BETHLEEM FARM WEST CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
Location Information
Bethleem Farm West 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 right hand side of the road, towards a farmstead (known as Nazareth or Schnitzel Farm). Visitors to this site should note a short grassed access path which is unsuitable for vehicles.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Bethleem Farm West Cemetery was made by units of the 3rd Australian Division (it was known to them as the '3rd Division General Cemetery'), who captured Bethleem Farm (which can be found to the north-east) on 7 June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. It continued to be used by the 14th (Light) Division until the end of 1917. There is also an East Cemetery located nearby.
There are now 165 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery including one casualty commemorated by special memorial whose grave in the cemetery was destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery also contains one unidentifed burial of the Second World War.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith
Casualty Details: UK 24; Australia 114; New Zealand 27; Total burials 165
German observation post and trenches on Messines Ridge wrecked by shell fire during the Battle of Messines, seen on 11th June 1917. © IWM (Q 2323)
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.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memory Of The Dearly Loved Son Of Mrs. T. Briggs, Sth.Aust."
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.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Memory Of The Dearly Loved Son Of Mrs. T. Briggs, Sth.Aust."
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."
381 Private
Charles Major Cluett
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th July 1917.
Row B. 13.
Charles Major Cluett
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
15th July 1917.
Row B. 13.
2179 Private
Albert James Hibbs Edmonds
35th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
28th July 1917, aged 22.
Row C. 13.
Son of James H. and Sophia J. Edmonds, of Timor, Blandford, New South Wales.
A labourer of Blandford NSW, he enlisted on 9 May 1916 and sailed with the 3rd Reinforcements aboard HMAT Anchises on 24 August 1916.
Albert James Hibbs Edmonds
35th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
28th July 1917, aged 22.
Row C. 13.
Son of James H. and Sophia J. Edmonds, of Timor, Blandford, New South Wales.
A labourer of Blandford NSW, he enlisted on 9 May 1916 and sailed with the 3rd Reinforcements aboard HMAT Anchises on 24 August 1916.
1138 Private
Albert Hay
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th July 1917.
Row C. 19B.
Son of Joseph and Ann Hay. Native of Tingha, New South Wales.
A miner prior to enlisting in January 1916, Pte Hay embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Marathon (A74) on 4 May 1916. He was killed in action at Messines, Belgium, on 26 July 1917. Pte Hay was 24 years of age. Pte Hay was one of four brothers who enlisted: 1140 Pte James Alfred Hay, 33rd Battalion, was killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium, on 12 October 1917 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial; 1139 Pte Marmion Alexander Hay, 33rd Battalion, returned to Australia in 1919; 1735 Driver Lewis Hay MM, 10th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia in 1919.
Albert Hay
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
26th July 1917.
Row C. 19B.
Son of Joseph and Ann Hay. Native of Tingha, New South Wales.
A miner prior to enlisting in January 1916, Pte Hay embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Marathon (A74) on 4 May 1916. He was killed in action at Messines, Belgium, on 26 July 1917. Pte Hay was 24 years of age. Pte Hay was one of four brothers who enlisted: 1140 Pte James Alfred Hay, 33rd Battalion, was killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium, on 12 October 1917 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial; 1139 Pte Marmion Alexander Hay, 33rd Battalion, returned to Australia in 1919; 1735 Driver Lewis Hay MM, 10th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia in 1919.
Messines area; British troops outside a German observation post destroyed by British guns, 11th June 1917. © IWM (Q 3540)
429 Private
Thomas Manderson
42nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th June 1916, 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 1916, 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.
4369 Private
Charles William Nielsen
26th Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
19th December 1917, aged 25.
Plot A. 33.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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)
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
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.
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.
Picture courtesy of Rob Patterson of Australia (Great Grandson)
Bethleem Farm West between the wars.
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)
Clearing a road over the gound taken near Messines, 11th June 1917. © IWM (Q 3516)
