DOCHY FARM NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.8817 Longitude: 2.97199
Location Information
Dochy Farm New British Cemetery is located 7 kilometres north-east of Ieper town centre on the Zonnebekestraat, a road leading from the Zonnebeekseweg (N332) connecting Ieper to Zonnebeke.
Two roads connect Ieper town centre onto the Zonnebeekseweg. The Torhoutstraat leads from the market square onto a small roundabout. Take the first right turn which is Basculestraat. At the end of Basculestraat there is a crossroads and Zonnebeekseweg is the turning to the left. 7 kilometres along the Zonnebeekseweg, in the village of Zonnebeke, lies the left hand turning onto the Langemarkstraat (further on this street name changes to Zonnebekestraat). The cemetery lies 1.5 kilometres along this road on the left hand side.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Dochy Farm, which had become a German strong point, was taken by the 4th New Zealand Brigade on 4 October 1917, in the Battle of Broodseinde. The cemetery was made after the Armistice when isolated graves were brought in from the battlefields of Boesinghe, St. Julien, Frezenberg and Passchendaele.
The cemetery now contains 1,439 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 958 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate two casualties believed to be buried among them.
Total Burials: 1,439.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 295, Australia 97, New Zealand 46, Canada 35, South Africa 8. Total 481.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 229, Australia 208, New Zealand 52, Canada 48, South Africa 9, Unknown 412. Total 958.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and William Harrison Cowlishaw
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
412 Lance Corporal
Herbert Adler
4th Coy. Australian Machine Gun Corps
17th October 1917, aged 24.
Plot VII. D. 14.
Son of Karl and Mary Adler. Native of Lalbert, Victoria, Australia.
A farm labourer prior to enlistment, Pte Adler embarked with the 6th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Port Lincoln on 20 October 1916. After transferring to the 4th Machine Gun Company and with the rank of lance corporal, he was killed in action along with the other members of his gun team when a H. E. shell exploded near Zonnebeke on 17 October 1917. 3702 Corporal William Edward Wright and 556 Private Cleve Goulding Milne were two of the other men killed with Bert Adler, they are also buried at Dochy Farm in Plots VII. D. 2. & VII. D. 22 respectively.
Ther image below shows members of the 4th Machine Gun Company at Fruges, Bert Adler, William Wright and Cleve Milne are marked 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
Herbert Adler
4th Coy. Australian Machine Gun Corps
17th October 1917, aged 24.
Plot VII. D. 14.
Son of Karl and Mary Adler. Native of Lalbert, Victoria, Australia.
A farm labourer prior to enlistment, Pte Adler embarked with the 6th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Port Lincoln on 20 October 1916. After transferring to the 4th Machine Gun Company and with the rank of lance corporal, he was killed in action along with the other members of his gun team when a H. E. shell exploded near Zonnebeke on 17 October 1917. 3702 Corporal William Edward Wright and 556 Private Cleve Goulding Milne were two of the other men killed with Bert Adler, they are also buried at Dochy Farm in Plots VII. D. 2. & VII. D. 22 respectively.
Ther image below shows members of the 4th Machine Gun Company at Fruges, Bert Adler, William Wright and Cleve Milne are marked 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
Group portrait of members of 2nd Section, 4th Australian Machine Gun Company, at Fruges in France.
32662 Private
Harry Armstrong
148th Coy. Machine Gun Corps. (Infantry)
3rd January 1918, aged 23.
Plot VIII. C. 24.
Son of Harry and Elizabeth Armstrong of 3, Aged Miners Homes, Tanfield Lea, Durham
Picture courtesy of his great nephew, Malcolm L. Armstrong
Harry Armstrong
148th Coy. Machine Gun Corps. (Infantry)
3rd January 1918, aged 23.
Plot VIII. C. 24.
Son of Harry and Elizabeth Armstrong of 3, Aged Miners Homes, Tanfield Lea, Durham
Picture courtesy of his great nephew, Malcolm L. Armstrong
203801 Private
William Cawson Crain
2nd/4th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
20th November 1917, aged 20.
