
Royal Flying Corps
Second Lieutenant John Victor Ariel Gleed, Pilot 45th Squadron. Killed in action 7 July 1917, age 20. Grave IV.C.33. Son of John Wilson Gleed and Mary Gleed, of West Elloe, Spalding. He was piloting Sopwith 11⁄2 Strutter (A8281) accompanied by observer Lieutenant John Beveridge Fotheringham on an observation patrol when they were shot down near Houthem. Fotheringham is listed on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. John’s body was exhumed and reburied here. The victory was claimed by the ace Leutnant Hans Klein of Jasta 4 and they were victory number 14 of 22. Klein was to be wounded on 13 July in a fight with two aircraft from 29 Squadron. He was wounded again on 19 February 1918 when in command of Jasta 10. He saw no further action but served as ground commander of Jasta 10 to the end of the war. In 1935 he joined the Luftwaffe as a Major and commanded JG53 from 1 October 1939 to the end of that year. He was then promoted to command a fighter area and was later Deputy Commander of all fighters in the Luftwaffe. He was Major General when he died on 18 November 1944.
Royal Engineers
There are 22 men, 18 of whom were exhumed from RE (Beaver Farm) Cemetery, Kemmel. Four have been selected from 56th Field Company, 3rd Division. Their bodies were exhumed from Beaver Farm (R.E.) Cemetery and reburied here by No.84 Labour Corps on 22 December 1919. Throughout January 1915 the 56th Field Company was billeted in Westoutre and for the first 3 days of January were working on repairs to the Locre to Westoutre Road. One section was conducting fieldwork classes for infantry parties of 25 men from each Battalion in the Brigade who would subsequently be working on improving the trenches in the firing line. Another party were building an incinerator in Westoutre as well as supervising a party of 50 civilians who were working on repairing the Westoutre to Berthen Road. On the 4 January the Company moved to Kemmel and on 5 January one man was killed by shell fire at Kemmel Cross Roads. 9402 Sapper
Frederick Henry Belsey, 56th Field Company, Killed in action 5 January 1915, age 34. Grave IV.B.12. Son of Henry James and Jane Belsey. He was married to Mary Harriett Belsey and they lived at 8 Lake Road, Woolston, Southampton with their two year old son Cecil. He went to France on 15 September 1914. On the 14 January they were working on repairs to trenches S1, S2, and S3 which had fallen in due to wet weather. They had one man killed. 4827 Sapper John O’Loughlin, Mentioned in Despatches. 56th Field Company, Killed in action 14 January 1915, age 32. Grave IV.B.13. Husband of Catherine O'Loughlin, of Bogberry, Ennistymon, Co. Clare. On the 22 January the Company were constructing a machine-gun emplacement at trench E.1 when Lieutenant John Leventhorpe was shot through the head by a sniper. Lieutenant John Algernon Leventhorpe, Mentioned in Despatches.
56th Field Company, Killed in action 23 January 1915, age 21. Grave IV.B.11. Son of Mr. J. B. and Mrs. N. Leventhorpe, 18 St. Andrew's Road, Bedford. His father was employed by the Public Works Department in India and John was born at Jubbulpore in the Central Province. He was educated at St Clare, Marlborough College, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant in July 1912, promoted to Lieutenant in August 1914, and was Mentioned in Despatches in January 1915. On the 3 May 1916 the Company were at RE Farm and working on the front line trenches with two sections joining up ‘grouse’ butts in the front line to continuous trench. One man was killed. 134025 Sapper Cornelius Airley, 56th Field Company. Killed in action 3 May 1916, age 38. Grave III.D.20. Husband of Christina Sturgeon Airley and they lived at "Woodside," William Street, Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire, with their five children. He was employed as a stonemason when he enlisted.
