BETHLEEM FARM EAST CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
Location Information
Bethleem Farm East cemetery is located 10 Km south of Ieper town centre and 1 km south east of Mesen, on a road called the Rijselstraat, which leads from Mesen market square. (Mesen itself is located 10 Km from Ieper via the N365 connecting Ieper to Armentieres).
The cemetery lies 1 Km beyond Mesen market place along the Rijselstraat, on the left hand side of the road. Visitors to this site should note a 250 metre grassed access path which is unsuitable for vehicles.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Bethleem Farm East Cemetery was made by Australian units when the nearby Bethleem Farm was captured by the 3rd Australian Division on 7 June 1917, in the Battle of Messines. The majority of the burials are those of officers and men killed in action on 8 or 10 June, though the cemetery continued to be used until the following September. There is also a West Cemetery nearby.
There are 44 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. Eight of the burials are unidentified but a special memorial commemorates one casualty know to be buried among them.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith
Casualty Details: UK 1; Australia 43: Total Burials: 44
Bethleem Farm East cemetery is located 10 Km south of Ieper town centre and 1 km south east of Mesen, on a road called the Rijselstraat, which leads from Mesen market square. (Mesen itself is located 10 Km from Ieper via the N365 connecting Ieper to Armentieres).
The cemetery lies 1 Km beyond Mesen market place along the Rijselstraat, on the left hand side of the road. Visitors to this site should note a 250 metre grassed access path which is unsuitable for vehicles.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Bethleem Farm East Cemetery was made by Australian units when the nearby Bethleem Farm was captured by the 3rd Australian Division on 7 June 1917, in the Battle of Messines. The majority of the burials are those of officers and men killed in action on 8 or 10 June, though the cemetery continued to be used until the following September. There is also a West Cemetery nearby.
There are 44 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. Eight of the burials are unidentified but a special memorial commemorates one casualty know to be buried among them.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith
Casualty Details: UK 1; Australia 43: Total Burials: 44
Messines area; British troops outside a German observation post destroyed by British guns, 11th June 1917. © IWM (Q 3540)
6856 Private
Oswald Leonard Briggs
10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
17th December 1917, aged 29.
Row F. 12.
Son of Thomas and Emma Briggs, of Bowmans, South Australia.
A farmer prior to enlistment, Pte Briggs embarked with 22nd Reinforcements from Adelaide aboard HMAT Afric (A19) on 7 November 1916. He was killed in action in Belgium aged 29.
Private A. F. Francis was close by when Oswald Briggs was hit:
"He was one of an L.G. (Lewis Gun) team and was looking over the parapet watching a Minenwerfer coming. It struck the magazine of the gun, glanced off and struck him, killing him instantly. I was in the next bay and heard of it at once."
Oswald Leonard Briggs
10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
17th December 1917, aged 29.
Row F. 12.
Son of Thomas and Emma Briggs, of Bowmans, South Australia.
A farmer prior to enlistment, Pte Briggs embarked with 22nd Reinforcements from Adelaide aboard HMAT Afric (A19) on 7 November 1916. He was killed in action in Belgium aged 29.
Private A. F. Francis was close by when Oswald Briggs was hit:
"He was one of an L.G. (Lewis Gun) team and was looking over the parapet watching a Minenwerfer coming. It struck the magazine of the gun, glanced off and struck him, killing him instantly. I was in the next bay and heard of it at once."
Captain
William Thomas Bryan
44th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 36.
Row A. 2.
Son of Thomas Joseph and Annie L. Bryan. Native of Perth, Western Australia.
William Thomas Bryan, of Perth, WA, with his parents and brothers. Standing left to right: William Thomas; Cyril (wearing a cadet uniform); and Lieutenant Thomas Joseph Bryan (father). Seated: Patrick; Annie; and Aidan. Thomas William and his father are wearing uniforms of the Western Australia Infantry. Thomas William went on to serve in the 88th Inantry Reserves, then as a Captain (Capt) in the 44th Battalion during the First World War. On 6 June 1916 he embarked with A Company from Fremantle on HMAT Suevic. On 8 June 1917 Capt Bryan was killed in action at Messines, Belgium, aged 36.
William Thomas Bryan
44th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 36.
Row A. 2.
Son of Thomas Joseph and Annie L. Bryan. Native of Perth, Western Australia.
William Thomas Bryan, of Perth, WA, with his parents and brothers. Standing left to right: William Thomas; Cyril (wearing a cadet uniform); and Lieutenant Thomas Joseph Bryan (father). Seated: Patrick; Annie; and Aidan. Thomas William and his father are wearing uniforms of the Western Australia Infantry. Thomas William went on to serve in the 88th Inantry Reserves, then as a Captain (Capt) in the 44th Battalion during the First World War. On 6 June 1916 he embarked with A Company from Fremantle on HMAT Suevic. On 8 June 1917 Capt Bryan was killed in action at Messines, Belgium, aged 36.
