FERME-OLIVIER CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.88543 Longitude: 2.79899
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Location Information
Ferme-Olivier Cemetery is located 7 kilometres north west of Ieper town centre on the Steentjesmolenstraat, N333, a road leading from the N8 Veurnseweg connecting Ieper to Elverdinge and on to Veurne.
From Ieper town centre the Veurnseweg (N8) is reached via Elverdingsestraat, then turning right onto Haiglaan. Veurnseweg is a continuation of Haiglaan.
On reaching the village of Elverdinge the Steentjesmolenstraat, N333, is the second left hand turning. The cemetery lies 1.3 kilometres along the Steentjesmolenstraat on the left hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The cemetery was used continuously between 9 June 1915 and 5 August 1917, with the 62nd, 16th, 9th, 11th, 129th and 130th Field Ambulances successively having dressing stations close by. Throughout this period, the village was just within range of the German artillery and a collective grave in Plot 2, Row E, contains the remains of 37 men of the 3rd Bn Monmouthshire Regiment killed on parade on 29 December 1915 by a single shell fired from a naval gun in Houthulst Forest. The graves in Plot 3 run in order of date of death and show the successive occupations of Elverdinghe Chateau by the 38th (Welsh) Division, the Guards Division and units of the Royal Artillery.
The cemetery contains 407 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 6 of which are unidentified, and three German war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Noel Ackroyd Rew
Total Burials: 410.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 401, Germany 3. Total 404.
Unidentified Casualties: 6.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
5742 Gunner
John Aspden
"B" Bty. 75th Bde.Royal Field Artillery
19th July 1916, aged 21.
Plot 1. B. 10.
Son of John and Mary Ann Aspden, of 232, Brunshaw Road, Burnley.
John Aspden
"B" Bty. 75th Bde.Royal Field Artillery
19th July 1916, aged 21.
Plot 1. B. 10.
Son of John and Mary Ann Aspden, of 232, Brunshaw Road, Burnley.
5327 Private
John William Bracewell
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
9th August 1916, aged 22.
Plot 1. H. 12.
Son of Alice Bracewell, of 7, Middle Street, Bunkers Hill, Colne.
John William Bracewell
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
9th August 1916, aged 22.
Plot 1. H. 12.
Son of Alice Bracewell, of 7, Middle Street, Bunkers Hill, Colne.
5758 Private
Henry Cockcroft
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
28th June 1915, aged 27.
Plot 1. K. 4.
Son of William and Ann Cockcroft, of 5, Ashworth Street, Burnley.
Henry Cockcroft
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
28th June 1915, aged 27.
Plot 1. K. 4.
Son of William and Ann Cockcroft, of 5, Ashworth Street, Burnley.
2385 Private
John (Jack) Halsted
1st/6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's, (West Riding Regiment)
22nd July 1915, aged 24.
Plot 1. I. 4.
Son of John Archibald and Alice Halsted, of 22 Arkwright Street, Burnley, Lancashire.
9728 Private
Stanley Alfred Miles
"C" Coy. 1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
9th August 1916, aged 20.
Plot 1. F. 6.
Son of George and Rosina Miles, of 45 Gray's Road, Taunton, Somerset.
Stanley Alfred Miles
"C" Coy. 1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
9th August 1916, aged 20.
Plot 1. F. 6.
Son of George and Rosina Miles, of 45 Gray's Road, Taunton, Somerset.
Lieutenant
Herbert Edward Pollard
134th Army Troops Coy. Royal Engineers
26th June 1917, aged 33.
Plot 2. A. 10.
Son of Mr and Mrs Spencer Pollard, 21, Colville Street, Burnley.
He worked as one of the engineers to the Municipal Board of Works for the city of Shanghai in China, and he was in the Far East for about seven years prior to returning home to enlist. Originally he was gazetted as Lieutenant into the 7th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment but later transferred to the Royal Engineers
Captain E. Mitchell wrote the following to Herbert's parents;
"It is with sorrow I have to write to tell you of the death of your son, Lieut H E Pollard. He was killed by a shell at 3.30 yesterday (Tuesday morning,) and was buried in the military cemetery nearby this morning. I am having a cross made for his grave. He was killed instantly, and suffered to pain whatsoever. Your son’s death has been a great shock to all the company, and especially to his two comrade officers. Lieut. Hall and myself. He was careful, conscientious, and energetic officer, and one who will be most difficult to replace. I shall, personally never forget him."