Plot VIII. A. 17.
Son of Tom and Mary E. Crain, of Causeway End Farm, Towneley, Burnley.
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Andy Gullick
William Cawson Crain
2nd/4th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
20th November 1917, aged 20.
Plot VIII. A. 17.
Son of Tom and Mary E. Crain, of Causeway End Farm, Towneley, Burnley.
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Andy Gullick
26450 Driver
Colin Lethbridge Raymond Elder
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
20th October 1917, aged 21.
Plot III. A. 25.
Son of Francis R. and Aphrasia Catherine Elder, of 139, Doncaster Avenue, Kensington, New South Wales. Native of Wallongong, New South Wales.
A station overseer prior to enlisting on 3 May 1916 he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Mashobra on 14 September 1916. Dvr Elder was killed in action on 20 October 1917 in Belgium whilst serving with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, aged 21 years. He was a descendant of Phillip Gidley King, Third Governor of NSW, one of over 50 whom served in the First World War.
Colin Lethbridge Raymond Elder
5th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
20th October 1917, aged 21.
Plot III. A. 25.
Son of Francis R. and Aphrasia Catherine Elder, of 139, Doncaster Avenue, Kensington, New South Wales. Native of Wallongong, New South Wales.
A station overseer prior to enlisting on 3 May 1916 he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Mashobra on 14 September 1916. Dvr Elder was killed in action on 20 October 1917 in Belgium whilst serving with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, aged 21 years. He was a descendant of Phillip Gidley King, Third Governor of NSW, one of over 50 whom served in the First World War.
2420 Private
Frederick William Gleadhill
45th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th October 1917, aged 20.
Plot VII. A. 13.
Son of George and Mary Ann Gleadhill, of Liverpool St., Cowra, New South Wales. Native of Blayney, New South Wales.
Picture courtesy of Roxanne Gregory, great niece.
Frederick William Gleadhill
45th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th October 1917, aged 20.
Plot VII. A. 13.
Son of George and Mary Ann Gleadhill, of Liverpool St., Cowra, New South Wales. Native of Blayney, New South Wales.
Picture courtesy of Roxanne Gregory, great niece.
Second Lieutenant
Harold William Harper
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 32.
Plot VII. E. 10.
Son of William and Agnes Reid Harper, of Myoora, Toorak, Victoria, Australia. Native of Melbourne.
873 Lance Corporal R. Hill later recalled the circumstances of Harold Harper's death:
"On the 4th October the Battalion was at Broodseinde and holding positions. Lt. Harper was in a little dug-out, I was nearby, about 4 yards off, when a shell fell in the dug-out and killed Lt. Harper and Corporal Bott. I saw both men and helped to bury them. Discs and belongings were taken from both men and handed to the orderly room. We went out that night and there was no cross on the grave but I could go to the place."
4979 Corporal Ernest George Henry Bott, M. M., of the 21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F., has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Harold William Harper
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 32.
Plot VII. E. 10.
Son of William and Agnes Reid Harper, of Myoora, Toorak, Victoria, Australia. Native of Melbourne.
873 Lance Corporal R. Hill later recalled the circumstances of Harold Harper's death:
"On the 4th October the Battalion was at Broodseinde and holding positions. Lt. Harper was in a little dug-out, I was nearby, about 4 yards off, when a shell fell in the dug-out and killed Lt. Harper and Corporal Bott. I saw both men and helped to bury them. Discs and belongings were taken from both men and handed to the orderly room. We went out that night and there was no cross on the grave but I could go to the place."
4979 Corporal Ernest George Henry Bott, M. M., of the 21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F., has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.
175 Lance Corporal
Harold Armour Molony
17th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th October 1917, aged 19.
Plot VII. B. 9.
Son of Francis Edward and Edith Helen Molony, of "Willow Bank," Albury, New South Wales.
