Bethleem Farm West Cemetery
Roll of Honour
L - Z
19019 Rifleman
William Malcolm
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
19th August 1917, aged 27.
Row D. 12.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Malcolm, of Nightcaps, Southland, New Zealand.
William Malcolm
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
19th August 1917, aged 27.
Row D. 12.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Malcolm, of Nightcaps, Southland, New Zealand.
429 Private
Thomas Manderson
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th June 1917, aged 29.
Row A. 30.
Son of Thomas and Jessie J. Manderson. Native of Brisbane, Queensland.
From Gin Gin, Queensland. A 26 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 26 October 1915, he embarked for overseas with B Company from Sydney on 5 July 1915 aboard HMAT Borda. Following further training in England, he proceeded to France to join the 42nd Battalion in November 1916. Pte Manderson was killed in action at Messines, Belgium on 9 July 1917 and buried in the Bethleem Farm West Cemetery, Belgium. His younger brother 428 Corporal Charles Manderson also served with the 42nd Battalion and was killed in action in France on 31 August 1918 and buried at the Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension.
Thomas Manderson
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th June 1917, aged 29.
Row A. 30.
Son of Thomas and Jessie J. Manderson. Native of Brisbane, Queensland.
From Gin Gin, Queensland. A 26 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 26 October 1915, he embarked for overseas with B Company from Sydney on 5 July 1915 aboard HMAT Borda. Following further training in England, he proceeded to France to join the 42nd Battalion in November 1916. Pte Manderson was killed in action at Messines, Belgium on 9 July 1917 and buried in the Bethleem Farm West Cemetery, Belgium. His younger brother 428 Corporal Charles Manderson also served with the 42nd Battalion and was killed in action in France on 31 August 1918 and buried at the Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension.
32869 Rifleman
Thomas Alexander Matheson
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
7th August 1917, aged 22.
Row D. 17.
Son of John and Margaret Matheson, of Kensington, Southland, New Zealand.
Thomas Alexander Matheson
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
7th August 1917, aged 22.
Row D. 17.
Son of John and Margaret Matheson, of Kensington, Southland, New Zealand.
30106 Lieutenant
Edward Andamas Maude
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
18th August 1917, aged 35.
Row D. 3.
Edward Andamas Maude
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
18th August 1917, aged 35.
Row D. 3.
4369 Private
Charles William Nielsen
26th Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
19th December 1917, aged 25.
Plot A. 33.
Son of Sarah Jane Nielsen, of Forest Hill, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace, Perfect Peace."
Born in Forest Hill, Lockyer Valley, Queensland to a Danish immigrant father and Welsh mother, both Charlie, a farmer from Rockhampton and his older brother Norman, a policeman from Mackay enlisted.
Norman survived the war, but Charlie was killed near Messines. Greatly loved by his family, Charlie was unmarried when he was killed, it was a big loss to his sisters Edith, Effie, Flo, May and his brothers Norman and Jack.
Picture courtesy of Great Nephew, David Dart
Charles William Nielsen
26th Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
19th December 1917, aged 25.
Plot A. 33.
Son of Sarah Jane Nielsen, of Forest Hill, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace, Perfect Peace."
Born in Forest Hill, Lockyer Valley, Queensland to a Danish immigrant father and Welsh mother, both Charlie, a farmer from Rockhampton and his older brother Norman, a policeman from Mackay enlisted.
Norman survived the war, but Charlie was killed near Messines. Greatly loved by his family, Charlie was unmarried when he was killed, it was a big loss to his sisters Edith, Effie, Flo, May and his brothers Norman and Jack.
Picture courtesy of Great Nephew, David Dart
1260 Private
Geoffrey Molyneux Ogden
38th Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
Died between 7th June 1917 and 9th June 1917, aged 21.
Row A. 32.
Son of Frederick John and Mary Jane Ogden, of 93, Esplanade, Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "We Deeply Mourn Our Loss But Await With Fortitude And Love Our Meeting Hereafter."
Geoffrey Molyneux Ogden
38th Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
Died between 7th June 1917 and 9th June 1917, aged 21.
Row A. 32.
Son of Frederick John and Mary Jane Ogden, of 93, Esplanade, Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "We Deeply Mourn Our Loss But Await With Fortitude And Love Our Meeting Hereafter."
2122 Private
William Grinter Poole
35th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st July 1917.
Row B. 4.
William Grinter Poole
35th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st July 1917.
Row B. 4.
28791 Private
Lawrence Peter Poulsen
2nd Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
15th August 1917, aged 32.
Row C. 23.
