GROOTEBEEK BRITISH CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.8259 Longitude: 2.78227
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Location Information
Grootebeek British Cemetery is located 8 km west of Ieper town centre on the Bellestraat, a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge via Vlamertinge.
From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the J. Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J. Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing.
On reaching the village of Vlamertinge take the left hand turning onto the Bellestraat, after crossing the N38 Ieper Poperinge road the cemetery lies a further 5 km along the Bellestraat which changes its name to Vlamertingseweg. The site is on the right hand side of the road in the hamlet of Ouderdom.
Visiting Information
Visitors to this site should note a 100 metre grassed access path which is not suitable for vehicles.
Wheelchair access to site possible - maybe by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
The village of Reninghelst was in Allied hands from the autumn of 1914 to the end of the First World War. From March 1915, Commonwealth burials were made in the Churchyard, the Churchyard Extension and the New Military Cemetery, but in April 1918, during the Battles of the Lys, a new cemetery was made by field ambulances and fighting units near the hamlet of Ouderdom, on the Poperinghe-Wytschaete road. It was originally called OUDERDOM MILITARY CEMETERY, but later renamed Grootebeek British Cemetery, from the stream (Grootebeek, or Groote Kemmelbeek) which runs beside it. It was used at intervals until the end of September 1918 and it absorbed a small Indian cemetery made on the spot in April 1915.
The cemetery contains 109 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. One grave destroyed by shell fire is now represented by a special memorial, and another special memorial records the name of Pte J. Lynn, VC, who was buried in Vlamertinghe Churchyard but whose grave was similarly destroyed. The two Second World War burials date from May 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force ahead of the German advance.
The cemetery was designed by W.H. Cowlishaw.
Total Burials: 111.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 98, India 7, New Zealand 1, South Africa 1. Total 107.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 2. Total 2.
1272 Private
John Lynn, V. C., D. C. M.
2nd Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
2nd May 1915, aged 27.
Commemorated on the Vlamertinghe Churchyard Memorial within the cemetery. Cross of the Order of St. George, 4th Class (Russia).
Foster son of Mrs. E. Harrison, of 20, Hindsley Place, Forest Hill, London.
Citation:
An extract from the "London Gazette," dated 29th June, 1915, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery near Ypres on 2nd May 1915. When the Germans were advancing behind their wave of asphyxiating gas, Pte. Lynn, although almost overcome by the deadly fumes, handled his machine gun with very great effect against the enemy, and when he could not see them he moved his gun higher up on the parapet, which enabled him to bring even more effective fire to bear, and eventually checked any further advance. The great courage displayed by this soldier had a fine effect on his comrades in the very trying circumstances. He died from the effects of gas poisoning."
John Lynn, V. C., D. C. M.
2nd Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
2nd May 1915, aged 27.
Commemorated on the Vlamertinghe Churchyard Memorial within the cemetery. Cross of the Order of St. George, 4th Class (Russia).
Foster son of Mrs. E. Harrison, of 20, Hindsley Place, Forest Hill, London.
Citation:
An extract from the "London Gazette," dated 29th June, 1915, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery near Ypres on 2nd May 1915. When the Germans were advancing behind their wave of asphyxiating gas, Pte. Lynn, although almost overcome by the deadly fumes, handled his machine gun with very great effect against the enemy, and when he could not see them he moved his gun higher up on the parapet, which enabled him to bring even more effective fire to bear, and eventually checked any further advance. The great courage displayed by this soldier had a fine effect on his comrades in the very trying circumstances. He died from the effects of gas poisoning."
Above Images - left to right:
John Lynn's original and now lost grave at Vlamertinghe Churchyard
John Lynn's memorial headstone at Grootebeek British Cemetery
Artists impression of the action for which John Lynn was awarded the Victoria Cross
Cigarette card commemorating John Lynn
John Lynn's original and now lost grave at Vlamertinghe Churchyard
John Lynn's memorial headstone at Grootebeek British Cemetery
Artists impression of the action for which John Lynn was awarded the Victoria Cross
Cigarette card commemorating John Lynn
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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29723 Private
Allan Hunt Barclay
2nd Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
25th April 1918.
