LANCASHIRE COTTAGE CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.72916 Longitude: 2.89783
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Location Information
Lancashire Cottage Cemetery is located 13.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre on a road leading from the N365 connecting Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen, 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.
On reaching the village of Ploegsteert the first left hand turning leads onto the rue de Ploegsteert. The cemetery lies 1 Km along the rue de Ploegsteert on the right hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Lancashire Cottage Cemetery was begun by the 1st East Lancashires (who have 84 graves in it) and the 1st Hampshire (who have 56) in November 1914. It was used as a front line cemetery until March 1916 and occasionally later. The cemetery was in German hands from 10 April to 29 September 1918 and they made a few burials in it during that spring and summer.
The cemetery contains 256 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 13 German war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden and William Harrison Cowlishaw
Total Burials: 269.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 228, Australia 23, Germany 12, Canada 2. Total 265.
Unidentified Casualties: Commonwealth 3, Germany 1. Total 4.
Lancashire Cottage Cemetery is located 13.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre on a road leading from the N365 connecting Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen, 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.
On reaching the village of Ploegsteert the first left hand turning leads onto the rue de Ploegsteert. The cemetery lies 1 Km along the rue de Ploegsteert on the right hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access with some difficulty.
Historical Information
Lancashire Cottage Cemetery was begun by the 1st East Lancashires (who have 84 graves in it) and the 1st Hampshire (who have 56) in November 1914. It was used as a front line cemetery until March 1916 and occasionally later. The cemetery was in German hands from 10 April to 29 September 1918 and they made a few burials in it during that spring and summer.
The cemetery contains 256 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 13 German war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden and William Harrison Cowlishaw
Total Burials: 269.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 228, Australia 23, Germany 12, Canada 2. Total 265.
Unidentified Casualties: Commonwealth 3, Germany 1. Total 4.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
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.
16th February 1918 - Four unidentified Australian soldiers engaged in strengthening the Corps defence lines at Lancashire Cottage. Note several shell damaged buildings in the background (right).
7255 Private
William Edward Barry
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
25th February 1915, aged 40.
Plot I. E. 18.
Husband of Mrs. B. Wignall (formerly Barry), of 32, Peter St., Burnley. Formerly 42 Leyland Road, Burnley. A veteran of the Boer war, he was a professional soldier.
William Edward Barry
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
25th February 1915, aged 40.
Plot I. E. 18.
Husband of Mrs. B. Wignall (formerly Barry), of 32, Peter St., Burnley. Formerly 42 Leyland Road, Burnley. A veteran of the Boer war, he was a professional soldier.
10868 Private
James Battle
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
1st November 1914, aged 24.
Plot I. B. 5.
Son of John and Mary Battle, of 9, Charles Row, Burnley.
James Battle
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
1st November 1914, aged 24.
Plot I. B. 5.
Son of John and Mary Battle, of 9, Charles Row, Burnley.
3385 Private
Arthur James Cyril Blackmore
No.7 Platoon, "B" Coy. 1st/6th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
29th May 1915, aged 20.
Plot II. B. 11.
Son of Frederick C. and Augusta Susan Wesley Blackmore, of 38, Summerhill Rd., St. George, Bristol.
Arthur was born at 3, Northcote Road, St. George, Bristol on Saturday 10th. November 1894
He enlisted on Sunday, 1st. November 1914 at The Colston Hall, Bristol. At 1.15 p.m. the following day his .Battalion marched to Saffron Walden, Essex and entrained for Folkestone, Kent. Embarked for France on Wednesday 31st. March 1915 and landed at Boulogne at 00.45 hrs the next day
Picture courtesy of grand nephew, David Blackmore
Arthur James Cyril Blackmore
No.7 Platoon, "B" Coy. 1st/6th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
29th May 1915, aged 20.
Plot II. B. 11.
Son of Frederick C. and Augusta Susan Wesley Blackmore, of 38, Summerhill Rd., St. George, Bristol.
Arthur was born at 3, Northcote Road, St. George, Bristol on Saturday 10th. November 1894
He enlisted on Sunday, 1st. November 1914 at The Colston Hall, Bristol. At 1.15 p.m. the following day his .Battalion marched to Saffron Walden, Essex and entrained for Folkestone, Kent. Embarked for France on Wednesday 31st. March 1915 and landed at Boulogne at 00.45 hrs the next day
Picture courtesy of grand nephew, David Blackmore
10836 Private
Walter Hilton Bready
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
29th November 1914, aged 19.
