LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.828286, Longitude: 2.701410
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.
Visiting Information
ARRIVAL
Routes to the cemetery are signposted. The Visitor Centre Car Park is also signposted.
The main entrance is a red brick and white stone memorial archway at the side of the main road, Boescheepseweg.
There is a paved footpath alongside the road in front of the cemetery, with a low steel wall on the roadside. The pathway provides access to the cemetery from the car park, located behind the visitor centre, a distance of approximately 275 metres. The pathways are level and paved the entire length.
PARKING
There is a large car park located behind the Visitor’s Centre. Step-free access to the cemetery is possible via a side entrance near the car park.
It is not possible to park in front of the main entrance of the cemetery.
ACCESS, LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE
The cemetery is rectangular in shape with the front wall of the cemetery (southeastern) along the main road, the northeast wall along the boundary road adjacent to the Visitor Centre, the southwest boundary alongside the access road for the cemetery base site (staff building), and the northwest boundary along the rear of the site.
The main entrance building is adjacent to the main road at the southern end of the cemetery. There is a small gravel topped area in front of 9 stone steps that lead up to a large arched metal gate.
The tall metal gates are over 2 metres tall and open outwards. The right-side gate leaf is normally open, allowing a clear space of 1 metre.
The paving inside the entrance building is level with the grass as you enter the cemetery. On either side of the main entrance are two side rooms. It is possible to access the cemetery from these two rooms into the cemetery. There are doorways at either end of the building which lead onto stone platforms. 2 steps lead down from the platforms into the cemetery.
The Cross of Sacrifice is in the eastern corner of the cemetery built into the to the end of the perimeter wall along the main road. The Cross is on an elevated platform which is accessible by climbing five steps up onto a paved level platform.
The Stone of Remembrance is located opposite the main entrance, approximately forty metres from the entrance, in line with the memorial shelter building, midway along the southwest boundary of the cemetery near the staff building.
The shelter building, located along the southwest side of the cemetery, is accessed by climbing 4 steps up to the interior, between two stone columns. There is a stone bench along the back wall of the shelter.
The Register Box is located inside the main entrance building, on the left side of the main entrance.
There are multiple timber bench seating areas within the cemetery.
All internal paths are grass, the ground is firm but can be undulating in places.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS
There is an additional entrance into the cemetery close to the Visitor Centre car park. A paved road runs alongside the boundary wall of the cemetery, adjacent to the Visitor Centre. Access to the paved road is from the pathway that leads to the main road from the Visitor Centre. Follow the paved road from the Cross of Sacrifice, along the outside wall of the cemetery to the gate midway along the boundary.
There is a 2.0 metre wide, waist-high double gate at the midpoint of the cemetery wall. The right-side leaf is latched and opens inwards directly into the cemetery. The left side leaf can also be opened if required. The is a vertical handle at the bottom of the gate.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The cemetery is permanently open.
The Visitor Centre is open daily from 0900 hrs to 1800 hrs. There are toilets available in the Visitor Centre
Please note, in some rows there are two headstones per grave, which can cause confusion when counting headstones to find a grave. If a headstone is not found by counting headstones, then we suggest continuing to look further along the row as for instance, the headstone for grave 10 could be 19th or 20th headstone in the row.
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.
Total Burials: 10,786.
Commonwealth Identified Burials: United Kingdom 7,366, Australia 1,131, Canada 1,058, New Zealand 291, South Africa 28, India 3. Total 9,877.
Commonwealth Unidentified Burials: 24.
Other Burials: 883.
Non World War Burial: 1.
The cemetery, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Arthur James Scott Hutton and is the second largest Commonwealth cemetery in Belgium.
Images in gallery below © Thierry Grier
Second Lieutenant
Horace George Cecil Bowden
45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Killed in action during aerial combat over Ypres on 11th March 1917, aged 20.
Plot X. A. 14.
Son of Ada Crouch Bowden, of 55, Ladbroke Rd., Red Hill, Surrey, and the late George Henry Bowden. Native of Reigate, Surrey.
Horace George Cecil Bowden
45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Killed in action during aerial combat over Ypres on 11th March 1917, aged 20.
Plot X. A. 14.
Son of Ada Crouch Bowden, of 55, Ladbroke Rd., Red Hill, Surrey, and the late George Henry Bowden. Native of Reigate, Surrey.
Second Lieutenant
Denys Edward Greenhow
Observer in 45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
6th March 1917, aged 19.
Row X. A. 12.
Son of the Rev. Edward Henry and Gertrude Mary Petch Greenhow, of 85, Royal Parade, Eastbourne. Born at Chideock, Bridport, Dorset. Educated at Lancing College.