Australian
Captain William Lancelot Young M.C., 45th Battalion, Killed in action 7 June 1917, age 26. Grave V.B.21. Son of Frederick Druce Young and Euphemia Agnes Young, of Rainbow, Victoria, Australia. Native of Dimboola. He was employed as a commercial Traveller when he enlisted on 7 March 1915 and joined the 13th Battalion. He saw service at Gallipoli. He was promoted to Sergeant on 3 December 1915 and commissioned Second Lieutenant on 24 February 1916 and posted to the 45th Battalion and landed in France with the Battalion on 8 June 1916. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 16 June 1916 and then to Captain on 20 November 1916. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 13 November 1916 and awarded the Military Cross in October 1916 gazetted on 8 December 1916 ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He organised and led a raid against the enemy trenches with great courage and skill. He has previously done fine work.’ He was killed by machine-gun fire at Messines on 7 June 1917. His body was exhumed and reburied here.
Canadian
There are five named Canadians buried here. Four are from the 5th Field Company Canadian Engineers, 2nd Canadian Division, three of them were killed in action on 8 and 9 November 1915. The four Engineers who were exhumed from RE (Beaver) Farm Cemetery and reburied here. On the 8 and 9 November the Company were repairing trenches and constructing a small strong point in the line in front of Petit Bois Wood near to Vandamme Farm. Casualties on the 8 November were one Sapper killed and three wounded, one of which died of their wounds. On the 9 November one Sapper was killed by shrapnel. 433 Sapper Isaac Smith, Killed in action 8 November 1915, age 36. Grave IV.B.22. Son of Eliza Smith, 228 Withrow Avenue, Toronto. He was employed as a Stationery Engineer when he enlisted on 14 April 1915 and joined the 5th Field Company. He embarked for France on 16 September 1915. He was wounded in the stomach by a rifle bullet and died of his wounds. 457 Sapper Harold John Vollum, Killed in action 8 November 1915, age 26. Grave IV.B.20. Son of Robert Vollum, 68 Castle Street, Scarboro, Yorks. He was employed as Plumber when he enlisted on 6 April 1915. He embarked for France on 16 September 1915. He was admitted to the 4th Canadian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 8 November with a gunshot wound to the right groin and buttock and died of his wounds on 8 November. 239 Sapper Conrad M L Baril, Killed in action 9 November 1915, age 23. Grave IV.B.21. Son of Joseph A. and Annabella Baril, 94 St. Andrew Street, Ottawa. He was employed as a Draughtsman when he enlisted on 14 April 1915. He embarked for France on 16 September 1915. On 9 November while working in the trench he was hit in the back of the neck by shrapnel and was killed.
Cemeteries concentrated here
The following small battlefield cemeteries were concentrated here after the Armistice:
REST AND BE THANKFUL FARM, KEMMEL: 23 UK burials (13 of them 2nd Suffolks), mostly of 1915. R.E. (BEAVER) FARM, KEMMEL: 18 Royal Engineer and four Canadian Engineer burials of 1915-1917. The CEMETERY NEAR ROSSIGNOL ESTAMINET, KEMMEL: 18 UK burials (11 of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment), of January-April 1915. SOMER FARM CEMETERY No.2, WYTSCHAETE: 13 UK burials made by IXth Corps in June 1917. GORDON CEMETERY, KEMMEL: 19 UK burials (14 of them 1st Gordon Highlanders) of January-May 1915. could not be found on concentration.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Cemetery Location
Wytschaete Military Cemetery is located 7 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper (formerly Ypres) to Wijtschate (Wytschaete) and on 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. The first right hand turning on reaching the village of Wijtschate leads onto the Hospicestraat, leading to the village square. The Wijtschatestraat leads from the village square, 500 metres beyond which lies the cemetery on the right hand side of the road
Burials
There are now 1,002 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 673 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 16 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate casualties known to have been buried at the Cemetery near Rossignol Estaminet, RE (Beaver) Farm and Rest and be Thankful Farm, whose graves could not be found on concentration.
UK – 486
Australian – 31
New Zealand – 7
Canadian – 19
South African – 11
Known unto God – 423
German – 1
Unnamed - 673
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