CROONAERT CHAPEL CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.8 Longitude: 2.87298
Location Information
Croonaert Chapel Cemetery is located 6 kilometres south of Ieper town centre, between the villages of Voormezele and Wijtschate.
From Ieper town centre the Kemmelseweg is reached via the Rijselsestraat, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort), and straight on towards Armentieres (N365). 900 metres after the crossroads is the right hand turning onto the Kemmelseweg, (made prominent by a railway level crossing). Follow the Kemmelseweg to the crossroads next to the Goudezone factory. Turn left into Vierstraat and follow this road and then take the first turning left. The cemetery is along here on the left.
Visiting Information
Visitors to this site should note a 200 metre grassed access path which is unsuitable for vehicles.
Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
Croonaert Chapel was a shrine in a hamlet on the Wytschaete-Voormezeele road, and was in No Man's Land before the Battle of Messines 1917. The cemetery was begun by the 19th Division Burial Officer in June 1917, and used until the following November. Two further burials were made in April 1918 and January 1919.
Croonaert Chapel Cemetery contains 75 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, seven of which are unidentified. 51 German graves of June 1917 were removed after the Armistice.
The cemetery was designed by W C Von Berg.
Total burials: 75.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 68.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 7.
Croonaert Chapel Cemetery is located 6 kilometres south of Ieper town centre, between the villages of Voormezele and Wijtschate.
From Ieper town centre the Kemmelseweg is reached via the Rijselsestraat, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort), and straight on towards Armentieres (N365). 900 metres after the crossroads is the right hand turning onto the Kemmelseweg, (made prominent by a railway level crossing). Follow the Kemmelseweg to the crossroads next to the Goudezone factory. Turn left into Vierstraat and follow this road and then take the first turning left. The cemetery is along here on the left.
Visiting Information
Visitors to this site should note a 200 metre grassed access path which is unsuitable for vehicles.
Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
Croonaert Chapel was a shrine in a hamlet on the Wytschaete-Voormezeele road, and was in No Man's Land before the Battle of Messines 1917. The cemetery was begun by the 19th Division Burial Officer in June 1917, and used until the following November. Two further burials were made in April 1918 and January 1919.
Croonaert Chapel Cemetery contains 75 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, seven of which are unidentified. 51 German graves of June 1917 were removed after the Armistice.
The cemetery was designed by W C Von Berg.
Total burials: 75.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 68.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 7.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
121504 Gunner
John Barker
161st Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery, formerly (Cpl.) 4th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
24th July 1917, aged 23.
Row C. 14.
Son of Thomas A. and Elizabeth Caroline Barker, of Brickyard, Toutley, Wokingham.
John Barker
161st Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery, formerly (Cpl.) 4th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
24th July 1917, aged 23.
Row C. 14.
Son of Thomas A. and Elizabeth Caroline Barker, of Brickyard, Toutley, Wokingham.
37132 Private
Thomas Davies
9th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
15th June 1917, aged 24.
Row C. 6.
Son of John and Ellen Davies, of Penlan House, Barmouth.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Cwsg, Filwr, Cwsg." (Welsh language "Rest Soldier Rest."
Thomas Davies
9th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
15th June 1917, aged 24.
Row C. 6.
Son of John and Ellen Davies, of Penlan House, Barmouth.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Cwsg, Filwr, Cwsg." (Welsh language "Rest Soldier Rest."
24770 Private
Joseph Entwistle
7th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
7th June 1917, aged 31.
Row B. 9.
Son of the late Joseph and Sarah Ann Entwistle, of Haslingden, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Gave His All That We Might Live."
Joseph Entwistle
7th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
7th June 1917, aged 31.
Row B. 9.
Son of the late Joseph and Sarah Ann Entwistle, of Haslingden, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Gave His All That We Might Live."
80421 Gunner
Arthur Greaves
180th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
2nd September 1917, aged 30.
Row D. 3.
Husband of Maud V. M. Greaves, of 18, East Mount Terrace, Darlington; Son of Mrs. Greaves, of 24, 15th Avenue, New Wortley, Leeds.
His headstone bears the inscription; "For Ever With The Lord. Lovingly Remembered By His Wife Maud And All."
Arthur Greaves
180th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
2nd September 1917, aged 30.
Row D. 3.
Husband of Maud V. M. Greaves, of 18, East Mount Terrace, Darlington; Son of Mrs. Greaves, of 24, 15th Avenue, New Wortley, Leeds.
His headstone bears the inscription; "For Ever With The Lord. Lovingly Remembered By His Wife Maud And All."
23127 Private
Thomas Milton Mason
9th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
7th June 1917, aged 31.
Row A. 18.
(Served as DAVIES). Son of Joseph Mason, of 86, Quarella Rd., Bridgend, and the late Annie Mason.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest In Peace."
Thomas Milton Mason
9th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
7th June 1917, aged 31.
Row A. 18.
(Served as DAVIES). Son of Joseph Mason, of 86, Quarella Rd., Bridgend, and the late Annie Mason.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest In Peace."
33028 Private
Samuel Owen
9th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
7th June 1917.
Row A. 17.
Samuel Owen
9th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
7th June 1917.
Row A. 17.
50230 Lance Corporal
Leonard Riddlesworth
9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
7th June 1917, aged 26.
Row A. 4.
Son of George and Hannah Riddlesworth, of 101, Chestergate, Macclesfield; husband of Mary Jane Riddlesworth.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone But Not Forgotten."
Leonard Riddlesworth
9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
7th June 1917, aged 26.
Row A. 4.
Son of George and Hannah Riddlesworth, of 101, Chestergate, Macclesfield; husband of Mary Jane Riddlesworth.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Gone But Not Forgotten."
17168 Private
Joseph Waddington
9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
7th June 1917, aged 25.
Row B. 18.
Son of Mary Catlow (formerly Waddington) of 1, Yew St., Blackburn, and the late John Waddington.
Joseph Waddington
9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
7th June 1917, aged 25.
Row B. 18.
Son of Mary Catlow (formerly Waddington) of 1, Yew St., Blackburn, and the late John Waddington.
15152 Private
Vincent Edward Wardleworth
7th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
7th June 1917, aged 28.
Row B. 19.
Son of William Edward Wardleworth, of Highcliffe Greaves, Grindleton, Clitheroe.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest Eternal Grant Him O Lord."
Vincent Edward Wardleworth
7th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
7th June 1917, aged 28.
Row B. 19.
Son of William Edward Wardleworth, of Highcliffe Greaves, Grindleton, Clitheroe.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Rest Eternal Grant Him O Lord."
Wytschaete, Belgium. c. 1917. Two British Army soldiers seated beside a sign which indicates that the war ruined area had been known as Martens Farm.
Messines Area, Belgium. 6 December 1917. Privates W. Treweeke and S. Best of the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, AIF, standing on the frozen surface of a water filled mine crater on Wytschaete Ridge.
HM King George V, on Wytschaete Ridge in Belgium on 4 July 1917 during a tour of the Western Front. © IWM (Q 5586)
A Staff Colonel of the 36th (Ulster) Division talking to an Artillery Major near Wytschaete, 10 June 1917. © IWM (Q 5627)
