LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery is located 12 Kms west of Ieper town centre, on the Boescheepseweg, a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge.
From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308) is reached via the Elverdingestraat, then 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 Poperinge, the N308 joins the left hand turning onto the R33, Poperinge ring road. The R33 ring continues to the left hand junction with the N38 Frans-Vlaanderenweg. 800 metres along the N38 lies the left hand turning onto Lenestraat. The next immediate right hand turning leads onto Boescheepseweg. The cemetery itself is located 2 Kms along Boescheepseweg on the right hand side of the road.
Historical Information
During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15th Hopital D'Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces.
From April to August 1918, the casualty clearing stations fell back before the German advance and field ambulances (including a French ambulance) took their places.
The cemetery contains 9,901 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 24 being unidentified. There are 883 war graves of other nationalities, mostly French and German, 11 of these are unidentified. There is 1 Non World War burial here.
The only concentration burials were 24 added to Plot XXXI in 1920 from isolated positions near Poperinghe and 17 added to Plot XXXII from St. Denijs Churchyard in 1981.
Eight of the headstones are Special Memorials to men known to be buried in this cemetery, these are located together alongside Plot 32 near the Stone of Remembrance.
The cemetery, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, is the second largest Commonwealth cemetery in Belgium.
Dedications
13648 Private Bruce Ducat, 7th Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry, 17/06/1916, aged 18.
Remembered by Susan Mary Walsh
4952 Private George Weddell, 8th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 08/03/1916, aged 36.
The inscription on his headstone, placed by his wife, reads: "A Loving father & Husband both true and kind. No friend on earth like thee we find."
Remembered by his granddaughter Veronica Joy Graham (nee Weddell)
Major Frederick Harold Tubb V. C.
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, died of wounds 20th September 1917, Plot XIX. C. 5.
Son of Harry and Emma E. Tubb, of St. Helena, Longwood East, Victoria, Australia. Of Longwood
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29328 dated 15th Oct., 1915, records the following:-For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on 9th August, 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing, but Lieutenant Tubb led his men back, repulsed the enemy, and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion Lieutenant Tubb, although wounded in the head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness and rebuilt it, and finally succeeded in maintaining his position under very heavy bomb fire.
7th Bn. Australian Infantry, died of wounds 20th September 1917, Plot XIX. C. 5.
Son of Harry and Emma E. Tubb, of St. Helena, Longwood East, Victoria, Australia. Of Longwood
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29328 dated 15th Oct., 1915, records the following:-For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on 9th August, 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing, but Lieutenant Tubb led his men back, repulsed the enemy, and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion Lieutenant Tubb, although wounded in the head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness and rebuilt it, and finally succeeded in maintaining his position under very heavy bomb fire.
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Shot at Dawn
22635 Private William Baker, 26th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, executed for desertion 14th August 1918, plot XXV. B. 22. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Baker, of 13, Russell St., Plaistow, London. He was already under arrest, when on 22 April 1918 he absented himself. On 18 May, he was arrested again near the mail-boat at Boulogne, having given a false name & particulars. He escaped again, but was finally arrested, when attempting admittance, again using a false name, to a hospital at Etaples. (Putkowski, p 254)
22635 Private William Baker, 26th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, executed for desertion 14th August 1918, plot XXV. B. 22. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Baker, of 13, Russell St., Plaistow, London. He was already under arrest, when on 22 April 1918 he absented himself. On 18 May, he was arrested again near the mail-boat at Boulogne, having given a false name & particulars. He escaped again, but was finally arrested, when attempting admittance, again using a false name, to a hospital at Etaples. (Putkowski, p 254)
Copyright Geerhard Joos
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Archive Pictures
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery c.1919. © Jeremy Gordon-Smith
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery c.1919. © Jeremy Gordon-Smith
