DERRY HOUSE CEMETERY NO. 2
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.77902 Longitude: 2.9007
Location Information
The cemetery is located 8 Km south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate and on to Armentieres.
From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg. The cemetery is reached by turning left in the village of Wijtschate along the Houtemstraat. The first right hand turning along the Houtemstraat leads onto the Krommestraat. 800 meters along the Krommestraat lies a turning to the left. The cemetery itself is located 50 metres beyond this left hand turning.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Wytschaete (now Wijtschate) was taken by the Germans early in November 1914. It was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was recovered for the last time on 28 September.
Derry House Cemetery (there is now only one) was named after a farm, which had been nicknamed "Derry House" by soldiers of the Royal Irish Rifles. It was begun among the ruins of the farm in June 1917 by a field ambulance unit of the 11th Division (32nd Brigade). It was used as a front line cemetery until December 1917, and again in October 1918 by the 2nd London Scottish.
The cemetery contains 166 First World War burials and the remains of a concrete command post built by engineers of the 37th Division in July 1917.
The cemetery was designed by W.H. Cowlishaw.
Total Burials: 166.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 128, Australia 37. Total 165.
The cemetery is located 8 Km south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate and on to Armentieres.
From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg. The cemetery is reached by turning left in the village of Wijtschate along the Houtemstraat. The first right hand turning along the Houtemstraat leads onto the Krommestraat. 800 meters along the Krommestraat lies a turning to the left. The cemetery itself is located 50 metres beyond this left hand turning.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Wytschaete (now Wijtschate) was taken by the Germans early in November 1914. It was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was recovered for the last time on 28 September.
Derry House Cemetery (there is now only one) was named after a farm, which had been nicknamed "Derry House" by soldiers of the Royal Irish Rifles. It was begun among the ruins of the farm in June 1917 by a field ambulance unit of the 11th Division (32nd Brigade). It was used as a front line cemetery until December 1917, and again in October 1918 by the 2nd London Scottish.
The cemetery contains 166 First World War burials and the remains of a concrete command post built by engineers of the 37th Division in July 1917.
The cemetery was designed by W.H. Cowlishaw.
Total Burials: 166.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 128, Australia 37. Total 165.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
A Staff Colonel of the 36th (Ulster) Division talking to an Artillery Major near Wytschaete, 10 June 1917. © IWM (Q 5627)
Wytschaete Sector, Belgium. 29 January 1918. A captured German concrete redoubts and observation posts in the front line of the Wytschaete Sector. Winter rains had turned the shell torn area into a muddy waste.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
5145 Private
Ernest Charles Mancer
57th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th December 1917, aged 20.
Plot II. G. 2.
A labourer from Rochester, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Mancer embarked with the 16th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Suffolk on 1 April 1916. Later transferring to the 57th Battalion, he was evacuated to hospital suffering from trench feet. Following his recovery he rejoined his unit and, on 12 December 1917, aged 20, he was killed in action and buried in the Derry House No.2 Cemetery, Messines, Belgium. His brother, 2716 Pte Albert William Mancer, 60th Battalion, was killed in action on 12 May 1917 and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
Ernest Charles Mancer
57th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th December 1917, aged 20.
Plot II. G. 2.
A labourer from Rochester, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Mancer embarked with the 16th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Suffolk on 1 April 1916. Later transferring to the 57th Battalion, he was evacuated to hospital suffering from trench feet. Following his recovery he rejoined his unit and, on 12 December 1917, aged 20, he was killed in action and buried in the Derry House No.2 Cemetery, Messines, Belgium. His brother, 2716 Pte Albert William Mancer, 60th Battalion, was killed in action on 12 May 1917 and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
3411 Corporal
John Pope
47th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th August 1917, aged 20.
Plot II. C. 2.
Son of Arthur Ernest and Florence Pope, of Townsville, Queensland. Native of Bristol, England.
A bank clerk prior to enlisting, he embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT Seang Bee (A48) on 21 October 1915. On 12 August 1917, aged 20, he was killed in action during a battle at Wytschaete-Messines, Belgium.
John Pope
47th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th August 1917, aged 20.
Plot II. C. 2.
Son of Arthur Ernest and Florence Pope, of Townsville, Queensland. Native of Bristol, England.
A bank clerk prior to enlisting, he embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT Seang Bee (A48) on 21 October 1915. On 12 August 1917, aged 20, he was killed in action during a battle at Wytschaete-Messines, Belgium.
HM King George V, on Wytschaete Ridge in Belgium on 4 July 1917 during a tour of the Western Front. © IWM (Q 5586)
21st January 1918: German shells bursting on the First Aid Post of the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, in an old German pillbox on the Gordon Road at Wytschaete in Belgium.