Son of the late Lauritz and Mary Poulsen, of Auckland, New Zealand.
Lawrence Peter Poulsen
2nd Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
15th August 1917, aged 32.
Row C. 23.
Son of the late Lauritz and Mary Poulsen, of Auckland, New Zealand.
2631 Private
John Patrick Quinn
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
25th July 1917, aged 19.
Row C. 19A.
Son of Bernard and Julia Quinn, of 15, Tulford St., Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales. Native of Golden Gate, Croydon, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sweet Sacred Heart Of Jesus Have Mercy On His Soul."
John Patrick Quinn
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
25th July 1917, aged 19.
Row C. 19A.
Son of Bernard and Julia Quinn, of 15, Tulford St., Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales. Native of Golden Gate, Croydon, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Sweet Sacred Heart Of Jesus Have Mercy On His Soul."
6068 Private
Arthur William Rennie
37th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 20.
Row A. 25.
Son of John and Frances Clark Rennie, of Longwood, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "True And Loyal To Empire And Good Principle."
A school teacher prior to enlisting, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 28 July 1916. On 8 June 1917, he was killed in action near Messines Ridge, Belgium, aged 20.
Arthur William Rennie
37th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
8th June 1917, aged 20.
Row A. 25.
Son of John and Frances Clark Rennie, of Longwood, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "True And Loyal To Empire And Good Principle."
A school teacher prior to enlisting, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 28 July 1916. On 8 June 1917, he was killed in action near Messines Ridge, Belgium, aged 20.
747 Private
Henry James Robinson
30th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
1st December 1917, aged 32.
Row F. 9.
From Granville, NSW. A locomotive fireman prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Beltana (A72) on 9 November 1915. He was killed in action in the Messines area, Belgium on 1 December 1917, aged 32.
Henry James Robinson
30th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
1st December 1917, aged 32.
Row F. 9.
From Granville, NSW. A locomotive fireman prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Beltana (A72) on 9 November 1915. He was killed in action in the Messines area, Belgium on 1 December 1917, aged 32.
4105 Private
Joseph Edward Sparkes
30th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th November 1917, aged 28.
Row F. 5.
Son of Tom and Mary Sparkes; husband of Maggie Sparkes, of Llandilo, St. Mary's, New South Wales. Native of Hurstville, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At Rest."
3633 Private, T. S. Smyth gave the following details:
"On November 20th, the Battalion was at Messines holding the line. About 8.a.m., a pigeon bomb landed in the bay next to where I was and killed a corporal and three other men, Sparkes was one and I went down and pulled him out from the dug-out in which he was when hit. He had been reading letters at the time which he'd got from home. They carried him out and they buried him at the back of Bethlehem Farm. One of the stretcher bearers told me that all the four men were buried close together and the graves were marked by a Battalion cross. Corporal Stephens (actually Stevenson) and Private King (actually Ring) were two of the men killed. We held the ground."
The four men killed in this incident were W. P. Ross, J. A. Ring, Joseph Sparkes and Thomas Stevenson they are all buried next to each other in Row F. 3, 4, 5 & 6 respectively.
Joseph Edward Sparkes
30th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th November 1917, aged 28.
Row F. 5.
Son of Tom and Mary Sparkes; husband of Maggie Sparkes, of Llandilo, St. Mary's, New South Wales. Native of Hurstville, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "At Rest."
3633 Private, T. S. Smyth gave the following details:
"On November 20th, the Battalion was at Messines holding the line. About 8.a.m., a pigeon bomb landed in the bay next to where I was and killed a corporal and three other men, Sparkes was one and I went down and pulled him out from the dug-out in which he was when hit. He had been reading letters at the time which he'd got from home. They carried him out and they buried him at the back of Bethlehem Farm. One of the stretcher bearers told me that all the four men were buried close together and the graves were marked by a Battalion cross. Corporal Stephens (actually Stevenson) and Private King (actually Ring) were two of the men killed. We held the ground."
The four men killed in this incident were W. P. Ross, J. A. Ring, Joseph Sparkes and Thomas Stevenson they are all buried next to each other in Row F. 3, 4, 5 & 6 respectively.
25/681 Rifleman
John Steel
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
19th August 1917, aged 32.
Row D. 9.
Son of Jessie and the late Alexander Steel, of West Plains, Southland, New Zealand.
John Steel
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
19th August 1917, aged 32.
Row D. 9.
Son of Jessie and the late Alexander Steel, of West Plains, Southland, New Zealand.
26/472 Second Lieutenant
William Ernest Stevens
4th Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
15th August 1917, aged 24.
