HARINGHE (BANDAGHEM) MILITARY CEMETERY

West-Vlaanderen

​Belgium
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​Location Information

The cemetery is located 18 km from Ieper town centre on a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge and on to Roesbrugge.

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 ring road of Poperinge, the R33 Europalaan, the left hand clockwise route circles the town of Poperinge and rejoins the N308 towards Oost Cappel. 10 km after rejoining the N308 lies the village of Roesbrugge. The second left hand turning in the village of Roesbrugge leads onto the Haringestraat and for 2 km to the village of Haringe.

The second right hand turning in the village of Haringe leads onto Nachtegaalstraat. The cemetery lies 400 metres along the Nachtegaalstraat on the left hand side of the road.


Visiting Information

Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.


Historical Information

Bandaghem, like Dozinghem and Mendinghem, were the popular names given by the troops to groups of casualty clearing stations posted to this area during the First World War.

The cemetery site was chosen in July 1917 for the 62nd and 63rd Casualty Clearing Stations and burials from these and other hospitals (notably the 36th Casualty Clearing Station in 1918) continued until October 1918.  

The cemetery contains 772 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is a separate plot of 39 German war graves, but four plots (X, XI, XII and XIII) of French graves were removed to other burial grounds after the war. There are also five Second World War burials in the cemetery, three of which are unidentified.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Casualty Details: ​UK 746; Canada 6; Australia 2; New Zealand 11; South Africa 7; Germany 39; Total Burials: 811

185631 Gunner
Albert George Holden
166th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
13th May 1918, aged 34.
Plot V. A. 34.

Husband of Maggie Holden, of 63, Albert St., South Shore, Blackpool. Formerly of 16 Aqueduct Street, Burnley, Lancashire.

A weaver at Messrs. Collinge's Burnley Wood mill. Enlisted August 1916.

His wife placed an "In Memoriam notice" in the Burnley Express on 26th June 1918, it read:

"As through this weary world I wander,
My thoughts will ever be of you;
In memory I shall see you ever,
I loved you better than you knew."

From his sorrowing wife.

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13904 Corporal
Albert Fredrick Nicholas
5th Bn. South Wales Borderers
14th April 1918, aged 30.
Plot II. C. 10.

Son of Fredrick and Rosina Nicholas, of 18, Lime St., Pillgwently, Newport, Mon.

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58837 Private
John Henry Williams
2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers
30th September 1918, aged 23.
Plot III. C. 54.
 
Picture courtesy of nephew, Thomas Williams

7156 Bombardier
Joseph Ernest Wistow
"A" Bty. 113th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
19th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot I. F. 25.

Son of George and Isabella Wistow, of Maltkiln Cottages, Ranskill, Doncaster.

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3 Recipients of the Albert Memorial

(Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem)

267361 Sapper Joseph Collinton, 12th Light Railway Operating Company, Royal Engineers, died 30th April 1918, aged 23. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Farren, of Carlton, Market Bosworth, Nuneaton, Leicestershire.

109599 Company Serjeant Major A. H. Furlonger, D. C. M. 29th Light Railway Operating Company, Royal Engineers, died 30th April 1918, aged 31. Son of Mr. A. H. and Mrs. M. J. Furlonger, of 24, Palmerston Rd., Wimbledon, London.
INSCRIPTION. REST IN PEACE.

289129 Sapper George Edward Johnson, 21st Light Railway Operating Company, Royal Engineers, died 30th April 1918, aged 25. Son of Ellen Johnson, of 4, Oak Villas, Colwick Vale, Notts. INSCRIPTION. GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST O LORD.

CITATION

The following particulars are given in "The London Gazette", No. 30,876, dated Friday, 30th Aug., 1918, of the acts for which the Albert Medal was awarded to C.S.M. A. H. Furlonger, D.C.M., Spr. J. C. Farren and Spr. G. E. Johnson, who are buried in this Cemetery, as well as to Lce. Cpl. J. E. Bigland and Spr. J. H. Woodman, all of the Royal Engineers 

"In Flanders, on the 30th April, 1918, a train of ammunition had been placed at an ammunition refilling point, and after the engine had been detached, and was being run off the train, the second truck suddenly burst into flames. Furlonger immediately ordered Bigland, the driver, to move the engine back on to the train for the purpose of pulling away the two trucks nearest the engine. Bigland did so without hesitation, and the engine was coupled up by Furlonger, assisted by Farren, while the burning truck was uncoupled from the remainder of the train by Woodman. The two trucks were then drawn away clear of the ammunition dump, it being the intention to uncouple the burning wagon from the engine and the first wagon and so isolate it, with the object of localising the fire as far as possible. The uncoupling was about to be done when the ammunition exploded, completely wrecking the engine and both trucks, killing Furlonger, Farren and Johnson (a member of the train crew), and seriously wounding Bigland. Had it not been for the prompt and courageous action of these men, whereby three of them lost their lives and one was seriously injured, there is not the slightest doubt that the whole dump would have been destroyed and many lives lost"