1843 Private
Littleton Campbell Groom
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
10th June 1917, aged 28.
Row A. 15.
Son of Frederick William and Fanny Matilda Groom, of "Lorriane," Herries St., Toowoomba, Queensland
Pte Groom enlisted on 19 February 1916 and embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT Boorara on 16 August 1916. He was killed in action on 10 June 1917, in Messines, Belgium, aged 28.
Littleton Campbell Groom
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
10th June 1917, aged 28.
Row A. 15.
Son of Frederick William and Fanny Matilda Groom, of "Lorriane," Herries St., Toowoomba, Queensland
Pte Groom enlisted on 19 February 1916 and embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT Boorara on 16 August 1916. He was killed in action on 10 June 1917, in Messines, Belgium, aged 28.
2356 Private
John Victor Keen
31st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th November 1917, aged 23.
Row F. 2.
Son of Henry and Elizabeth Keen, of Corce Rd. Artarmon, New South Wales.
Sergeant P. Bedford described the circumstances of John Keen's death:
"Keen was in an advanced Listening Post in front of Warneton at Messines with Private E. Bennett of Townsville, Queensland, when at 11.p.m. a shell landed on the post, blowing Keen out. Bennett immediately reported to me as I was in charge of the Listening Posts H.Q., 50 yards in the rear. We both went out and found Keen 20 yards from his post, badly wounded having been hit all over the body, but mostly on the left side.
He was unconscious and carried to Bethlehem Farm, where he died, having lived only an hour after being found."
John Victor Keen
31st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th November 1917, aged 23.
Row F. 2.
Son of Henry and Elizabeth Keen, of Corce Rd. Artarmon, New South Wales.
Sergeant P. Bedford described the circumstances of John Keen's death:
"Keen was in an advanced Listening Post in front of Warneton at Messines with Private E. Bennett of Townsville, Queensland, when at 11.p.m. a shell landed on the post, blowing Keen out. Bennett immediately reported to me as I was in charge of the Listening Posts H.Q., 50 yards in the rear. We both went out and found Keen 20 yards from his post, badly wounded having been hit all over the body, but mostly on the left side.
He was unconscious and carried to Bethlehem Farm, where he died, having lived only an hour after being found."
British soldiers stand looking into the huge mine crater at Messines Ridge, blown up on the morning of the battle. Photographed on 11 June 1917. © IWM (Q 2325)
1877 Private
Robert Theodore Morrall
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th June 1917, aged 26.
Row A. 13.
Son of Thomas and Emma Morrall, of 26, Kent St., Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
A 25 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 2 April 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 2nd Reinforcements from Brisbane on 16 August 1916 aboard HMAT Boorara. He was killed in action near Messines, Belgium
Robert Theodore Morrall
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th June 1917, aged 26.
Row A. 13.
Son of Thomas and Emma Morrall, of 26, Kent St., Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
A 25 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 2 April 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 2nd Reinforcements from Brisbane on 16 August 1916 aboard HMAT Boorara. He was killed in action near Messines, Belgium
94 Lance Corporal
Basil George Henry O'Brien
40th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
7th June 1917, aged 19.
Row A. 10.
Embarked from Hobart,Tasmania, on 1 July 1916, aboard HMAT Berrima (A35). Pte O'Brien was killed in action on 7 June 1917 at Messines.
Basil George Henry O'Brien
40th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
7th June 1917, aged 19.
Row A. 10.
Embarked from Hobart,Tasmania, on 1 July 1916, aboard HMAT Berrima (A35). Pte O'Brien was killed in action on 7 June 1917 at Messines.
1783 Sergeant
David Walter Stewart
44th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 22.
Row E. 2.
Son of Walter David and Amelia Stewart, of 13, Park Rd., Mt. Lawley, Perth, Western Australia. Native of Braidwood, New South Wales.
A teacher at Perth Modern School prior to his enlistment on 25 January 1916, he embarked from Fremantle aboard HMAT Miltiades on 9 August 1916. He was killed in action, aged 22, on 8 June 1917, at Messines, Belgium.
David Walter Stewart
44th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 22.
Row E. 2.
Son of Walter David and Amelia Stewart, of 13, Park Rd., Mt. Lawley, Perth, Western Australia. Native of Braidwood, New South Wales.
A teacher at Perth Modern School prior to his enlistment on 25 January 1916, he embarked from Fremantle aboard HMAT Miltiades on 9 August 1916. He was killed in action, aged 22, on 8 June 1917, at Messines, Belgium.
Clearing a road over the gound taken near Messines, 11th June 1917. © IWM (Q 3516)
Troops of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry who captured this trench near Messines, 11th June 1917. They are wearing German helmets or caps. Note a board with the sign "I. Stellung. IA Linie. II.Ab". © IWM (Q 2820)
Troops of the 12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, who attacked on the first morning of the Battle of Messines, (7th June), pictured on the 11th June 1917. © IWM (Q 2818)