A labourer from Albury, NSW prior to enlistment, Pte Molony embarked with his brother 2174 Pte Francis William Molony with the 4th Reinforcements on HMAT Argyllshire from Sydney on 30 September 1915. On 9 October 1917 he was killed in action, aged 19, and was buried in the Dochy Farm New British Cemetery, Belgium. Pte Francis Molony had been earlier killed in action in France.
Harold Armour Molony
17th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
9th October 1917, aged 19.
Plot VII. B. 9.
Son of Francis Edward and Edith Helen Molony, of "Willow Bank," Albury, New South Wales.
A labourer from Albury, NSW prior to enlistment, Pte Molony embarked with his brother 2174 Pte Francis William Molony with the 4th Reinforcements on HMAT Argyllshire from Sydney on 30 September 1915. On 9 October 1917 he was killed in action, aged 19, and was buried in the Dochy Farm New British Cemetery, Belgium. Pte Francis Molony had been earlier killed in action in France.
265162 Rifleman
Albert Moss
1st/7th Bn. West Yorks Regiment (Prince of Wales Own)
Killed at Zillebeke, Belgium on February 24th 1918.
Plot IV Row A Grave 24.
Son of John William and Elizabeth Moss of 21 Bath Road, Holbeck Leeds, Albert was born on October 5th, 1895 in Holbeck and, according to the 1911 Census, was a ‘Screw Maker’ prior to volunteering for service.
According to the Great War National Roll of Honour, 'he volunteered in August 1914 (aged 18) and was sent to France the following February and took part in numerous engagements. He was in action at the Battle of Ypres, Armentieres and the Somme and fell in action on February 23rd 1918 (differs to CWGC) at Zillebeke Lake'.
Albert was the brother of my paternal grandmother who was born in 1901 and as his 3 brothers also also saw service her teenage years were dominated by her 4 brothers all leaving the family home to go to war. The 3 other brothers survived.
Remembered by Gary Judson (Great Nephew)
Albert Moss
1st/7th Bn. West Yorks Regiment (Prince of Wales Own)
Killed at Zillebeke, Belgium on February 24th 1918.
Plot IV Row A Grave 24.
Son of John William and Elizabeth Moss of 21 Bath Road, Holbeck Leeds, Albert was born on October 5th, 1895 in Holbeck and, according to the 1911 Census, was a ‘Screw Maker’ prior to volunteering for service.
According to the Great War National Roll of Honour, 'he volunteered in August 1914 (aged 18) and was sent to France the following February and took part in numerous engagements. He was in action at the Battle of Ypres, Armentieres and the Somme and fell in action on February 23rd 1918 (differs to CWGC) at Zillebeke Lake'.
Albert was the brother of my paternal grandmother who was born in 1901 and as his 3 brothers also also saw service her teenage years were dominated by her 4 brothers all leaving the family home to go to war. The 3 other brothers survived.
Remembered by Gary Judson (Great Nephew)
2913 Lance Corporal
Robert Henry Noble
36th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th October 1917, aged 26.
Plot IV. B. 4.
Son of Thomas and Alice Noble, of "Eric," Sharpe St., Belmore, New South Wales. Native of Newtown, New South Wales.
A bank clerk prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Beltana (A72) on 25 November 1916. On 12 October 1917, aged 26, he was killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium.
Robert Henry Noble
36th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th October 1917, aged 26.
Plot IV. B. 4.
Son of Thomas and Alice Noble, of "Eric," Sharpe St., Belmore, New South Wales. Native of Newtown, New South Wales.
A bank clerk prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Beltana (A72) on 25 November 1916. On 12 October 1917, aged 26, he was killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium.
S/18170 Serjeant
James H. Speirs, M. M.
7th Bn. Cameron Highlanders
20th August 1917, aged 31.
Plot VI. E. 15.
James Hamilton Speirs (22 March 1886 – 20 August 1917), commonly known as Jimmy Speirs, was a Scottish footballer who represented his country on one occasion, scored the winning goal in the 1911 FA Cup Final, and received the Military Medal during the First World War.
