CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.905, Longitude: 2.90694
Location Information
Cement House cemetery is located in Langemark which is located north of the town of Ieper off the N313. From the Markt take the Korte Ieperstraat, at the end turn right into Boezingestraat, past the first turning on the left and the cemetery is 100 metres on the left hand side.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance. There are turf ramps to both the left and right immediately inside the main entrance which are suitable for wheelchair access.
Historical Information
Langemark has given its name to the Battles of 21-24 October 1914 and 16-18 August 1917. The village was in German hands from April 1915 to August 1917 and from April to September 1918. Commonwealth, French and Belgian forces have in turn defended and attacked it.
"Cement House" was the military name given to a fortified farm building on the Langemark-Boesinghe (now Boezinge) road. The original Cement House Cemetery (now Plot I, an irregular group of 231 graves) was begun here at the end of August 1917 and used by the 4th and 17th Division burial officers, by field ambulances and by units in the line until April 1918.
In the years immediately following the Armistice, most of Plots II - XV were added when Commonwealth graves were brought in from the battlefields and small burial grounds around Langemark and Poelkapelle, mostly dating from the Autumn of 1917. The more important graveyards or groups of graves concentrated into this cemetery were the following:-
ASQUILLIES CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of eleven British soldiers of November 1918.
AUDREGNIES CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of eight British soldiers of August 1914 and one of November 1918.
ELVERDINGHE CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of nine British soldiers of October 1914.
HENSIES CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of one Canadian and three British soldiers of November 1918 and one British soldier of August 1914.
HEULE CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of six British soldiers and one unidentified airman buried in October 1918.
MAISIERES COMMUNAL CEMETERY, which contained the graves of sixteen British soldiers of August 1914.
MEERENDRE CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of four R.A.F. officers buried in October 1918.
OOSTNIEUWERKE CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of five Canadian and five British soldiers of April 1915 and one British officer of October 1914.
PHEASANT TRENCH CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, was in the fields a little East of Langemarck village. Pheasant Trench and Pheasant Farm were taken by the 51st (Highland) Division on the 20th September, 1917, but the cemetery was begun two months later. It contained the graves of fourteen soldiers from the United Kingdom.
PROVEN CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of one Canadian officer and three British soldiers.
QUAREGNON COMMUNAL CEMETERY, which contained the graves of eight British soldiers buried in 1914.
ROLLEGHEM CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of one R.A.F. officer and four British soldiers buried in 1918.
THULIN NEW COMMUNAL CEMETERY, which contained the graves of eight British soldiers of August 1914 and two R.A.F. officers of October 1918.
WINKEL ST. ELOI CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of thirty British and four Newfoundland soldiers buried in October 1918.
Plots XVI, XVII and XVIII originally contained some 500 French graves, but these were removed in 1922. The space vacated has been filled in over the intervening years by graves brought in from communal cemeteries and churchyards in the area, when their maintenance in these locations could no longer be assured. The cemetery is still used for the burial of remains that continue to be discovered in the vicinity, and a number of plots have been extended to accommodate these graves.
There are now 3,592 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery, 2,425 of the burials are unidentified.
Of the 22 Second World War burials in the cemetery, five are unidentified.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Arthur James Scott Hutton
Total Burials: 3,616.
World War One Identified Burials: United Kingdom 1,134, Canada 28, Australia 4, New Zealand 2, South Africa 1. Total 1,169.
World War One Unidentified Burials: 2,425.
World War Two Identified Burials: United Kingdom 16, Canada 1. Total 17.
World War Two Unidentified Burials: 5.
Cement House cemetery is located in Langemark which is located north of the town of Ieper off the N313. From the Markt take the Korte Ieperstraat, at the end turn right into Boezingestraat, past the first turning on the left and the cemetery is 100 metres on the left hand side.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance. There are turf ramps to both the left and right immediately inside the main entrance which are suitable for wheelchair access.
Historical Information
Langemark has given its name to the Battles of 21-24 October 1914 and 16-18 August 1917. The village was in German hands from April 1915 to August 1917 and from April to September 1918. Commonwealth, French and Belgian forces have in turn defended and attacked it.
"Cement House" was the military name given to a fortified farm building on the Langemark-Boesinghe (now Boezinge) road. The original Cement House Cemetery (now Plot I, an irregular group of 231 graves) was begun here at the end of August 1917 and used by the 4th and 17th Division burial officers, by field ambulances and by units in the line until April 1918.
In the years immediately following the Armistice, most of Plots II - XV were added when Commonwealth graves were brought in from the battlefields and small burial grounds around Langemark and Poelkapelle, mostly dating from the Autumn of 1917. The more important graveyards or groups of graves concentrated into this cemetery were the following:-
ASQUILLIES CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of eleven British soldiers of November 1918.