Plot I. C. I
Son of Albert and Sarah Jane Bready, of 13, Duffryn St., Aberbargoed, Bargoed, Cardiff.
Picture courtesy of David Ellis
Walter Hilton Bready
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
29th November 1914, aged 19.
Plot I. C. I
Son of Albert and Sarah Jane Bready, of 13, Duffryn St., Aberbargoed, Bargoed, Cardiff.
Picture courtesy of David Ellis
2980 Private
Samuel Alfred Cork
"D" Coy. 1st/6th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
22nd May 1915, aged 22.
Plot II. A. 8.
Son of Thomas John and Elizabeth Cork, of 9, Jubilee St., St. Philip's, Bristol.
Picture courtesy of Susan Wilshire
Samuel Alfred Cork
"D" Coy. 1st/6th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
22nd May 1915, aged 22.
Plot II. A. 8.
Son of Thomas John and Elizabeth Cork, of 9, Jubilee St., St. Philip's, Bristol.
Picture courtesy of Susan Wilshire
Lieutenant
Aubrey Clarence Crawley
44th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
17th February 1918, aged 28.
Plot III. C. 10.
Son of Cornelius and Margaret Crawley, of 255, Burt St., Boulder City, Western Australia. Native of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Formerly a civil servant with the WA Mines Department, Lt Crawley enlisted on 5 November 1915 and with the rank of Orderly Room Sergeant, he embarked with Battalion Headquarters from Fremantle, WA, aboard HMAT Suevic, (A29), on 6 June 1916. He served on the Western Front where he was killed in action on 17 February 1918, aged 28 years.
Aubrey Clarence Crawley
44th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
17th February 1918, aged 28.
Plot III. C. 10.
Son of Cornelius and Margaret Crawley, of 255, Burt St., Boulder City, Western Australia. Native of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Formerly a civil servant with the WA Mines Department, Lt Crawley enlisted on 5 November 1915 and with the rank of Orderly Room Sergeant, he embarked with Battalion Headquarters from Fremantle, WA, aboard HMAT Suevic, (A29), on 6 June 1916. He served on the Western Front where he was killed in action on 17 February 1918, aged 28 years.
5189 Private
James Feeney
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
27th November 1914, aged 22.
Plot I. A. 15.
Son of Thomas and Bridget Feeney, of 38, Towneley St., Burnley.
James Feeney
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
27th November 1914, aged 22.
Plot I. A. 15.
Son of Thomas and Bridget Feeney, of 38, Towneley St., Burnley.
7170 Private
William Garstang
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
14th November 1914.
Plot I. A. 9.
Lived at 32 Tunnel Street, Burnley.
William Garstang
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
14th November 1914.
Plot I. A. 9.
Lived at 32 Tunnel Street, Burnley.
LIFE STORIES - John Holden
"A Quiet Month For The Battalion"
5544 Lance Corporal
John Holden
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
12th January 1915, aged 22.
Plot I. D. 7.
John Holden was killed in 1915, aged 22. He had originally enlisted in Burnley and at the time of his death his battalion was serving in the Ploegsteert area of Belgium, close to the border with France. January 1915 was, according to the Regimental history, a quiet month for the battalion with two officers wounded, 20 other ranks killed and 53 wounded. Most of the month had been spent draining flooded trenches and repairing breastworks, along with constructing a new defensive line along the St. Yves - Le Touquet road. It was during this period that John was killed. He was buried in the immediate vicinity and today lies in Lancashire Cottage cemetery, which stands across from Ploegsteert Wood and was begun by men of his battalion in November 1914.
John had been born in 1893, the oldest son of John Holden and Mary Bonstead who was originally from Carlisle. At the time of his birth the family lived at 130 Finsley Gate, Burnley where John Snr. was working as a Pavoirs labourer. By 1901 there were nine children including John Holden living at the cramped Finsley Gate property. John had six sisters, Isabella, Elizabeth, Edith, Mary, Florence and Maggie and two brothers, James and Henry. John's sister, Mary was helping in the house as a her mother's domestic helper.
On leaving school, John found work with Burnley Corporation as a Tram Car cleaner, the family had now moved to 7 Hinton Street in the Fulledge area of the town. Also now living with the family and born in December 1908 was Allan, shown as a grandson, although at the time all of the sisters were single.
