GODEWAERSVELDE BRITISH CEMETERY
Nord
France
Location Information
Godewaersvelde is a village near the Belgian border, about 16 kilometres south-west of Ieper (in Belgium), and is half-way between Poperinge (in Belgium) and Hazebrouck (in France). The British Cemetery is a little east of the village.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemtery is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun in July 1917 when three casualty clearing stations were moved to Godewaersvelde. The 37th and the 41st buried in it until November 1917, the 11th until April 1918, and from April to August 1918, during the German offensive in Flanders, field ambulance and fighting units carried on the burials. After the Armistice, the graves of five soldiers of the 110th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery were brought in from a point nearer the Mont des Cats and in May 1953, four graves in Godewaersvelde Churchyard were moved into the cemetery. A considerable French plot was made on the terrace at the higher end of the cemetery in May and June 1918, but these graves were later removed.
Godewaersvelde British Cemetery now contains 972 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, and 19 German war graves.
Casualty Details: UK 895, Canada 5, Australia 65, New Zealand 2, South Africa 2, India 3, Germany 19, Total Burials: 991
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Dedications
L/14066 Driver John Henry Hewitt, 35th Div. Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, 8th August 1918, aged 36.
A Grandfather and Great Grandfather, forever in our thoughts
Godewaersvelde is a village near the Belgian border, about 16 kilometres south-west of Ieper (in Belgium), and is half-way between Poperinge (in Belgium) and Hazebrouck (in France). The British Cemetery is a little east of the village.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemtery is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun in July 1917 when three casualty clearing stations were moved to Godewaersvelde. The 37th and the 41st buried in it until November 1917, the 11th until April 1918, and from April to August 1918, during the German offensive in Flanders, field ambulance and fighting units carried on the burials. After the Armistice, the graves of five soldiers of the 110th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery were brought in from a point nearer the Mont des Cats and in May 1953, four graves in Godewaersvelde Churchyard were moved into the cemetery. A considerable French plot was made on the terrace at the higher end of the cemetery in May and June 1918, but these graves were later removed.
Godewaersvelde British Cemetery now contains 972 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, and 19 German war graves.
Casualty Details: UK 895, Canada 5, Australia 65, New Zealand 2, South Africa 2, India 3, Germany 19, Total Burials: 991
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Dedications
L/14066 Driver John Henry Hewitt, 35th Div. Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, 8th August 1918, aged 36.
A Grandfather and Great Grandfather, forever in our thoughts
74282 Gunner
Bernard Dudley Bailey
23rd Heavy Battery. Royal Garrison Artillery
20th July 1917, aged 28.
Plot I. K. 1.
Image courtesy of his great granddaughter, Chrissy Bailey
Bernard Dudley Bailey
23rd Heavy Battery. Royal Garrison Artillery
20th July 1917, aged 28.
Plot I. K. 1.
Image courtesy of his great granddaughter, Chrissy Bailey
1235 Gunner
Lionel Robert Clarke
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
3rd August 1917, aged 24.
Plot I. C. 8.
Son of George Edward and May Clarke, of "Hollyridge," Elsham Rd., Auburn, New South Wales. Native of Merrylands, New South Wales.
1235 Private (later Gunner) Lionel Robert Clarke, 1st Light Horse Regiment (later 10th Brigade Australian Field Artillery) of Mascot, NSW. A carter prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Argyllshire (A8) on 30 September 1915. He was wounded in action on 3 August 1917 and died the same day at the 41st Casualty Clearing Station, France, aged 24.
Lionel Robert Clarke
10th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
3rd August 1917, aged 24.
Plot I. C. 8.
Son of George Edward and May Clarke, of "Hollyridge," Elsham Rd., Auburn, New South Wales. Native of Merrylands, New South Wales.
1235 Private (later Gunner) Lionel Robert Clarke, 1st Light Horse Regiment (later 10th Brigade Australian Field Artillery) of Mascot, NSW. A carter prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Argyllshire (A8) on 30 September 1915. He was wounded in action on 3 August 1917 and died the same day at the 41st Casualty Clearing Station, France, aged 24.
4202 Private
Robert McGregor "Roy" Gow
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
11th October 1917, aged 32.
Plot I. H. 48.
Son of Robert and Marie E. C. Gow, of 36, Dalgety St., St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. Native of Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Originally from Wicklow, Ireland, Pte Gow was a farm labourer from St Kilda, Victoria prior to enlistment and embarked with the 13th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Demosthenes on 19 December 1915. Whilst serving in Belgium he was wounded in action and on 11 October 1917, aged 32, he succumbed to his wounds.
Robert McGregor "Roy" Gow
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
11th October 1917, aged 32.