AUDREGNIES CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of eight British soldiers of August 1914 and one of November 1918.
ELVERDINGHE CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of nine British soldiers of October 1914.
HENSIES CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of one Canadian and three British soldiers of November 1918 and one British soldier of August 1914.
HEULE CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of six British soldiers and one unidentified airman buried in October 1918.
MAISIERES COMMUNAL CEMETERY, which contained the graves of sixteen British soldiers of August 1914.
MEERENDRE CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of four R.A.F. officers buried in October 1918.
OOSTNIEUWERKE CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of five Canadian and five British soldiers of April 1915 and one British officer of October 1914.
PHEASANT TRENCH CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, was in the fields a little East of Langemarck village. Pheasant Trench and Pheasant Farm were taken by the 51st (Highland) Division on the 20th September, 1917, but the cemetery was begun two months later. It contained the graves of fourteen soldiers from the United Kingdom.
PROVEN CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of one Canadian officer and three British soldiers.
QUAREGNON COMMUNAL CEMETERY, which contained the graves of eight British soldiers buried in 1914.
ROLLEGHEM CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of one R.A.F. officer and four British soldiers buried in 1918.
THULIN NEW COMMUNAL CEMETERY, which contained the graves of eight British soldiers of August 1914 and two R.A.F. officers of October 1918.
WINKEL ST. ELOI CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of thirty British and four Newfoundland soldiers buried in October 1918.
Plots XVI, XVII and XVIII originally contained some 500 French graves, but these were removed in 1922. The space vacated has been filled in over the intervening years by graves brought in from communal cemeteries and churchyards in the area, when their maintenance in these locations could no longer be assured. The cemetery is still used for the burial of remains that continue to be discovered in the vicinity, and a number of plots have been extended to accommodate these graves.
There are now 3,592 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery, 2,425 of the burials are unidentified.
Of the 22 Second World War burials in the cemetery, five are unidentified.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Arthur James Scott Hutton
Total Burials: 3,616.
World War One Identified Burials: United Kingdom 1,134, Canada 28, Australia 4, New Zealand 2, South Africa 1. Total 1,169.
World War One Unidentified Burials: 2,425.
World War Two Identified Burials: United Kingdom 16, Canada 1. Total 17.
World War Two Unidentified Burials: 5.
Date given as Post 1939.
June 1953. ©CWGC
Men of the 124th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery manhandling a 9.2 inch howitzer over muddy ground at Pilkem near Ypres, 14 September 1917. © IWM Q 3252
June 1961 - Graves in Elverdinghe Churchyard. These were concentrated into Cement House Cemetery in the early 1970's.
|
30557 Private
Albert Ernest Lovatt 8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment 12th October 1917, aged 29. Plot XIII. E. 12. Son of James and Emily Lovatt, of 11, Station Rd., Lawly Bank, Dawley; husband of Elsie Lovatt, of 13, Dawley Bank, Dawley, Salop. His headstone bears the inscription: "Peace Perfect Peace With Loved Ones Far Away In Jesu's Keeping We Are Safe And They." |
30553 Private
Frederick George Rogers 8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment 12th October 1917. Plot XIII. E. 11 |
Pte. Rogers was born in Matlock, Somerset but was living in Moon Street, West Bromwich when he enlisted in August 1916. Pte Lovatt was brought up in Lawley Bank, Shropshire and had married Miss Elsie Bryce of Dawley Bank on Nov 12th 1916, two weeks before being sent to France. They became inseparable mates during basic training (Aug - Nov 1916) and had stuck together throughout their time in France. According to a letter sent to Pte. Lovatt's widow by a member of their platoon the two of them were last seen helping each other back (one or both being wounded) during an attack N.W of the Staden - Langemarck railway, They never made it to the dressing station. Pte Rogers 30553 and Pte Lovatt 30557 now lie buried side by side at the Cement House Cemetery, grave reference numbers XIII. E. 11. & XIII. E. 12.
Best Friends in Life and Death
REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR
Pictures courtesy of Dave Shaw
Best Friends in Life and Death
REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR
Pictures courtesy of Dave Shaw
45507 Sergeant
Robert Bellas
1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade
30th October 1917, aged 31.
Plot XVI. A. 21-23.
Son of Robert and Mary Bellas of Westmorland, England.
Robert Bellas
1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade
30th October 1917, aged 31.
Plot XVI. A. 21-23.
Son of Robert and Mary Bellas of Westmorland, England.
Second Lieutenant
David Ian Graham Clark
4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
20th September 1917, aged 21.
Plot IV. D. 16.