Row B. 5.
Son of Donald Hunt Barclay and Georgina Jane Barclay, of Waikato, New Zealand.
Allan Hunt Barclay
2nd Bn. Auckland Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
25th April 1918.
Row B. 5.
Son of Donald Hunt Barclay and Georgina Jane Barclay, of Waikato, New Zealand.
42399 Lance Corporal
John Clifford Green
9th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
26th April 1918, aged 19.
Row C. 8.
His headstone bears the inscription; "We Shall Find Our Missing Treasure In Our Father's Mansion Fair"
Son of John and Frances Green, of Priory Cottages, 33, Lincoln St., Worksop, Notts.
John Clifford Green
9th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
26th April 1918, aged 19.
Row C. 8.
His headstone bears the inscription; "We Shall Find Our Missing Treasure In Our Father's Mansion Fair"
Son of John and Frances Green, of Priory Cottages, 33, Lincoln St., Worksop, Notts.
Pictures in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Lieutenant
John Charles Victor Harder, Mentioned In Despatches
"D" Bty. 50th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
26th April 1918, aged 22.
Row C. 5.
Son of Charles A. and Mabel Gertrude Harder, of " Roskear," 53, May St., Coburg, Melbourne, Australia. Native of Melbourne, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Of Australia Greater Love Hath No Man Than This; St.John XV.12."
John Charles Victor Harder, Mentioned In Despatches
"D" Bty. 50th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
26th April 1918, aged 22.
Row C. 5.
Son of Charles A. and Mabel Gertrude Harder, of " Roskear," 53, May St., Coburg, Melbourne, Australia. Native of Melbourne, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Of Australia Greater Love Hath No Man Than This; St.John XV.12."
245432 Serjeant
Edward Long
20th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
4th September 1918, aged 32.
Row G. 6.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Long, of Sheringham; husband of Florence E. Sadler (formerly Long), of "Don Muir," Priory Rd., Sheringham, Norfolk.
Edward Long
20th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
4th September 1918, aged 32.
Row G. 6.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Long, of Sheringham; husband of Florence E. Sadler (formerly Long), of "Don Muir," Priory Rd., Sheringham, Norfolk.
24895 Lance Corporal
Alfred Wooldridge Medd
10th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
5th September 1918, aged 37.
Row G. 5.
Son of Peter Goldsmith Medd (Priest), North Cerney, Glos; husband of Hilda Medd, of 2A, Oxford and Cambridge Mansions, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "R. I. P."
Alfred Wooldridge Medd
10th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
5th September 1918, aged 37.
Row G. 5.
Son of Peter Goldsmith Medd (Priest), North Cerney, Glos; husband of Hilda Medd, of 2A, Oxford and Cambridge Mansions, London.
His headstone bears the inscription; "R. I. P."
The Two World War Two Graves
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Street view of Ouderdom, near Ypres. © The rightsholder (HU 138430)
26th October 1917; Buses conveying the 2nd Australian Division to the front, in the Ypres sector, passing along the road near Reninghelst. The buses are open-topped double-decker London General Omnibus Company 'B' type buses, which were transported to the Western Front from London for use in troop movements.
Men of the 7th Pioneer Battalion Durham Light Infantry parading for the trenches; Reninghelst, near Ypres, 29th April 1916. © IWM (Q 537)
King George V (centre) accompanied by Major-General Sir Julian Byng, Commander of the Canadian Corps (left), and a battalion commander, passing through rows of cheering Canadian troops of the 25th and 26th Battalions at Reninghelst, 14th August 1916. © IWM Q 974
Gunners of the Royal Garrison Artillery outside a bomb-proof dug-out at Reninghelst, 15th June 1916. © IWM Q 698
Gunners of the 7th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery preparing a 6 inch field gun (Mark VII) for action at Reninghelst, 15th June 1916. © IWM Q 699
