ABEELE AERODROME MILITARY CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.81522 Longitude: 2.65705
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.81522 Longitude: 2.65705
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Location Information
Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetery is located 16 Km west of Ieper town centre on the N38, a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308) is reached via Elverdingestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. On reaching Poperinge the N308 joins the left hand turning onto the R33, Poperinge ring road. The R33 ring road continues to the left hand junction with the N38 Frans Vlaanderenweg. 4 Km along the N38 lies the right hand turning onto the Casselstraat, followed by an immediate left hand turning onto the Dodemanstraat. The cemetery is located 450 metres along the Dodemanstraat on the right hand side of the road. Visitors to this site should note a 150 metre grassed access path which is not suitable for vehicles.
Historical Information
The cemetery, which took its name from an aerodrome that was opposite the site, was begun by French troops in April 1918 (Plot I) and extended by Commonwealth forces in the following July and August (Plot II). After the Armistice, the French graves were removed to other burial grounds and the resulting space was re-used to accomodate 25 Commonwealth burials (from April to August 1918) from the French Extension of Boeschepe Churchyard. Also, 84 American burials (Plot III), made between July and September 1918, were removed.
There are now 104 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in this cemetery.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 104.
The cemetery was designed by George Hartley Goldsmith
Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetery is located 16 Km west of Ieper town centre on the N38, a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308) is reached via Elverdingestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. On reaching Poperinge the N308 joins the left hand turning onto the R33, Poperinge ring road. The R33 ring road continues to the left hand junction with the N38 Frans Vlaanderenweg. 4 Km along the N38 lies the right hand turning onto the Casselstraat, followed by an immediate left hand turning onto the Dodemanstraat. The cemetery is located 450 metres along the Dodemanstraat on the right hand side of the road. Visitors to this site should note a 150 metre grassed access path which is not suitable for vehicles.
Historical Information
The cemetery, which took its name from an aerodrome that was opposite the site, was begun by French troops in April 1918 (Plot I) and extended by Commonwealth forces in the following July and August (Plot II). After the Armistice, the French graves were removed to other burial grounds and the resulting space was re-used to accomodate 25 Commonwealth burials (from April to August 1918) from the French Extension of Boeschepe Churchyard. Also, 84 American burials (Plot III), made between July and September 1918, were removed.
There are now 104 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in this cemetery.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 104.
The cemetery was designed by George Hartley Goldsmith
Motor lorries taking troops up to the line on a road near Abeele (Abele), 15th September 1917. © IWM Q 3021
Cemetery images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Pictures in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Major
Reginald Walter Barnett, M. C. and Bar
King's Royal Rifle Corps
G.S.O.II. 6th Div. (formerly Bde. Major, 189th R.N. Div.).
12th August 1918, aged 26.
Plot II. D. 11.
Son of Walter and Olive Barnett, of Bilton Hall, Rugby.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Only Child Of Walter And Olive Barnett, Bilton Hall, Rugby"
Reginald Walter Barnett, M. C. and Bar
King's Royal Rifle Corps
G.S.O.II. 6th Div. (formerly Bde. Major, 189th R.N. Div.).
12th August 1918, aged 26.
Plot II. D. 11.
Son of Walter and Olive Barnett, of Bilton Hall, Rugby.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Only Child Of Walter And Olive Barnett, Bilton Hall, Rugby"
71297 Private
James Bott
15th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
14th July 1918.
Plot II. A. 4.
James Bott
15th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
14th July 1918.
Plot II. A. 4.
Second Lieutenant
Paris Villiers Drake-Brockman
1st Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
18th July 1918, aged 19.
Plot II. B. 7.
Son of Paris Frederick and Isabel Alice Drake-Brockman, of 3, Cintra Park, Upper Norwood, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This."
Paris Villiers Drake-Brockman
1st Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
18th July 1918, aged 19.
Plot II. B. 7.
Son of Paris Frederick and Isabel Alice Drake-Brockman, of 3, Cintra Park, Upper Norwood, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This."