Herbert Edward Pollard
134th Army Troops Coy. Royal Engineers
26th June 1917, aged 33.
Plot 2. A. 10.
Son of Mr and Mrs Spencer Pollard, 21, Colville Street, Burnley.
He worked as one of the engineers to the Municipal Board of Works for the city of Shanghai in China, and he was in the Far East for about seven years prior to returning home to enlist. Originally he was gazetted as Lieutenant into the 7th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment but later transferred to the Royal Engineers
Captain E. Mitchell wrote the following to Herbert's parents;
"It is with sorrow I have to write to tell you of the death of your son, Lieut H E Pollard. He was killed by a shell at 3.30 yesterday (Tuesday morning,) and was buried in the military cemetery nearby this morning. I am having a cross made for his grave. He was killed instantly, and suffered to pain whatsoever. Your son’s death has been a great shock to all the company, and especially to his two comrade officers. Lieut. Hall and myself. He was careful, conscientious, and energetic officer, and one who will be most difficult to replace. I shall, personally never forget him."
1033 Lance Corporal
Thomas Shaw
7th Bn. Duke of Wellington's, (West Riding Regiment)
6th August 1915, aged 21.
Plot I. H. 6.
Husband of Emma Shaw, of 31, Stoneleigh St., Oldham, Lancashire.
Picture courtesy of David Howarth, great nephew of this soldier
Thomas Shaw
7th Bn. Duke of Wellington's, (West Riding Regiment)
6th August 1915, aged 21.
Plot I. H. 6.
Husband of Emma Shaw, of 31, Stoneleigh St., Oldham, Lancashire.
Picture courtesy of David Howarth, great nephew of this soldier
40437 Private
Wilfred Webster
10th Bn. South Wales Borderers
13th June 1917, aged 25.
Plot 3. E. 5.
Wilfred Webster
10th Bn. South Wales Borderers
13th June 1917, aged 25.
Plot 3. E. 5.
Shot at Dawn:
23726 Private, Robert Hope, (Served as Hepple,) "D" Coy. 1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, executed for desertion 5th July 1917, aged 23. Husband of Mrs. Hope, of 9, Moehans Row, Waterside, Londonderry. Plot 3. G. 12.
The eighth soldier to have served in Gallipoli, whose subsequent posting to the Western Front resulted in an offence of Desertion followed by execution. (Putkowski, p 179-80)
8139 Private, George Watkins, 13th Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for desertion 15th May 1917, Plot 3. C. 12.
Enlisted in 1904, & as a Reservist recalled & sent to France in the earliest drafts.
Served at Mons; was twice wounded in 1915; served on the Somme in 1916; but deserted from the Ypres Salient, being absent for 3 months before arrest. Pleaded family troubles,but to no avail. (Putkowski, p 173)
23726 Private, Robert Hope, (Served as Hepple,) "D" Coy. 1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, executed for desertion 5th July 1917, aged 23. Husband of Mrs. Hope, of 9, Moehans Row, Waterside, Londonderry. Plot 3. G. 12.
The eighth soldier to have served in Gallipoli, whose subsequent posting to the Western Front resulted in an offence of Desertion followed by execution. (Putkowski, p 179-80)
8139 Private, George Watkins, 13th Bn. Welsh Regiment, executed for desertion 15th May 1917, Plot 3. C. 12.
Enlisted in 1904, & as a Reservist recalled & sent to France in the earliest drafts.
Served at Mons; was twice wounded in 1915; served on the Somme in 1916; but deserted from the Ypres Salient, being absent for 3 months before arrest. Pleaded family troubles,but to no avail. (Putkowski, p 173)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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British Tank at Elverdinghe, "C" Battalion, 11 September 1917 © IWM (Q 2845)
R.G.A. at Elverdinghe. Loading a 6 inch gun at night. 22nd August 1917 © IWM (Q 2768)
A working party of British troops going up to the forward area by light railway, Elverdinghe, near Ypres, February 1917. © IWM (Q 1695)
Battle of Pilckem Ridge 31 July - 2 August: The first wounded to come in lying on the ground at a farm at Elverdinghe. An observation balloon is rising in the background. © IWM (Q 2632)