Picture of headstone courtesy of Del Buxton
James H. Speirs, M. M.
7th Bn. Cameron Highlanders
20th August 1917, aged 31.
Plot VI. E. 15.
James Hamilton Speirs (22 March 1886 – 20 August 1917), commonly known as Jimmy Speirs, was a Scottish footballer who represented his country on one occasion, scored the winning goal in the 1911 FA Cup Final, and received the Military Medal during the First World War.
Picture of headstone courtesy of Del Buxton
4621 Private
James Sydney Tillotson
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
16th October 1917.
Plot IV. A. 20.
From Carlton, Victoria. A 28 year old miner prior to enlisting on 12 August 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 14th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 18 February 1916 aboard HMAT Ballarat. After further training with the 14th Battalion in Egypt, he deployed with them to France in June 1916. On 18 September 1916 he was wounded in action at Dickebush, France and evacuated to England for medical treatment. After recovering, he re-joined the Battalion in Belgium on 1 October 1917 and just over two weeks later, on 16 October 1917, he was killed in action at Broodseinde.
James Sydney Tillotson
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
16th October 1917.
Plot IV. A. 20.
From Carlton, Victoria. A 28 year old miner prior to enlisting on 12 August 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 14th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 18 February 1916 aboard HMAT Ballarat. After further training with the 14th Battalion in Egypt, he deployed with them to France in June 1916. On 18 September 1916 he was wounded in action at Dickebush, France and evacuated to England for medical treatment. After recovering, he re-joined the Battalion in Belgium on 1 October 1917 and just over two weeks later, on 16 October 1917, he was killed in action at Broodseinde.
7314 Lance Corporal
Henry (Harry) George Wickens
13th Field Coy. Australian Engineers
14th October 1917, aged 28.
Plot III. E. 6.
Son of George and Harriet Wickens. Native of Isle of Wight, England.
Prior to his enlistment on 8 December 1915 Lance Corporal Wickens was employed as a timber setter. He embarked with his company aboard the HMAT Star of Victoria (A16) on the 31 March 1916 from Sydney, NSW. Lance Corporal Wickens was killed in action on the 14 October 1917.
Henry (Harry) George Wickens
13th Field Coy. Australian Engineers
14th October 1917, aged 28.
Plot III. E. 6.
Son of George and Harriet Wickens. Native of Isle of Wight, England.
Prior to his enlistment on 8 December 1915 Lance Corporal Wickens was employed as a timber setter. He embarked with his company aboard the HMAT Star of Victoria (A16) on the 31 March 1916 from Sydney, NSW. Lance Corporal Wickens was killed in action on the 14 October 1917.
Exhausted stretcher bearers from the 3rd Australian Division rest in the mud and drizzle of Broodseinde Ridge, during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), 11 October 1917. © IWM E(AUS) 941
Aerial view of the ruins of Zonnebeke Church. © IWM Q 12282
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
1919; Grave with temporary cross of 7314 Lance Corporal Harry George Wickens, 13th Field Company Engineers, of Brisbane, Queensland. Prior to his enlistment on 8 December 1915 Lance Corporal Wickens was employed as a timber setter. He embarked with his company aboard the HMAT Star of Victoria (A16) on the 31 March 1916 from Sydney, NSW. Lance Corporal Wickens was killed in action on the 14 October 1917 in France. He is buried in the Dochy Farm New British Cemetery, Belgium.
Battle of Broodseinde 4 October: Men huddled in funk holes with corpses in front of them in a railway cutting at Broodseinde. © IWM E(AUS) 3864
Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. Entrance to a German dug-out near Zonnebeke smashed to atoms by British gun fire, 23rd September 1917. © IWM Q 3116
Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. Storming of Zonnebeke by 3rd Division, 20th September 1917. A view of the battlefield, showing casualties of a Highland Regiment. © IWM Q 11657