102086 Lance Corporal
John Hayden Healey, M. M.
15th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
17th July 1918, aged 29.
Plot II. B. 6.
Son of Arthur and Florence Healey, of 31, Court Rd., Luton, Beds.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Gave His All."
John Hayden Healey, M. M.
15th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
17th July 1918, aged 29.
Plot II. B. 6.
Son of Arthur and Florence Healey, of 31, Court Rd., Luton, Beds.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Gave His All."
Captain
William Alexander Cosgrave Hedley, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. formerly 8th Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
19th July 1918, aged 23.
Plot II. D.13.
Son of the Rev. Herbert and Mrs. Hedley, of 17, Brockhill Rd., Hythe, Kent. Born at Mickley Vicarage, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until the Day Break."
William Alexander Cosgrave Hedley, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. formerly 8th Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
19th July 1918, aged 23.
Plot II. D.13.
Son of the Rev. Herbert and Mrs. Hedley, of 17, Brockhill Rd., Hythe, Kent. Born at Mickley Vicarage, Yorks.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until the Day Break."
Lieutenant
Charles Frederick Griffiths Hollis, M. C.
1st Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
2nd August 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 3.
Son of Frederick and Rose Hollis, of "Birchlands," West Byfleet, Surrey.
Charles Frederick Griffiths Hollis, M. C.
1st Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
2nd August 1918, aged 20.
Plot II. D. 3.
Son of Frederick and Rose Hollis, of "Birchlands," West Byfleet, Surrey.
Major
James Douglas Leitch Melrose
29th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
25th April 1918, aged 33.
Plot I. E. 5.
Son of James Melrose, of Goshen Bank, Kelso, Roxburghshire; husband of Jessie Macpherson Melrose, of 5, Dean Terrace, Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died For Others"
James Douglas Leitch Melrose
29th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
25th April 1918, aged 33.
Plot I. E. 5.
Son of James Melrose, of Goshen Bank, Kelso, Roxburghshire; husband of Jessie Macpherson Melrose, of 5, Dean Terrace, Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died For Others"
13937 Private
Robert Orr
Labour Bn. Seaforth Highlanders, transf. to (113830) 40th Bn. Labour Corps
20th August 1918, aged 43.
Plot II. E. 7.
Husband of Ellen F. Orr, of 31, North St., Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Till The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away."
Robert Orr
Labour Bn. Seaforth Highlanders, transf. to (113830) 40th Bn. Labour Corps
20th August 1918, aged 43.
Plot II. E. 7.
Husband of Ellen F. Orr, of 31, North St., Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Till The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away."
G/14287 Private
George Youngman
1st Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
2nd August 1918, aged 18.
Plot II. D. 2.
Eldest son of George and Edith Youngman, of 21, White Elm St., Ipswich, Suffolk.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Path Of Duty Is The Way To Glory."
George Youngman
1st Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
2nd August 1918, aged 18.
Plot II. D. 2.
Eldest son of George and Edith Youngman, of 21, White Elm St., Ipswich, Suffolk.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Path Of Duty Is The Way To Glory."
The normal double line of moving transport on a road near Abeele (Abele) including an ambulance, the Royal Artillery pulling a horse-drawn limber and a Canadian horse-drawn cart, 15th September 1917. © IWM (Q 3023)
The 4th Australian Divisional Artillery on the Boeschepe road, near Abeele, returning to the rest area from the Ypres sector. Identified, members of the 111th Howitzer Battery, right to left are: Driver Meghean (standing); unidentified (on horse); unidentified (right, sitting in wagon); Driver Perkins (left, sitting in wagon); Gunner Miller (behind Perkins); Driver Valentine (on horse); Corporal Jossy (on Valentine's left); Shoeing Smith Hanson (on Valentine's right). Also known to be in the photograph are: J Roberts; B Dawson and A James.
Gun crew of the American 108th Infantry Regiment manning a 37 mm one-pounder infantry gun at Abeele, 20 August 1918. © IWM (Q 79424)
