DESPLANQUE FARM CEMETERY
La Chapelle-d-Armentières
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.66258, Longitude: 2.89655
© Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
La Chapelle-d'Armentieres is a village 1.5 kilometres to the west of Armentieres, a large town in the north of France.
From the Marie in La Chapelle d'Armentieres turn left onto the main road and continue to the roundabout. Turn right towards the motorway and after 1 kilometre turn into the farmyard and pass through the archway where the cemetery will be found on the left.
Visiting Information
This cemetery has been subject to persistent serious flooding. As a temporary measure to facilitate access we have had to put down gravel but in winter months and when it rains the track leading to the cemetery is often inaccessible
Historical Information
The village of La Chapelle-d'Armentieres was in British hands from October 1914 until the fall of Armentieres on the 10th April 1918, and it was retaken in the following October. During the British occupation it was very close to the front line, and the cemeteries which it contains are those made by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the earlier days of trench warfare.
Desplanque Farm Cemetery stands behind a farm, now rebuilt, which was used at first as a dressing station and later as an observation post. It was begun in October 1914 by units of the 6th Division, and used until June 1916.
There are now over 50, 1914-1918 war casualties buried in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified.
The cemetery covers an area of 473 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Casualty Details: UK 47, Australia 8, Total Burials: 55
La Chapelle-d'Armentieres is a village 1.5 kilometres to the west of Armentieres, a large town in the north of France.
From the Marie in La Chapelle d'Armentieres turn left onto the main road and continue to the roundabout. Turn right towards the motorway and after 1 kilometre turn into the farmyard and pass through the archway where the cemetery will be found on the left.
Visiting Information
This cemetery has been subject to persistent serious flooding. As a temporary measure to facilitate access we have had to put down gravel but in winter months and when it rains the track leading to the cemetery is often inaccessible
Historical Information
The village of La Chapelle-d'Armentieres was in British hands from October 1914 until the fall of Armentieres on the 10th April 1918, and it was retaken in the following October. During the British occupation it was very close to the front line, and the cemeteries which it contains are those made by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the earlier days of trench warfare.
Desplanque Farm Cemetery stands behind a farm, now rebuilt, which was used at first as a dressing station and later as an observation post. It was begun in October 1914 by units of the 6th Division, and used until June 1916.
There are now over 50, 1914-1918 war casualties buried in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified.
The cemetery covers an area of 473 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
Casualty Details: UK 47, Australia 8, Total Burials: 55
3763 Private
James Henry Buss
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th June 1916
Row A. 5.
James Henry Buss
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th June 1916
Row A. 5.
2361 Private
Michael John Finucane
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th June 1916, aged 21.
Row A. 3.
Son of John and Ellen Finucane, of 8, Main St., Coburg, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the following inscription: "Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Loved One Sleeping."
Michael John Finucane
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th June 1916, aged 21.
Row A. 3.
Son of John and Ellen Finucane, of 8, Main St., Coburg, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the following inscription: "Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Loved One Sleeping."
1010 Lance Corporal
Frederick Ernest Hillman
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th June 1916, aged 21.
Row B. 1.
Son of Frederic Joseph and Margaret Hillman, of 1313, Dana St., Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the following inscription: "Beloved Son Of Mr. & Mrs. F. Hillman Ballarat, Victoria, Aust."
Pte Hillman enlisted on 19 April 1915 and was later promoted to lance corporal. LCpl Hillman, a signaller, was killed in action at Armentieres in France on 19 June 1916.
Frederick Ernest Hillman
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th June 1916, aged 21.
Row B. 1.
Son of Frederic Joseph and Margaret Hillman, of 1313, Dana St., Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the following inscription: "Beloved Son Of Mr. & Mrs. F. Hillman Ballarat, Victoria, Aust."
Pte Hillman enlisted on 19 April 1915 and was later promoted to lance corporal. LCpl Hillman, a signaller, was killed in action at Armentieres in France on 19 June 1916.
2401 Private
Harry Metcalfe
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th June 1916, aged 24.
Row A. 2.
Son of Henry and Hanner Metcalfe; husband of E. M. Metcalfe, of 66, Vere St., Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Native of Bolton, England.
His headstone bears the following inscription: "Greater Love Hath No Man, He Laid Down His Life For His Friends."
Harry Metcalfe
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
18th June 1916, aged 24.
Row A. 2.
Son of Henry and Hanner Metcalfe; husband of E. M. Metcalfe, of 66, Vere St., Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Native of Bolton, England.
His headstone bears the following inscription: "Greater Love Hath No Man, He Laid Down His Life For His Friends."
The Crown Prince Chateau, at Chapelle Armentieres, where the headquarters of the 10th Australian Infantry Brigade was located.
Australian troops repairing a communication trench at Armentieres, May 1916. © IWM (Q 578)
A German warning notice on the door of a ruined building reading - "Armentieres is a mustard gas area". © IWM (Q 23792)
September 1961 - ©CWGC
September 1961 - ©CWGC
