Zandvoorde British Cemetery
Updated: Sep 3
Zandvoorde British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields and nearby German cemeteries. Many were those of soldiers who died in the desperate fighting round Zandvoorde, Zillebeke and Gheluvelt in the latter part of October 1914. Of the 1583 buried here, 1,135 are unidentified. On 30 October 1914, the village of Zandvoorde was held by the 1st and 2nd Life Guards, numbering between 300 and 400 men. It was bombarded for over an hour with heavy guns and then taken by the 39th German Division and three attached Jager battalions. The whole front of the 3rd Cavalry Division was driven back to the Klein-Zillebeke ridge. The village could not be retaken and remained in German hands until 28 September 1918. The Household Cavalry Memorial, unveiled by Lord Haig in May 1924, stands on the South side of the village at the place where part of the Brigade was annihilated in October 1914.
The 3rd Cavalry Division action at Zandvoorde 1914 On the 23 October 1914, the 3rd Cavalry Division began their nine days in the trenches at Zandvoorde. The 10th (Prince of Wales’s Own) Royal Hussars (6th Cavalry Brigade) relieved the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards (10th Brigade) from the trenches at Zandvoorde. The 6th and 7th Cavalry Brigades were to take turns in manning the trenches with the two Brigades relieving each other every forty-eight hours. The trenches were nothing more than a series of holes that resembled large graves (prophetic) and were overcrowded. They were described as pits dug in the sandy soil each holding around a dozen men. There were short sections spaced far apart and with no communication laterally or from behind. The dispositions followed the contours of the ridge in full view of the enemy and incoming German artillery fire averaged 120 shells per day with numerous casualties each day. To hold Zandvoorde ridge under these circumstances and in rudimentary trenches was an act of disciplined courage. The Cavalry soldier was ill-equipped for trench warfare unlike his infantry counterpart, he did not have the webbing pouches and haversack in which to carry his equipment. These early trenches were not those to be seen later in the war with bullet-proof parapets, loopholes for firing, dugouts and trench periscopes for observation. The later trenches followed a zig-zag pattern to prevent one shell killing everyone in a straight line trench and he later design had communication trenches connecting the frontline with the rear areas which allowed the infantry to walk in and out of the trench line. The iconic steel helmet offering limited protection against shrapnel was not to be introduced for another year. Household Cavalry Memorial at Zandvoorde marks the site of the original grave of Lord Charles Sackville Pelham, Lord Worsley. See Ypres Town Cemetery and Extension
1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 22nd Infantry Brigade, 7th Division
In Zandvoorde Cemetery of the 1583 buried here, 1,135 are unidentified and only one member of the 1st Battalion is listed in the register. It is believed that the bulk of the unidentified burials are those men of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who died on 30 October 1914. Of the 7th Division, it had been in continuous action from 18 to 31 October with an initial strength of 18,000 with no reserves or supports. It had held an eight mile front against 340,000 Germans. When the division was withdrawn from the line on 31 October it numbered 2,000 men practically all transport and supply.
The 7th Division and the 7th Cavalry Brigade were in positions along the ridge running from Zandvoorde to the Menin Road and the Gheluvelt Ridge. They were under intense pressure from the Germans who had taken Zonnebeke to the north. At Zandvoorde it was the dismounted Cavalry Brigade and the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 22nd Brigade, 7th Division that barred the way. The Welsh, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Cadogan, were on the left of the cavalry and straddled the road leading due west out of Zandvoorde. They had already taken 345 casualties in the earlier fighting around Zonnebeke and the Broodseinde Ridge when, on the 21 October, they went into the reserve behind Polygon Wood leaving the battalion with an effective fighting strength of just 212 men, this was raised to 400 men with new drafts joining. On the 29 October the battalion took up positions at Zandvoorde on the extreme right of the 7th Division line flanked by the 1st and 2nd Life Guards.
On the 30th October the Germans launched their attack and the sheer weight of numbers and the heavy artillery bombardment resulted in orders being issued to withdraw to the reserve line some 1200 yards to the rear. The orders never reached the Royal Welsh and the Life guards began an orderly withdrawal leaving the right flank of the Royal Welsh exposed to the Germans. The Germans now exploited this situation and moved their field-guns into the village and began to rain enfilade fire down on the Royal Welsh positions. They had also occupied a farmhouse thirty yards from the Welsh trenches and were now firing point blank into them. They had also worked their way round behind the Welsh lines and snipers were now firing on them. Now surrounded and unable to withdraw the 1st Battalion fought on with section and section falling to the German fire with the action going on throughout the day. In the evening, those who could, withdrew to the reserve line 1200 yards to the rear. They mustered at Hooge on the morning of 31 October and only 86 men answered the roll call with Lieutenant-Colonel Cadogan, seven officers and 320 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. The 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers temporarily ceased to exist as an effective fighting force. The Battalion War Diary recorded: ‘No officer remained after the 30th October and the party which survived on that date (approximately 86 other ranks) were attached to the 2/Queens.’ Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Cadogan, his batman Private 10936 Allen Davies and Captain-Adjutant A.E. Claude Toke Dooner are buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery in Plot IX, Row L, Graves 10, 11 and 12.
