GUNNERS FARM MILITARY CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.71816 Longitude: 2.89646
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Gunners Farm Military Cemetery is located 16 km from Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the N365, connecting Ieper to Wijtschate, Ploegsteert and on to Armentieres. From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg. 2 km after passing through the village of Ploegsteert lies the left hand turning onto Witteweg (Chemin de la Blanche). The cemetery lies 1km along the Witteweg on the left hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Gunners Farm Cemetery took its name from a farm which stood on the opposite side of the road and is an example of a regimental cemetery, many of which were made in 1914 and 1915.
The cemetery was begun in July 1915 by the 9th Essex and 7th Suffolk Regiments (Rows A to C), carried on by the 9th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers (Rows D to J), and the 9th (Scottish) Division (Rows J to Q). Apart from a small number of later burials, the cemetery was completed by service battalions of the Royal West Kent and Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiments in May and June 1916. It was in German hands from 10 April to 29 September 1918.
There are now 175 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and four German war graves in the cemetery.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith.
Total Burials: 179.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 163, South Africa 9, Australia 2, Germany 2, New Zealand 1. Total 177.
Unidentified Casualties: Germany 2.
Dedications
12131 Private Frank Bell, 7th Bn. Suffolk Regiment, 1st August 1915, aged 28.
Remembered by Adrian John Bell and family
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Ploegsteert Wood, Belgium. 26 December 1917. Men of the 22nd Battalion, laying down wire entanglements, behind the line at Ploegsteert Wood. Hill 63 is seen in the background. The men were living in hutments at Kortepyp Camp where Christmas Day was spent. The Battalion was in reserve and fatigue parties were sent forward daily by the light railway to Ploegsteert where wiring was carried out and extensive salvaging operations undertaken under the supervision of Major J. S. Dooley MC. The area was very quiet at this time and received only desultory shelling.
Pictures in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Brigadier-General George Francis Milne at Le Touquet, near Frelinghien. "The two wagons blocked the road and you entered the communication trench showing just this side of them and went up to the front line. Our mine was started in the houses just off the photo to the right." October 1914. © The rights holder (IWM Q 56734)
© Werner Van Caneghem
Ploegsteert, Belgium, 1917. A snow-covered street lined with ruined buildings badly damaged by enemy bombardment in the town south of Messines.
11635 Private
Albert William Blundell
"E" Coy. 11th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
8th July 1916, aged 19.
Row S. 3.
Son of Charles and Elizabeth Alice Blundell, of 105, Pemdevon Rd., West Croydon.
Albert William Blundell
"E" Coy. 11th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
8th July 1916, aged 19.
Row S. 3.
Son of Charles and Elizabeth Alice Blundell, of 105, Pemdevon Rd., West Croydon.
194 Sergeant
Harry Fifield Didcote
17th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th January 1918, aged 29.
Row O. 9.
Son of Thomas and Mary Letitia Didcote, of 2, Jeynes Row, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England.
From Wetherill Park, via Fairfield, NSW. A tanner prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 12 May 1915. For conspicuous services rendered, he was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 9 April 1917. He was killed in action on 12 January 1918 during action in Belgium, aged 29. His brother, 1617 Private Wilfred Bartlett Didcote was killed in action at Gallipoli on 27 August 1915 and commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.
Harry Fifield Didcote
17th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th January 1918, aged 29.
Row O. 9.
Son of Thomas and Mary Letitia Didcote, of 2, Jeynes Row, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England.
From Wetherill Park, via Fairfield, NSW. A tanner prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 12 May 1915. For conspicuous services rendered, he was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 9 April 1917. He was killed in action on 12 January 1918 during action in Belgium, aged 29. His brother, 1617 Private Wilfred Bartlett Didcote was killed in action at Gallipoli on 27 August 1915 and commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.
20th January 1918; A firing bay in a captured trench near Ploegsteert. Owing to the sodden nature of the country, all excavations had to be revetted to prevent them falling in. The photograph was taken on a quiet day in Una Trench, held by the enemy before the Battle of Messines. Identified are: Lieutenant H. Johnson, 18th Battalion (left), and 32091 Sergeant W. H. Joyce (right), Assistant Official Photographer, AWRS.
British troops taking up timber for a trench support through a communication trench at Ploegsteert, March 1917. © IWM Q 5092
Canadian troops in the front line trenches at Ploegsteert, March 1916. © IWM Q 446