John's sister, Elizabeth Holden died in 1911 aged 29 while another sister, Mary died aged 31 in 1917. His parents John and Mary died in 1929 and 1936 respectively, all are commemorated on a remarkably well preserved headstone in the cemetery at Burnley, which carries the following words; Also of Lance-Corpl. John Holden, their son. Who was killed at Ploegsteert, in France, on January 12th, 1915, aged 22 years.
Allan, the grandson died at Burnley in 1979, he was 70.
"A Quiet Month For The Battalion"
5544 Lance Corporal
John Holden
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
12th January 1915, aged 22.
Plot I. D. 7.
John Holden was killed in 1915, aged 22. He had originally enlisted in Burnley and at the time of his death his battalion was serving in the Ploegsteert area of Belgium, close to the border with France. January 1915 was, according to the Regimental history, a quiet month for the battalion with two officers wounded, 20 other ranks killed and 53 wounded. Most of the month had been spent draining flooded trenches and repairing breastworks, along with constructing a new defensive line along the St. Yves - Le Touquet road. It was during this period that John was killed. He was buried in the immediate vicinity and today lies in Lancashire Cottage cemetery, which stands across from Ploegsteert Wood and was begun by men of his battalion in November 1914.
John had been born in 1893, the oldest son of John Holden and Mary Bonstead who was originally from Carlisle. At the time of his birth the family lived at 130 Finsley Gate, Burnley where John Snr. was working as a Pavoirs labourer. By 1901 there were nine children including John Holden living at the cramped Finsley Gate property. John had six sisters, Isabella, Elizabeth, Edith, Mary, Florence and Maggie and two brothers, James and Henry. John's sister, Mary was helping in the house as a her mother's domestic helper.
On leaving school, John found work with Burnley Corporation as a Tram Car cleaner, the family had now moved to 7 Hinton Street in the Fulledge area of the town. Also now living with the family and born in December 1908 was Allan, shown as a grandson, although at the time all of the sisters were single.
John's sister, Elizabeth Holden died in 1911 aged 29 while another sister, Mary died aged 31 in 1917. His parents John and Mary died in 1929 and 1936 respectively, all are commemorated on a remarkably well preserved headstone in the cemetery at Burnley, which carries the following words; Also of Lance-Corpl. John Holden, their son. Who was killed at Ploegsteert, in France, on January 12th, 1915, aged 22 years.
Allan, the grandson died at Burnley in 1979, he was 70.
The inscription on John Holden's parents' grave at Burnley cemetery and his grave at Lancashire Cottage Cemetery. John's headstone is on the left, he is buried together with two other East Lancashire men, all three were killed on 12th January 1915.
*It should be noted that Ploegsteert is actually in Belgium, although this was a common error found on many gravestones due to the lack of geographical knowledge of the battle areas of those left at home.
*It should be noted that Ploegsteert is actually in Belgium, although this was a common error found on many gravestones due to the lack of geographical knowledge of the battle areas of those left at home.
898 Corporal
William Alexander Jackson
19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd December 1917, aged 35.
Plot III. C. 5.
Son of William and Helen C. Jackson, of 47, Arcadia Rd., Glebe Point, Sydney, New South Wales. Native of Albury, New South Wales.
William Alexander Jackson
19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
22nd December 1917, aged 35.
Plot III. C. 5.
Son of William and Helen C. Jackson, of 47, Arcadia Rd., Glebe Point, Sydney, New South Wales. Native of Albury, New South Wales.
4966 Private
Bob Ridge
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
20th January 1915, aged 20.
Plot I. E. 3.
Son of Mr and Mrs. Ridge, of 77, Brunshaw Rd., Burnley.
Bob Ridge
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
20th January 1915, aged 20.
Plot I. E. 3.
Son of Mr and Mrs. Ridge, of 77, Brunshaw Rd., Burnley.
Second Lieutenant
George Hopkins Stanley
"D" Coy. 1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
31st October 1914, aged 38.
Plot I. B. 2.
Husband of Fannie Stanley, of 2, Belgrave Terrace, Rathmines, Dublin.
George Hopkins Stanley
"D" Coy. 1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
31st October 1914, aged 38.
Plot I. B. 2.
Husband of Fannie Stanley, of 2, Belgrave Terrace, Rathmines, Dublin.
5618 Private
James Tattersall
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
27th January 1915, aged 19.
Plot I. E. 10.
Shot whilst in the trenches the bullet entering the right side of his body and coming out of the left side.
James Tattersall
1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
27th January 1915, aged 19.
Plot I. E. 10.
Shot whilst in the trenches the bullet entering the right side of his body and coming out of the left side.
