FERME-OLIVIER CEMETERY

Ieper

West-Vlaanderen

Belgium

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: This cemetery is 7.5km North West of Ieper, take the Elverdingestraat from Ieper, then turn right onto Haiglaan, Veurneseweg (N8) is the continuation of Haiglaan. Upon reaching the village of Elverdinge take the N333 Steentjesmolenstraat (2^nd left) and the cemetery is 1.3km on the left, with easy access and parking.

This cemetery was widely used by Field Ambulances between 9^th June 1915 and 5^th August 1917, the 62^nd, 9^th, 11^th, 129^th and 130^th Field Ambulances all being based here during this period. Throughout this time, the village of Elverdinghe, where the cemetery stands, was just within the range of the German Artillery, and a mass grave in Plot II Row E contains the remains of 37 men of the 3^rd Bn. Monmouthshire Regiment who were killed whilst on parade by a single shell fired from a naval gun in Houthulst Forest on 29^th December 1915. The graves in Plot III run in order of the date of death and show the successive occupations of Elverdinghe Chateau by the 38^th (Welsh) Division, the Guards Division and units of the Royal Artillery.

Shot at Dawn: Private G. Watkins, 13th Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for desertion 15/05/1917, Plot 3. C. 12.

Private R. Hope, 1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, executed for desertion 05/07/1917, Plot 3. G. 12.

The mass pardon of 306 British Empire soldiers executed for certain offences during the Great War was enacted in section 359 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, which came into effect on royal assent on 8 November 2006.

CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 409; Germany 3; Total Burials: 412