HEESTERT MILITARY CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.78133 Longitude: 3.4114
Location Information
Heestert Military Cemetery is located south-east of Kortrijk on the N8. From the motorway E17, turn off at Junction 3 (Kortrijk-Oost) and onto the N8 in the direction of Zwevegem. Follow the N8 through the villages of Zwevegem and Knokke and into Heestert. On entering the village, take the third turning on the right, called plein, go past the church and the cemetery is on the left.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
The village of Heestert was taken by Commonwealth forces towards the end of October 1918. In about February 1919, the Burgomaster issued instructions for the creation of the military cemetery, which was made when the farmers of the Commune cleared their farms of Commonwealth and German battlefield graves from the October and November fighting. Later, three further graves were brought in from MOEN CHURCHYARD.
There are now 127 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 26 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to eight men believed to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains 57 German war graves, 39 being unidentified.
Total Burials: 184.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 101, Germany 18. Total 119.
Unidentified Casualties: Germany 39, Commonwealth 26. Total 65.
The cemetery was designed by William Harrison Cowlishaw
Battle of Courtrai. Sergeant of the Royal Army Medical Corps tending a Belgian wounded woman at an Advanced Aid Post near Heule, 15 October 1918. © IWM Q 7121
Two Belgian refugee children in an Army Service Corps wagon. Courtrai, 20 October 1918. The soldier on the right is a Royal Artillery gunner. © IWM Q 11391
42609 Private
Alexander Baillie
1st Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
22nd October 1918, aged 21.
Row L. 2.
Alexander Baillie
1st Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
22nd October 1918, aged 21.
Row L. 2.
G/48453 Private
Victor John Clark
12th Bn. East Surrey Regiment
26th October 1918, aged 19.
Row A. 3.
Son of Herbert and Annie Clark, of Wasenham All Saints, King's Lynn.
Victor John Clark
12th Bn. East Surrey Regiment
26th October 1918, aged 19.
Row A. 3.
Son of Herbert and Annie Clark, of Wasenham All Saints, King's Lynn.
260356 Private
Thomas William Gelder, M. M. 1st Bn. Border Regiment 22nd October 1918, aged 21. Plot G. 7. Remembered by his Great Nephew and family |
Click on image to enlarge
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29729 Private
Harry Nansen Harris
1st Bn. Border Regiment
22nd October 1918, aged 21.
Row G. 8.
Son of Mrs. S. J. Leeming (formerly Harris) of 24, Rose St., Greenheys, Manchester. Joined "Manchester Pals," in 1915.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Memory Lives For Ever"
Harry Nansen Harris
1st Bn. Border Regiment
22nd October 1918, aged 21.
Row G. 8.
Son of Mrs. S. J. Leeming (formerly Harris) of 24, Rose St., Greenheys, Manchester. Joined "Manchester Pals," in 1915.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Memory Lives For Ever"
British soldiers examining a German 10.5 cm FH 98/09 field howitzer, abandoned on a road near Courtrai, 18 October 1918. Some of the horses of the team were killed by shell fire. © IWM Q 11388
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Belgian refugee family in a British horse-drawn wagon. Courtrai, 18 October 1918. British soldier holding one of their children. © IWM Q 11395
Battle of Courtrai. Belgian civilian women examining a German Maxim machine gun post which was outside their cottage. Near Heule, 15 October 1918. © IWM Q 7122