1284 Private
Lionel Cecil Thompson
19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th January 1918, aged 25.
Plot III. C. 8.
Son of Thomas and Sarah Adelaide Thompson, of "Woonona," Good St., Granville, New South Wales.
A carpenter prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 7 October 1916. He was killed in action on 13 January 1918 while on a reconnaissance mission near Locre, Belgium, aged 25.
Lionel Cecil Thompson
19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th January 1918, aged 25.
Plot III. C. 8.
Son of Thomas and Sarah Adelaide Thompson, of "Woonona," Good St., Granville, New South Wales.
A carpenter prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 7 October 1916. He was killed in action on 13 January 1918 while on a reconnaissance mission near Locre, Belgium, aged 25.
8050 Serjeant
Evan Warner
5th Bn. London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
11th December 1914, aged 34.
Plot I. C. 8.
Son of John and Alice Warner, of Waddon House, Croydon.
Evan Warner
5th Bn. London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
11th December 1914, aged 34.
Plot I. C. 8.
Son of John and Alice Warner, of Waddon House, Croydon.
5104 Private
Reuben Clarence Wells
19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th January 1918, aged 20.
Plot III. C. 7.
Son of David and Elizabeth Wells, of Deepwater, New South Wales. Native of Coolah, New South Wales.
A labourer prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Kyarra (A55) on 3 June 1916. He was killed in action near Moat Farm, Messines area, Belgium on 13 January 1918, aged 20. He is buried in the Lancashire Cottage Cemetery, Belgium. Pte Reuben Wells is the brother of 2147 Pte David Wells, who died of pneumonia in France on 3 December 1916. he is buried at the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension.
Reuben Clarence Wells
19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
13th January 1918, aged 20.
Plot III. C. 7.
Son of David and Elizabeth Wells, of Deepwater, New South Wales. Native of Coolah, New South Wales.
A labourer prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Kyarra (A55) on 3 June 1916. He was killed in action near Moat Farm, Messines area, Belgium on 13 January 1918, aged 20. He is buried in the Lancashire Cottage Cemetery, Belgium. Pte Reuben Wells is the brother of 2147 Pte David Wells, who died of pneumonia in France on 3 December 1916. he is buried at the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension.
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.
The Australian sector of a cemetery consecrated by the Bishop of Pretoria, near Lancashire Cottage, in the Messines Sector, Belgium. Graves are from left to right and all from the 19th Battalion AIF: Lieutenant Charles Albert Read from Kent UK (killed in action 22 December 1917); 898 Corporal William Alexander Jackson from Sydney, NSW (killed in action 22 December 1917); 4508 Private (Pte) Charles Petersen from Bankstown, NSW (killed in action on 14 January 1918); 5104 Pte Reuben Clarence Wells From Coolah, NSW (killed in action 13 January 1918); 1284 Pte Lionel Cecil Thompson from Granville, NSW (killed in action 13 January 1918); and 622 Sergeant Ernest Fairley Palmer from Marrickville, NSW (19th Battalion, killed in action 14 January 1918). Two of the men buried here were killed in action at Le Touquet whilst on outpost duty during an attempted raid by the enemy on the front line.
Images in this gallery © 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.
16th December 1917; The Lancashire Support Farm, in the Ploegsteert Sector, occupied by reserve troops of the 44th Battalion. Identified: 3061 Private (Pte) B. J. Goldigg (1); 743 Lance Corporal (LCpl) G. Stinchcomb (2); 1699 Pte J. Traynor (3); 775 Pte R. C. Bennie (4); 680 Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) J. E. McKellar (5); Lieutenant (Lt) J. Duff (6); 751 Pte W. Elder (7); Lt J. Yule (8); 752 Corporal (Cpl) E. H. M. Owen (9); 2215 Cpl E. N. McLean (10); 737 Pte J. McCubbing (11); 1712 Company Sergeant Major (CSM) L. Mann (12); 3628 Pte E. Charles (13); 846 Pte E. W. Spruce (14); 6334 Pte R. Moyle (15); 2052 Sergeant (Sgt) A. Parker (16); 848 Pte F. Lawson (17); 5701 Pte C. C. Fraser (18); 5382 Pte E. M. Dredger MM (19); 2150 Pte W. Cunneen (20); 2274 Sgt J. Gratwick (21); 2824 CQMS J. P. Gale (22); 285 Sgt H. Baynes Croix de Guerre (23).
