KLEIN-VIERSTRAAT BRITISH CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.80485 Longitude: 2.83924
Location Information
Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery is located 6 Kms south-west of Ieper town centre, on the Molenstraat, a road branching from the Kemmelseweg (joining Ieper to Kemmel N331).
From Ieper town centre the Kemmelseweg is reached via the Rijselsestraat, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort), and straight on towards Armentieres (N365). 900 metres after the crossroads is the right hand turning onto the Kemmelseweg (made prominent by a railway level crossing). 5 Kms along the Kemmelseweg lies the right hand turning onto Vierstraat. 1km along the Vierstraat lies Kemmel No.1 French Cemetery. 100 metres past this cemetery is a road on the left called Molenstraat. Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery is located 30 metres along the Molenstraat on the right hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
The village of Kemmel and the adjoining hill, Mont Kemmel, were the scene of fierce fighting in the latter half of April 1918, in which both Commonwealth and French forces were engaged.
The cemetery was begun in January 1917 and Plots I to III were made by field ambulances and fighting units before the middle of January 1918. Plot IV was begun in April 1918. After the Armistice, graves were brought into Plot I, Row H, and Plots IV to VII, from two smaller cemeteries (FERME HENRI PATTYN-VANLAERES, Poperinghe and MONT-VIDAIGNE MILITARY CEMETERY, Westoutre) and from the battlefields of Dikkebus, Loker and Kemmel.
Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery now contains 805 First World War burials, 109 of them unidentified.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and John Reginald Truelove
Total Burials: 805.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 673, Australia 8, Canada 7, New Zealand 7, South Africa 1. Total 696.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 108, Canada 1. Total 109.
Vierstraat, Spring 1915. © IWM Q 50455
19970 Private
Harold Brearley
26th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
17th January 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 16.
Son of George and Annie Eliza Brearley, of 28, Hillcrest View, Shepherd Lane, Leeds.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Upright Shall Dwell In Thy Presence PSA. 140. 13"
Harold Brearley
26th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
17th January 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 16.
Son of George and Annie Eliza Brearley, of 28, Hillcrest View, Shepherd Lane, Leeds.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Upright Shall Dwell In Thy Presence PSA. 140. 13"
71700 Serjeant
Thomas Albert Dagg, M. M.
188th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
1st October 1917, aged 25.
Plot III. F. 7.
Son of Richard and Lucy Ann Dagg, of 8, Lower Market St., Farnworth, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription "Eternal Rest Give Unto Him O Lord And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. R. I. P."
Thomas lived in Burnley and was Assistant Master at St. Mary's R.C. Boys School. He was awarded the Military Medal for extinguishing a fire at an ammunition dump in France.
His parents received the following letter from Major A. R. Carr:
"Dear Mr. Dagg, it is with very deep regret that I must write and tell you of the death of your son. He was killed last night by the bursting of a shell only a few yards away. He was in charge of his gun at the time, and was actually firing. I, together with the officers under my command, sympathise most deeply with you on your great loss. He has done most excellent work since he came out with the battery, and we can ill afford to lose him. Under fire he always seemed to be fearless, and his example to his men was splendid. He was buried this afternoon with two others of his comrades in a military cemetery about two miles from the battery position, and I have made a careful note of the spot.
Thomas Albert Dagg, M. M.
188th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
1st October 1917, aged 25.
Plot III. F. 7.
Son of Richard and Lucy Ann Dagg, of 8, Lower Market St., Farnworth, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription "Eternal Rest Give Unto Him O Lord And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. R. I. P."
Thomas lived in Burnley and was Assistant Master at St. Mary's R.C. Boys School. He was awarded the Military Medal for extinguishing a fire at an ammunition dump in France.
His parents received the following letter from Major A. R. Carr:
"Dear Mr. Dagg, it is with very deep regret that I must write and tell you of the death of your son. He was killed last night by the bursting of a shell only a few yards away. He was in charge of his gun at the time, and was actually firing. I, together with the officers under my command, sympathise most deeply with you on your great loss. He has done most excellent work since he came out with the battery, and we can ill afford to lose him. Under fire he always seemed to be fearless, and his example to his men was splendid. He was buried this afternoon with two others of his comrades in a military cemetery about two miles from the battery position, and I have made a careful note of the spot.
13426 Bombardier
Thomas Herbert Kift
"D" Battery, 177th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
20th June 1917, aged 22.
Plot I. C. 17.
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Kift, of 13, Village Lane, Mumbles, Swansea.
His headstone bears the inscription "Some Hour, Some Day We Shall Meet Again"
Thomas Herbert Kift
"D" Battery, 177th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
20th June 1917, aged 22.
Plot I. C. 17.
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Kift, of 13, Village Lane, Mumbles, Swansea.
His headstone bears the inscription "Some Hour, Some Day We Shall Meet Again"
37541 Lance Corporal
Lane Hindle Thompson
8th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
23rd November 1917, aged 23.
Plot I. G. 13.
Son of Betsy Thompson, of 7, Holmby St., Burnley Lane, Burnley, and the late Baldwin Thompson.
Lane was a Joiner at Stanworth's, Barden Lane, Burnley prior to enlisting and a Bugler in the St Andrew's Scout Troop.
His parents received the following letter from his Captain, written the day after his death:
"Your son was killed in action yesterday. His loss will be greatly felt in the company, and by me personally, as he had just been promoted, and was doing good work, when he was suddenly taken from us. Your son suffered no pain and was buried this morning in a village near by."
The Chaplain also wrote:
"He died doing his duty like a brave man."
Lane Hindle Thompson
8th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
23rd November 1917, aged 23.
Plot I. G. 13.
Son of Betsy Thompson, of 7, Holmby St., Burnley Lane, Burnley, and the late Baldwin Thompson.
Lane was a Joiner at Stanworth's, Barden Lane, Burnley prior to enlisting and a Bugler in the St Andrew's Scout Troop.
His parents received the following letter from his Captain, written the day after his death:
"Your son was killed in action yesterday. His loss will be greatly felt in the company, and by me personally, as he had just been promoted, and was doing good work, when he was suddenly taken from us. Your son suffered no pain and was buried this morning in a village near by."
The Chaplain also wrote:
"He died doing his duty like a brave man."
Second Lieutenant
Noel Veder Wallis
9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
10th April 1917, aged 35.
Plot I. E. 12.
Son of William Emerson Wallis, and the late Alice Sarah Seabrooke Wallis.
His headstone bears the inscription "Passed From Death Unto Life"
Noel Veder Wallis
9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
10th April 1917, aged 35.
Plot I. E. 12.
Son of William Emerson Wallis, and the late Alice Sarah Seabrooke Wallis.
His headstone bears the inscription "Passed From Death Unto Life"
A wounded man on a stretcher is put back on to the trolley to be taken to the rear. By the side of the trolley walks a military chaplain. Near Kemmel, 10 June 1917. © IWM (Q 5626)
Cemetery images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
German lines from M1 trench, Vierstraat Area, spring 1915. In the distance, Hollandscheschur Farm, the shelling of which by British Artillery was witnessed by H. M. the King of the Belgians on February 8th, 1915. © IWM (Q 50449)
Vierstraat, Spring 1915. © IWM Q 50452
Men of the 2nd Suffolks in M. 1 trench, Vierstraat, Spring 1915. © IWM Q 50450
The Battle of the Lys. Royal Artillery Observation Officer setting his lamp to signal back to his battery the results of firing. Kemmel, 22 April 1918. © IWM (Q 7872)
