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. Seven 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
Total Burials: 44.
Identified Casualties: Australia 35, United Kingdom 2. Total 37.
Unidentified Casualties: 7. Total 7.
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. Seven 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
Total Burials: 44.
Identified Casualties: Australia 35, United Kingdom 2. Total 37.
Unidentified Casualties: 7. Total 7.
Pictures in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Messines area; British troops outside a German observation post destroyed by British guns, 11th June 1917. © IWM (Q 3540)
2289 Private
John William Brack
43rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd July 1917, aged 41.
Row A. 16.
Born at Guisborough, England. Son of George and Isabella Brack; husband of Bessie Brack, of Riverton, Harvey, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved, Rest In The Lord."
John William Brack
43rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd July 1917, aged 41.
Row A. 16.
Born at Guisborough, England. Son of George and Isabella Brack; husband of Bessie Brack, of Riverton, Harvey, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Beloved, Rest In The Lord."
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.
Pictured below are 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.
Pictured below are 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.
2678 Private
James Crompton
37th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 31.
Row A. 9.
Son of Thomas and Mary Crompton, of Dob Brow Farm, Charnock Richard, Chorley, Lancs., England.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done."
James Crompton
37th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 31.
Row A. 9.
Son of Thomas and Mary Crompton, of Dob Brow Farm, Charnock Richard, Chorley, Lancs., England.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Thy Will Be Done."
1909 Private
Maurice Surrey Dane (Served as Robert Edward Sanders)
37th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 21.
Sp. Mem. 1.
Son of Mrs. Ellen Marian Surrey Dane, of 20A, Lissenden Mansions, Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London, England.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man."
He was killed by the premature explosion of a bomb in his own trenches at 9.30pm and buried near Bethlehem Farm at map co-ordinates: 28. 0. 3. d. 50. 70.
Maurice Surrey Dane (Served as Robert Edward Sanders)
37th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 21.
Sp. Mem. 1.
Son of Mrs. Ellen Marian Surrey Dane, of 20A, Lissenden Mansions, Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London, England.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man."
He was killed by the premature explosion of a bomb in his own trenches at 9.30pm and buried near Bethlehem Farm at map co-ordinates: 28. 0. 3. d. 50. 70.
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.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Who Suffered That We Might Be Saved."
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.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Who Suffered That We Might Be Saved."
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.
574 Corporal
Benjamin Horace Heckscher
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
10th June 1917.
Row A. 17.
Benjamin Horace Heckscher
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
10th June 1917.
Row A. 17.
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
686 Lance Corporal
Alexander Rodger
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
10th June 1917, aged 33.
Row E. 7.
Son of John and Christina Rodger. Native of West Linton, Scotland.
Previously discharged to base at Boulogne on 9th March, 1917 with a gun shot wound to his right eye (severe).
706 Private, A. F. Stubbs gave the following details:
"I knew Rodger well. We were in training together in Australia and came over together. On June 10th we were at Messines holding a stopped line. It was about the middle of the night when Rodger was killed by a shell from 5 to 10 yards behind our trench. He was struck in two places and killed instantly. I saw the body the next morning when they were about to carry it away but was not at the burial.His nickname was Scolly"
Alexander Rodger
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
10th June 1917, aged 33.
Row E. 7.
Son of John and Christina Rodger. Native of West Linton, Scotland.
Previously discharged to base at Boulogne on 9th March, 1917 with a gun shot wound to his right eye (severe).
706 Private, A. F. Stubbs gave the following details:
"I knew Rodger well. We were in training together in Australia and came over together. On June 10th we were at Messines holding a stopped line. It was about the middle of the night when Rodger was killed by a shell from 5 to 10 yards behind our trench. He was struck in two places and killed instantly. I saw the body the next morning when they were about to carry it away but was not at the burial.His nickname was Scolly"
1672 Private
Francis Douglas Seymour
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th June 1917, aged 19.
Row E. 6.
Son of Henry William and Mary Eunice Seymour, of "Lauriston," Morningside, Brisbane, Queensland. Native of Beaudesert, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Lost Awhile Our Treasured Love Gain'd For Ever Safe Above."
Francis Douglas Seymour
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th June 1917, aged 19.
Row E. 6.
Son of Henry William and Mary Eunice Seymour, of "Lauriston," Morningside, Brisbane, Queensland. Native of Beaudesert, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Lost Awhile Our Treasured Love Gain'd For Ever Safe Above."
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.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memory Of The Dearly Loved Son Of Mr. & Mrs. W.D. Stewart Of Perth."
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.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memory Of The Dearly Loved Son Of Mr. & Mrs. W.D. Stewart Of Perth."
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)
