DICKEBUSCH NEW MILITARY CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.8183 Longitude: 2.83251
Location Information
From Ieper town centre the Dikkebusseweg (N375), is reached via Elverdingsestraat, straight over a roundabout onto J.Capronstraat (for 30 metres), then left along M.Fochlaan.
Immediately after the train station, the first right hand turning is the Dikkebusseweg.
On reaching the village of Dikkebus, the cemetery is located on the Kerkstraat, which is a small street turning left off the Dikkebusseweg. 200 metres along this street, and just beyond the village church, lies the cemetery.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
The New Military Cemetery was begun in February 1915 and was used until May 1917 by fighting units and field ambulances, with a few further burials taking place in March and April 1918. The Extension was used from May 1917 to January 1918.
The New Military Cemetery contains 624 First World War burials, including 8 unidentified, the Extension contains 547 including 5 unidentified.
The site was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg MC
Total Burials: 624.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 521, Canada 84, Australia 11. Total 616.
Unidentified Casualties: 8.
From Ieper town centre the Dikkebusseweg (N375), is reached via Elverdingsestraat, straight over a roundabout onto J.Capronstraat (for 30 metres), then left along M.Fochlaan.
Immediately after the train station, the first right hand turning is the Dikkebusseweg.
On reaching the village of Dikkebus, the cemetery is located on the Kerkstraat, which is a small street turning left off the Dikkebusseweg. 200 metres along this street, and just beyond the village church, lies the cemetery.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
The New Military Cemetery was begun in February 1915 and was used until May 1917 by fighting units and field ambulances, with a few further burials taking place in March and April 1918. The Extension was used from May 1917 to January 1918.
The New Military Cemetery contains 624 First World War burials, including 8 unidentified, the Extension contains 547 including 5 unidentified.
The site was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg MC
Total Burials: 624.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 521, Canada 84, Australia 11. Total 616.
Unidentified Casualties: 8.
Second Lieutenant
David Holbech
18th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
8th April 1917, aged 19.
Row C. 37.
Son of the Rev. Hugh and Ada Holbech, of Farnborough Vicarage, Warwickshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Will Swallow Up Death In Victory Isai. XXV. 8."
David Holbech
18th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
8th April 1917, aged 19.
Row C. 37.
Son of the Rev. Hugh and Ada Holbech, of Farnborough Vicarage, Warwickshire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Will Swallow Up Death In Victory Isai. XXV. 8."
8964 Private
Martin Owens
2nd Bn. Cameron Highlanders
20th February 1915, aged 23.
Row A. 11.
Son of Martin and Catherine Owens, of 34, Crawford St., Glebe, Greenock.
His headstone bears the inscription; "To Memory Ever Dear."
Martin Owens
2nd Bn. Cameron Highlanders
20th February 1915, aged 23.
Row A. 11.
Son of Martin and Catherine Owens, of 34, Crawford St., Glebe, Greenock.
His headstone bears the inscription; "To Memory Ever Dear."
Captain
Arthur Courtenay Saunders
2nd Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
14th March 1915, aged 31.
Row B. 24.
Son of Lt.-Col. R. E. Saunders and Mrs. Saunders, of Alton Pancras, Dorchester.
His headstone bears the inscription; "'Tis As A Soldier He Will Stand Before The Great White Throne."
Arthur Courtenay Saunders
2nd Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
14th March 1915, aged 31.
Row B. 24.
Son of Lt.-Col. R. E. Saunders and Mrs. Saunders, of Alton Pancras, Dorchester.
His headstone bears the inscription; "'Tis As A Soldier He Will Stand Before The Great White Throne."
Captain
Miles Bury Selby-Smyth
4th Bn. Rifle Brigade
15th March 1915, aged 30.
Row B. 39.
Son of Lt.-Col. Edward Guy Selby-Smyth and Georgiana Florence Selby Smyth; husband of Violet Emily Selby-Smyth, of 29, Royal Avenue, Chelsea, London.
Miles Bury Selby-Smyth
4th Bn. Rifle Brigade
15th March 1915, aged 30.
Row B. 39.
Son of Lt.-Col. Edward Guy Selby-Smyth and Georgiana Florence Selby Smyth; husband of Violet Emily Selby-Smyth, of 29, Royal Avenue, Chelsea, London.
4170 Private
Arthur Spencer
13th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
23rd March 1916, aged 22.
Row I. 3.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Spencer, of 80, Larch St., Nelson, Lancs.
Arthur Spencer
13th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
23rd March 1916, aged 22.
Row I. 3.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Spencer, of 80, Larch St., Nelson, Lancs.
Lieutenant
James Campbell Steel
"D" Coy. 1st Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
13th March 1915, aged 21.
Row B. 17.
Son of the late James Alison Steel and of Katherine Isabella Steel.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away."
James Campbell Steel
"D" Coy. 1st Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
13th March 1915, aged 21.
Row B. 17.
Son of the late James Alison Steel and of Katherine Isabella Steel.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away."
Y/1021 Rifleman
Thomas Turner
18th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
4th December 1916.
Row M. 11.
Thomas Turner
18th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
4th December 1916.
Row M. 11.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Shot at Dawn
8992 Lance Corporal Joseph Stanley Victor Fox, 1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment executed for desertion on April 1915, aged 20. Son of Charles and Harriet Fox, of 45, The Causeway, Chippenham, Wilts. Plot D. 15.
No detail of the offence is available, but there is some other information at Putkowski, pp. 40-41.
8992 Lance Corporal Joseph Stanley Victor Fox, 1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment executed for desertion on April 1915, aged 20. Son of Charles and Harriet Fox, of 45, The Causeway, Chippenham, Wilts. Plot D. 15.
No detail of the offence is available, but there is some other information at Putkowski, pp. 40-41.
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Carrier pigeon named "Dreadnought" used for carrying messages. Dickebusch, 27 December 1917. © IWM (Q 11954)
A composite fatigue party loading stones for road repairs into lorries from a heap beside the railway line. Dickebusch, 9 August 1917. © IWM (Q 5851)
Men of the 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment resting in camp near Dickebusch on 9 August 1917. Prior to coming out of the line this battalion had taken part in an attack on Shrewsbury Forest on 31 July 1917, during which the unit lost its commanding officer, 11 officers and 246 men. © IWM Q 5847
The Church at Dickebusch used as a hospital by the French, 6th November 1914. © IWM Q 57331
Gunner of the 89th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery writing his wishes to the enemy on a 12 inch howitzer shell; near Dickebusch, 14th June 1916. He has written "With Best Wishes" on one of the shells. All shells are transit-plugged. © IWM (Q 707)
