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'Armentières is a village 1.5 kilometres to the west of Armentières, a large town in the north of France.
From the Marie in La Chapelle d'Armentières 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'Armentières was in British hands from October 1914 until the fall of Armentières 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 55, 1914-1918 war casualties buried in this site. Of these, 2 are unidentified.
The cemetery covers an area of 473 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.
The cemetery was designed by William Harrison Cowlishaw
Total Burials: 55.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 45, Australia 8. Total 53.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 2.
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
S/6918 Rifleman
Tom Anderton
"B" Company, 4th Bn. Rifle Brigade
26th August 1915, aged 20.
Row A. 7.
Son of Annie Anderton, of Romiley, Stockport, and the late William Anderton.
Tom Anderton
"B" Company, 4th Bn. Rifle Brigade
26th August 1915, aged 20.
Row A. 7.
Son of Annie Anderton, of Romiley, Stockport, and the late William Anderton.
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.
304 Private
Alexander Carroll
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
13th June 1916, aged 22.
Row A. 4.
Son of William George and Kate Carroll, of 74, Victoria St., Flemington, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man He Laid Down His Life For His Friends"
Alexander Carroll
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
13th June 1916, aged 22.
Row A. 4.
Son of William George and Kate Carroll, of 74, Victoria St., Flemington, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man He Laid Down His Life For His Friends"
S/8365 Rifleman
William Colin Cooper
4th Bn. Rifle Brigade
30th August 1915, aged 32.
Row C. 3.
Husband of Florence Cooper, of 43, Millais St., Albany Rd., Camberwell, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Who Heard His Country's Call Forget Me Not"
William Colin Cooper
4th Bn. Rifle Brigade
30th August 1915, aged 32.
Row C. 3.
Husband of Florence Cooper, of 43, Millais St., Albany Rd., Camberwell, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Who Heard His Country's Call Forget Me Not"
7597 Private
Frank Dewsbury
1st Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
29th October 1914.
Row A. 15.
Son of Mrs. H. Dewsbury, of 54, Potters Lane, Wednesbury, Staffs.
Frank Dewsbury
1st Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
29th October 1914.
Row A. 15.
Son of Mrs. H. Dewsbury, of 54, Potters Lane, Wednesbury, Staffs.
464 Rifleman
Laurence Edwin Dyer
3rd Bn. Rifle Brigade
21st October 1914.
Row A. 12.
Laurence Edwin Dyer
3rd Bn. Rifle Brigade
21st October 1914.
Row A. 12.
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."
1729 Private
Henry George Heywood
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
19th June 1916, aged 22.
Row A. 1.
Son of Henry Stuart Johns Heywood and Alice Heywood, of Winterfold Orchard, Nyah, Victoria, Australia. Native of Wood Wood, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved By His Comrades He Gave His Life For Them"
Henry George Heywood
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
19th June 1916, aged 22.
Row A. 1.
Son of Henry Stuart Johns Heywood and Alice Heywood, of Winterfold Orchard, Nyah, Victoria, Australia. Native of Wood Wood, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved By His Comrades He Gave His Life For Them"
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