Only son of Capt. D. M. Clark (4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders) and Mrs. D. M. Clark, of Ianholme, Riverside, Aberdeen. Served in Lovat's Scouts as a Pte. at the Dardanelles.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Only Beloved Son Of Capt. D.M. Clark Also 4th Seaforth Hrs."
Picture courtesy of Chris Howell
David Ian Graham Clark
4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
20th September 1917, aged 21.
Plot IV. D. 16.
Only son of Capt. D. M. Clark (4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders) and Mrs. D. M. Clark, of Ianholme, Riverside, Aberdeen. Served in Lovat's Scouts as a Pte. at the Dardanelles.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Only Beloved Son Of Capt. D.M. Clark Also 4th Seaforth Hrs."
Picture courtesy of Chris Howell
Captain
Mervyn Crawshay
5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
31st October 1914, aged 33.
Plot VIIA. F. 6.
Served in the South African war. Son of Mr. T. Crawshay, of Dimlands, Glamorganshire.
Mervyn Crawshay
5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
31st October 1914, aged 33.
Plot VIIA. F. 6.
Served in the South African war. Son of Mr. T. Crawshay, of Dimlands, Glamorganshire.
Second Lieutenant
Aylmer Eade
3rd Bn. attd. 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
9th October 1917, aged 25.
Plot VII. E. 7.
Son of the Rev. Charles John Aylmer Eade and Constance Eade, of Aycliffe Vicarage, Darlington.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Pro Patria Dulce Periculum." (Latin: For Country - Danger is Sweet.)
Aylmer Eade
3rd Bn. attd. 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
9th October 1917, aged 25.
Plot VII. E. 7.
Son of the Rev. Charles John Aylmer Eade and Constance Eade, of Aycliffe Vicarage, Darlington.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Pro Patria Dulce Periculum." (Latin: For Country - Danger is Sweet.)
27342 Private
Norman Alexander Gillespie
15th Bn. Canadian Infantry
25th April 1915.
Plot XVII. C. 10.
Norman Alexander Gillespie
15th Bn. Canadian Infantry
25th April 1915.
Plot XVII. C. 10.
25857 Private
Charles Roland Gumbley
3rd Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
12th October 1917.
Plot XV. B. 5.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry Gumbley, of Fernhill, Hastings, Napier, New Zealand.
Charles Roland Gumbley
3rd Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
12th October 1917.
Plot XV. B. 5.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry Gumbley, of Fernhill, Hastings, Napier, New Zealand.
29401 Private
Francis Joseph Harnett
1st Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
8th June 1917, aged 22.
Plot XXI. A. 7.
Son of George and Lizzie Harnett, of 8, High Street, Devonport, New Zealand.
Francis Joseph Harnett
1st Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
8th June 1917, aged 22.
Plot XXI. A. 7.
Son of George and Lizzie Harnett, of 8, High Street, Devonport, New Zealand.
35188 Private
John W. Mason
9th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
9th October 1917.
Plot XII. A. 6.
John was a father of five, he is pictured above left with his children and wife, He was also an amateur cartoonist, the picture on the right, is his own work.
Pictures courtesy of Aileen Kincaid, granddaughter of this soldier
John W. Mason
9th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
9th October 1917.
Plot XII. A. 6.
John was a father of five, he is pictured above left with his children and wife, He was also an amateur cartoonist, the picture on the right, is his own work.
Pictures courtesy of Aileen Kincaid, granddaughter of this soldier
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Cement House Cemetery
206 Lance Corporal
William Noseworthy
1st Bn. Newfoundland Regiment
9th October 1917, aged 24.
Sp. Mem. A. 2.
Son of Ambrose and Elizabeth Noseworthy, of 87, King's Rd., St. John's, Newfoundland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone But Not Forgotten."
William Noseworthy
1st Bn. Newfoundland Regiment
9th October 1917, aged 24.
Sp. Mem. A. 2.
Son of Ambrose and Elizabeth Noseworthy, of 87, King's Rd., St. John's, Newfoundland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone But Not Forgotten."
1091 Corporal
John William Scally
Household Battalion, formerly (2665) Royal Horse Guards
12th October 1917, aged 25.
Plot VI. C. 13.
Husband of Agnes Mary Scally, of 16, Grange Park Rd., Leyton, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "One Who Never Turned His Back But Marched Forward."
John William Scally
Household Battalion, formerly (2665) Royal Horse Guards
12th October 1917, aged 25.
Plot VI. C. 13.
Husband of Agnes Mary Scally, of 16, Grange Park Rd., Leyton, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "One Who Never Turned His Back But Marched Forward."
Lieutenant
William Eric Brymer Schreiber
Mechanical Transport, Div. Ammunition Park, Canadian Army Service Corps.