Plot I. H. 48.
Son of Robert and Marie E. C. Gow, of 36, Dalgety St., St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. Native of Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Originally from Wicklow, Ireland, Pte Gow was a farm labourer from St Kilda, Victoria prior to enlistment and embarked with the 13th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Demosthenes on 19 December 1915. Whilst serving in Belgium he was wounded in action and on 11 October 1917, aged 32, he succumbed to his wounds.
473052 Private
F. A. Leach
88th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
18th April 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. Q. 31.
Son of John and Lucy Leach, of 116, Cavendish St., Ipswich.
Above right is his original grave at Godewaersvelde
Pictures courtesy of Kevin Leach, great, great nephew
F. A. Leach
88th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
18th April 1918, aged 22.
Plot I. Q. 31.
Son of John and Lucy Leach, of 116, Cavendish St., Ipswich.
Above right is his original grave at Godewaersvelde
Pictures courtesy of Kevin Leach, great, great nephew
3207 Private
Arthur Foster Pittman
58th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th October 1917, aged 22.
Plot I. P. 42.
Son of Sydney Henry and Maria Ellen Pittman, of 24, Nicholson St., South Yarra, Victoria, Australia.
A clerk from South Yarra, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Pittman embarked with the 8th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Medic on 16 December 1916. On 14 October 1917 he died of wounds received in action, aged 22.
Arthur Foster Pittman
58th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th October 1917, aged 22.
Plot I. P. 42.
Son of Sydney Henry and Maria Ellen Pittman, of 24, Nicholson St., South Yarra, Victoria, Australia.
A clerk from South Yarra, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Pittman embarked with the 8th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Medic on 16 December 1916. On 14 October 1917 he died of wounds received in action, aged 22.
932 Private
Roy Plouright
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. L. 24.
Son of Charles Robert and Julia Plouright, of Emily St., Seymour, Victoria, Australia.
A motor mechanic from Warrnambool, Vic., prior to enlistment, Pte Plouright embarked with D Company from Melbourne on HMAT Euripides on 10 May 1915. On 4 October 1917, aged 21, he died of wounds received in action at Passchendaele.
Roy Plouright
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. L. 24.
Son of Charles Robert and Julia Plouright, of Emily St., Seymour, Victoria, Australia.
A motor mechanic from Warrnambool, Vic., prior to enlistment, Pte Plouright embarked with D Company from Melbourne on HMAT Euripides on 10 May 1915. On 4 October 1917, aged 21, he died of wounds received in action at Passchendaele.
206914 Private
Ernest Samuel Read
10th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
24th July 1917.
Plot I. A. 1.
Born Lowestoft. Husband of Mrs. M. Read, of Lower Harleston, Northampton and father of Cecil Earnest Read
Picture courtesy of great grandson, Ryan Fisher
Ernest Samuel Read
10th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
24th July 1917.
Plot I. A. 1.
Born Lowestoft. Husband of Mrs. M. Read, of Lower Harleston, Northampton and father of Cecil Earnest Read
Picture courtesy of great grandson, Ryan Fisher
4296 Private
Leeman Snaith
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 27.
Plot I. J. 38.
Son of William Leeman Snaith and Mary Ellen Snaith, of 15, Coburg St., Coburg, Victoria, Australia.
(Incorrectly listed as SNAIT on the CWGC casualty search)
Pte Leeman Snaith, a carpenter of Coburg, Vic, enlisted on 16 July 1915 and sailed with the 13th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 29 December 1915. He died of wounds, aged 27, on 4 October 1917.
Leeman Snaith
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 27.
Plot I. J. 38.
Son of William Leeman Snaith and Mary Ellen Snaith, of 15, Coburg St., Coburg, Victoria, Australia.
(Incorrectly listed as SNAIT on the CWGC casualty search)
Pte Leeman Snaith, a carpenter of Coburg, Vic, enlisted on 16 July 1915 and sailed with the 13th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 29 December 1915. He died of wounds, aged 27, on 4 October 1917.
312951 Sapper
Frederick Thomas Wyrill
4th Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers, Formerly of the Border Regiment
19th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. R. 2.
Son of John and May Gertrude Wyrill, of 40, Cedar St., Hightown, Manchester.
Picture courtesy of nephew, Tom Lyons
Frederick Thomas Wyrill
4th Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers, Formerly of the Border Regiment
19th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. R. 2.
Son of John and May Gertrude Wyrill, of 40, Cedar St., Hightown, Manchester.
Picture courtesy of nephew, Tom Lyons
Motor buses carrying French troops near Hazebrouck, March 1915. © IWM (Q 61564)
