ESSEX FARM CEMETERY
Ieper
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GENERAL DIRECTIONS: Boezinge is a village in the province of West Flanders, north of Ieper on the Diksmuidseweg road (N369). From the station turn left into M.Fochlaan and go to the roundabout. Then turn right and continue to the next roundabout. Turn left and drive to the next roundabout and then turn right into Oude Veurnestraat. Take the 2nd turning on the left, which is the Diksmuidseweg, and follow the road under the motorway bridge; the Cemetery will be found on the right hand side of the road.
The land south of Essex Farm was used as a dressing station cemetery from April 1915 to August 1917. The burials were made without definite plan and some of the divisions which occupied this sector may be traced in almost every part of the cemetery, but the 49th (West Riding) Division buried their dead of 1915 in Plot I, and the 38th (Welsh) Division used Plot III in the autumn of 1916. There are 1,199 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 102 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate 19 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. It was in Essex Farm Cemetery that Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian Army Medical Corps wrote the poem ' In Flanders Fields' in May 1915. The 49th Division Memorial is immediately behind the cemetery, on the canal bank.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Victoria Cross:
Private Thomas Barratt
VC, 7th Bn. Service No 17114, Aged 22, South Staffordshire Regiment, died 27/071917. Plot 1. Z. 8. Son of James and Sarah Ann Barratt.
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 30272, dated 4th Sept., 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery when as Scout to a patrol he worked his way towards the enemy line with the greatest gallantry and determination, in spite of continuous fire from hostile snipers at close range. These snipers he stalked and killed. Later his patrol was similarly held up, and again he disposed of the snipers. When during the subsequent withdrawal of the patrol it was observed that a party of the enemy were endeavouring to outflank them, Pte. Barratt at once volunteered to cover the retirement, and this he succeeded in accomplishing. His accurate shooting caused many casualties to the enemy, and prevented their advance. Throughout the enterprise he was under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and his splendid example of coolness and daring was beyond all praise. After safely regaining our lines, this very gallant soldier was killed by a shell."
CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 1107; Canada 9; Entirely Unidentified 83; Germany 5; Total Burials: 1204
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Amongst those buried in this cemetery: CAMPBELL, Lt. Donald. Coldstream Guards. Died 19th July 1916. Age 20. Son of Capt. The Hon John B. Campbell D.S.O. Coldstream Guards and the Hon. Alice Lady Stratheden and Campbell of Hunthill, Jedborough, Roxburghshire. II. V. 8. His father Capt. The Hon J. B. Campbell D.S.O. also fell and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial EVANS, Pte. W. 20432. 2nd Bn. York
and Lancaster Regt. Died 21st April 1916. 2. P. 11 LE BLANC-SMITH, Lt. Charles Ralph. 8th Bn. Rifle Brigade. Killed in Action: 27th November 1915. Age 25. Born: 3rd March 1890. Attended Eton College and 3rd Trinity College, Cambridge. Rowed in the 1910, 1911 & 1912 Boat Races against Oxford. Also part of the 4 man winning crew who won the Visitors Challege Cup at Henley in 1910. President of Cambridge University Boat Club in 1913. I. R. 9. PUSCH, Lt. Frederick Leopald. D.S.O. 1st Bn. Irish Guards. Died 27th June 1916. Age 20. Son of Emile and Helen Pusch, of 5 Albert Court, Kensington Gore, London. 1. A. 1. His brother 2/Lt. E. J. Pusch also fell and is buried in Flatiron Copse Military Cemetery. STRUDWICK, Rfm, Valentine Joe. 5750. 8th Bn Rifle Brigade. Died 14th January 1916. Age 15. Son of Louisa Strudwick, of 70, Orchard Rd., Dorking. One of the youngest battle casualties of the war. I. U. 8. Information collated by Barry Cuttell |
Memorial to Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae
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