4th May 1915, aged 33.
Plot XXI. A. 1.
Son of Wm. L. Schreiber and Mary Eleanor Godfrey his wife; husband of Gabrielle Baillaige (formerly Schreiber).
William Eric Brymer Schreiber
Mechanical Transport, Div. Ammunition Park, Canadian Army Service Corps.
4th May 1915, aged 33.
Plot XXI. A. 1.
Son of Wm. L. Schreiber and Mary Eleanor Godfrey his wife; husband of Gabrielle Baillaige (formerly Schreiber).
Lieutenant
Parker Whitley Symons
4th Sqdn. Australian Flying Corps
5th November 1918, aged 25.
Plot XVIII. A. 9.
Son of James Nagor and Sarah Threader Symons, of 9 Hackney Rd., St Peters, South Australia. Born at Adelaide, South Australia.
Lt. Symons enlisted on 30 September 1916 with the Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) and later transferred to the AFC. He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Persic (A34) on 22 December 1916. This portrait was taken shortly before Lt Symons flew to Belgium where he was killed in action on 5 November 1918 during an air battle that took place immediately following a raid by 4 Squadron on the German aerodrome at Chapelle-a-Wattines.
Parker Whitley Symons
4th Sqdn. Australian Flying Corps
5th November 1918, aged 25.
Plot XVIII. A. 9.
Son of James Nagor and Sarah Threader Symons, of 9 Hackney Rd., St Peters, South Australia. Born at Adelaide, South Australia.
Lt. Symons enlisted on 30 September 1916 with the Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) and later transferred to the AFC. He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Persic (A34) on 22 December 1916. This portrait was taken shortly before Lt Symons flew to Belgium where he was killed in action on 5 November 1918 during an air battle that took place immediately following a raid by 4 Squadron on the German aerodrome at Chapelle-a-Wattines.
Lieutenant
Walter Olveston Summers, M. C.
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
28th December 1918.
Plot XX. A. 20.
Son of Robert William and Edith Marie Summers, of State Saving Bank, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. Born at Melbourne Victoria, Australia.
Pte Summers enlisted on 11 February 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Euripides on 10 May 1915. On 15 August 1916 he was promoted to Sergeant and on 20 August 1917 he was commissioned and served as a Lieutenant (Lt). On 18 September 1918 he was awarded a Military Cross (MC) for overpowering an enemy post, capturing two machine guns and fifteen prisoners, during an attack on Villers Bretonneux. On 28 December 1918 he died at Nalinnes in Belgium of accidental injuries caused while defusing a German shell which suddenly exploded.
Walter Olveston Summers, M. C.
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
28th December 1918.
Plot XX. A. 20.
Son of Robert William and Edith Marie Summers, of State Saving Bank, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. Born at Melbourne Victoria, Australia.
Pte Summers enlisted on 11 February 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Euripides on 10 May 1915. On 15 August 1916 he was promoted to Sergeant and on 20 August 1917 he was commissioned and served as a Lieutenant (Lt). On 18 September 1918 he was awarded a Military Cross (MC) for overpowering an enemy post, capturing two machine guns and fifteen prisoners, during an attack on Villers Bretonneux. On 28 December 1918 he died at Nalinnes in Belgium of accidental injuries caused while defusing a German shell which suddenly exploded.
Second Lieutenant
Louis William Yule, Mentioned in Despatches.
7th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
26th September 1915, aged 18.
Plot XIII. D. 38.
Son of Col. W. A. Yule (Royal Scots Fusiliers) and Louisa Yule.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace And Honour Love For Ever Abide With Thee."
Louis William Yule, Mentioned in Despatches.
7th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.
26th September 1915, aged 18.
Plot XIII. D. 38.
Son of Col. W. A. Yule (Royal Scots Fusiliers) and Louisa Yule.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Peace And Honour Love For Ever Abide With Thee."
Captured German officers guarded by a Scottish sentry outside a recently taken concrete bunker near Langemarck (Langemark-Poelkapelle), 12 October 1917. © IWM (Q 3013)
First Battle of Passchendaele. Two guardsmen bringing in a wounded comrade on a stretcher. Near Langemarck (Langemark-Poelkapelle), 12 October 1917. © IWM (Q 3009)
A salvage notice reading 'Let Fritz have it', near Langemarck, 8 October 1917. © IWM (Q 6070)
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Battle of Langemarck. Royal Garrison Artillery telephonists at work passing messages from the forward observation officers to their batteries in a dug-out close to the front line near Langemarck, 21st August 1917. © IWM Q 2750
Troops of the Dorsetshire Regiment resting and cleaning rifles in the ruins of a farm near Langemarck, 17 October 1917. © IWM Q 6095