Row B. 21.
Born at Auckland, New Zealand
William Ernest Stevens
4th Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
15th August 1917, aged 24.
Row B. 21.
Born at Auckland, New Zealand
914 Private
William Temple
3rd Australian Pioneers
23rd July 1917, aged 22.
Row A. 2.
Son of Mary Hart Anderson Temple, and the late William Temple, of "Craigmore," Blackburn St, Moorooka, Queensland. Native of Glasgow, Scotland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This; Dearly Loved, Deeply Mourned."
William Temple
3rd Australian Pioneers
23rd July 1917, aged 22.
Row A. 2.
Son of Mary Hart Anderson Temple, and the late William Temple, of "Craigmore," Blackburn St, Moorooka, Queensland. Native of Glasgow, Scotland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This; Dearly Loved, Deeply Mourned."
38617 Rifleman
Arthur Clarence Villiers
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
5th August 1917.
Sp. Mem. 1.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
Arthur Clarence Villiers
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
5th August 1917.
Sp. Mem. 1.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out."
885 Private
Frederick Richard (Bobby) Tribe
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st July 1917.
Row B. 10B.
Son of William James Tribe and Ann Alice Harris, born at Narrabri, New South Wales.
Picture courtesy of Kim Crowe
Frederick Richard (Bobby) Tribe
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st July 1917.
Row B. 10B.
Son of William James Tribe and Ann Alice Harris, born at Narrabri, New South Wales.
Picture courtesy of Kim Crowe
Second Lieutenant
Randall Gordon Virgoe
10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st December 1917, aged 20.
Row F. 15.
Son of William Randall Virgoe and Henrietta Florence Virgoe, of Brigalow Avenue, Kensington Gardens, Adelaide, South Australia. Native of Sydney, New South Wales.
Randall Gordon Virgoe
10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st December 1917, aged 20.
Row F. 15.
Son of William Randall Virgoe and Henrietta Florence Virgoe, of Brigalow Avenue, Kensington Gardens, Adelaide, South Australia. Native of Sydney, New South Wales.
32917 Rifleman
Arthur Richard Webb
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
7th August 1917, aged 28.
Row C. 22.
Arthur Richard Webb
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
7th August 1917, aged 28.
Row C. 22.
3703 Private
William (Bill) Henry Whelan
26th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
16th December 1917, aged 27.
Row A. 35.
Son of Walter and Amelia Whelan; husband of Mrs. M. C. Whelan, of 57, Kensington Rd., Summerhill, New South Wales. Native of Hobart, Tasmania.
His headstone bears the inscription; "One Of Australia's Bravest And Best Duty Nobly Done."
3657 Lance Corporal, J. R. Goodey described the circumstances of Bill Whelan's death:
"We were carrying rations to the lines at Messines when an M. G. bullet hit Billy Whelan on the leg, we bandaged him up but the bullet had pierced an artery, he bled to death before we got him to the Dressing Station. He was quite conscious and did not seem to be in much pain. He said, "Well, I've got a good blighty," but he only lived about 20 minutes. I saw his grave after he had been buried in an Australian cemetery at Ploegsteert, and I did it up."
Picture courtesy of Rob Patterson of Australia (Great Grandson)
William (Bill) Henry Whelan
26th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
16th December 1917, aged 27.
Row A. 35.
Son of Walter and Amelia Whelan; husband of Mrs. M. C. Whelan, of 57, Kensington Rd., Summerhill, New South Wales. Native of Hobart, Tasmania.
His headstone bears the inscription; "One Of Australia's Bravest And Best Duty Nobly Done."
3657 Lance Corporal, J. R. Goodey described the circumstances of Bill Whelan's death:
"We were carrying rations to the lines at Messines when an M. G. bullet hit Billy Whelan on the leg, we bandaged him up but the bullet had pierced an artery, he bled to death before we got him to the Dressing Station. He was quite conscious and did not seem to be in much pain. He said, "Well, I've got a good blighty," but he only lived about 20 minutes. I saw his grave after he had been buried in an Australian cemetery at Ploegsteert, and I did it up."
Picture courtesy of Rob Patterson of Australia (Great Grandson)
4620 Private
James Harold Willmer
31st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th December 1917, aged 23.
Row E. 13.
Son of John and Eliza Willmer, of Ellesmere, Kingaroy, Queensland. Native of Laidley, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest In Peace."
James Harold Willmer
31st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th December 1917, aged 23.
Row E. 13.
Son of John and Eliza Willmer, of Ellesmere, Kingaroy, Queensland. Native of Laidley, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest In Peace."