Victoria Cross holders buried here
Grave VI.E.2 Captain James Anson Otho Brooke V.C., Mentioned in Despatches. 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 20th Brigade, 7th Division. Age 30. Died 29 October 1914. Son of Sir Harry Vesey Brooke, K.B.E., and Lady Brooke, of Fairley, Countesswells, Aberdeenshire. Awarded the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst. An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 16th Feb. 1915, records the following:-"For conspicuous bravery and great ability near Gheluvelt on the 29th October, in leading two attacks on the German trenches under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, regaining a lost trench at a very critical moment. He was killed on that day. By his marked coolness and promptitude on this occasion Lieutenant Brooke prevented the enemy from breaking through our line, at a time when a general counter-attack could not have been organised."
Grave I.D.12 240693 Sergeant Louis McGuffie, V.C. 1/5th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 103rd Brigade, 34th Division. Age 24. Died 4 October 1918. Son of Mrs. Catherine McGuffie, of 1, North Main Street, Wigtown, Wigtownshire. An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 13th Dec. 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and resourceful leadership under heavy fire near Wytschaete on 28th September 1918. During the advance to Piccadilly Farm, he, single-handed, entered several enemy dugouts and took many prisoners, and during subsequent operations dealt similarly with dugout after dugout, forcing one officer and twenty-five other ranks to surrender. During the consolidation of the first objective he pursued and brought back several of the enemy who were slipping away, and he was also instrumental in rescuing some British soldiers who were being led off as prisoners. Later in the day, when in command of a platoon, he led it with the utmost dash and resource, capturing many prisoners. This very gallant soldier was subsequently killed by a shell.
Scots Guards
7734 Drummer Charles Henry Steer, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, 20th Brigade, 7th Division Age 18. Died 20 October 1914. Son of R. S. M. Sidney George Steer, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, previously a Scots Guards Sergeant, and Gertrude Eleanor Steer, of 71, Coulsdon Road, Caterham, Surrey. Originally buried in Kruiseeke German Cemetery Memorial 19. On the 19 October, the Battalion was leading the Brigade, starting from Zandvoorde, on a reconnaissance in force to work around the German flank near Kruiseeke. Having advanced through the forward positions around Gheluwe and gone a mile and a half they came under heavy German shell fire from the direction of Wervicq which made further progress impossible. They received orders to withdraw. The only Battalion casualty of this action was Drummer Steer who was hit by a dud shell and killed instantly.
Grave V.B.11 Major Henry William Viscount Crichton, D.S.C., M.V.O.
Royal Horse Guards. Age 42. Died 31 October 1914. Son of the 4th Earl of Erne, of Crom Castle, Ireland; husband of Viscountess Crichton (now Lady Mary Stanley, of Sopworth, Chippenham, Wilts). He was killed at Messines Ridge while commanding the Composite Household Cavalry Regiment.
FALKIRK AND DISTRICT MEN BURIED HERE
Denny & Dunipace
38249 Private George Anderson
17th Battalion Royal Scots
30.9.18
II.G.15
Bo’ness
21876 Private William Melville
17th Battalion Royal Scots
Age 26
30.9.18
I.E.12
Husband of Margaret Scullion Melville & had a son. They lived at 35 Foundry Square (the Dairy Close), Grangepans
Laurieston
54425 Private James Ferguson
12th (Service) Battalion Highland Light Infantry
Age 20
30/9/1918
II.B.8
Son of Alexander & Williamina Ferguson, 20 Kennard St, Falkirk
Cemeteries concentrated here
Kruiseeke German Cemetery, Comines was located at the north end of the village and contained 138 British graves most of whom fell in the fighting of October and November 1914. Wervik German Cemetery, located on the north side of the road to Comines and contained two British graves and one Canadian.
The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.
Cemetery Location
Zandvoorde British Cemetery is located 8 Kms south-east of Ieper town centre, on the Kruisekestraat a road leading from the Meenseweg (N8), connecting Ieper to Menen. From Ieper town centre the Meenseweg is located via Torhoutstraat and right onto Basculestraat. Basculestraat ends at a main cross roads, directly over which begins the Meenseweg. 7.5 Kms along the Meenseweg in the village of Geluveld lies the right hand turning onto Zandvoordestraat. At the end of the Zandvoordestraat is the left hand turning onto Kruisekestraat. The cemetery itself is located 100 metres along the Kruisekestraat on the left hand side of the road.
Burials
UK – 1525
Australian – 2
Canadian – 22
India – 1
Unnamed – 1135 (70% of the total buried here)
There are now 1,583 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 1,135 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate 32 soldiers buried in two of the German cemeteries whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery also contains one Second World War burial.
There are four casualties from the 10th Hussars in the graveyard of St Bartholomew church in Zandvoorde. Captain Sir Frank S.D. Rose, Lieutenant C.R. Turner, Lance Corporal J Waugh and Private R.S. MacKenzie. The church was destroyed during the War.
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