His headstone bears the inscription "Now God Be Thanked Who Has Match'd Him With His Hour"
Killed flying as observer in a Sopwith Strutter, piloted by Captain JE Mackay. They were returning to base with slight engine trouble when they encountered 5 enemy aircraft over the Houlthust Forest. During the fight Denys Greenhow was wounded. 'I am hit' he said to his pilot and McKay flew for home. 'Is it bad' he was asked and the reply was 'Yes, I am afraid it is'. He did not speak again. They were forced down at Abeele; Mackay survived but Denys Greenhow died of his wounds.
His brother, Lieutenant Maurice Wyvil Greenhow OL was also an Observer in the Royal Flying Corps (8 Squadron). Taken Prisoner of War when he was shot down on 25th September 1915, he survived the war and was repatriated on 18th November 1918.
Denys Edward Greenhow
Observer in 45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
6th March 1917, aged 19.
Row X. A. 12.
Son of the Rev. Edward Henry and Gertrude Mary Petch Greenhow, of 85, Royal Parade, Eastbourne. Born at Chideock, Bridport, Dorset. Educated at Lancing College.
His headstone bears the inscription "Now God Be Thanked Who Has Match'd Him With His Hour"
Killed flying as observer in a Sopwith Strutter, piloted by Captain JE Mackay. They were returning to base with slight engine trouble when they encountered 5 enemy aircraft over the Houlthust Forest. During the fight Denys Greenhow was wounded. 'I am hit' he said to his pilot and McKay flew for home. 'Is it bad' he was asked and the reply was 'Yes, I am afraid it is'. He did not speak again. They were forced down at Abeele; Mackay survived but Denys Greenhow died of his wounds.
His brother, Lieutenant Maurice Wyvil Greenhow OL was also an Observer in the Royal Flying Corps (8 Squadron). Taken Prisoner of War when he was shot down on 25th September 1915, he survived the war and was repatriated on 18th November 1918.
Captain
The Honourable Eric Fox Pitt Lubbock, M. C. & Mentioned in Despatches
45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
11th March 1917, aged 23.
Plot X. A. 13.
Son of the late Lord Avebury and Lady Avebury.
His brother The Honourable Harold Fox Pitt Lubbock also fell. He served in the 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards and was 29 when he died on 4th April 1918, leaving a widow, Dorothy C. Lubbock, of High Elms, Farnborough, Kent. He had also served in Gallipoli and Palestine as a Captain in the West Kent Yeomanry. He is buried in Boisleux-au-Mont Communal Cemetery in France
His headstone bears the inscription "No Work Begun Shall Ever Pause For Death"
The Honourable Eric Fox Pitt Lubbock, M. C. & Mentioned in Despatches
45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
11th March 1917, aged 23.
Plot X. A. 13.
Son of the late Lord Avebury and Lady Avebury.
His brother The Honourable Harold Fox Pitt Lubbock also fell. He served in the 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards and was 29 when he died on 4th April 1918, leaving a widow, Dorothy C. Lubbock, of High Elms, Farnborough, Kent. He had also served in Gallipoli and Palestine as a Captain in the West Kent Yeomanry. He is buried in Boisleux-au-Mont Communal Cemetery in France
His headstone bears the inscription "No Work Begun Shall Ever Pause For Death"
Second Lieutenant Douglas Baptist Stevenson, 45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and attached to Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, died 11th March 1917, aged 21. Plot X. A. 15. Son of Alex. and Louie Stevenson, of 4, Vanbrugh Park Rd. West, Blackheath, London. Born Colombo, Ceylon. Educated, Christ's Hospital and King's College, London. His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Breaks And The Shadows Flee Away"
Lieutenant John Thompson, 45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, died 11th March 1917. Plot X. A. 16. Shot down as observer, in Sopwith Strutter (A1082), with Captain Eric Fox Pitt Lubbock, (above) by Lieutenant Paul Strahle of Jasta 18.
Lieutenant John Thompson, 45th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, died 11th March 1917. Plot X. A. 16. Shot down as observer, in Sopwith Strutter (A1082), with Captain Eric Fox Pitt Lubbock, (above) by Lieutenant Paul Strahle of Jasta 18.
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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.
His headstone bears the inscription "Our Dearly Loved Son And Brother Called To Higher Service"
Frederick Tubb was born at 'St Helena' Longwood on 28 November 1881. Educated at East Longwood State School, he left to manage his father's property and become a grazier in his own right. He was active in the community, being secretary to the local Mechanics' Institute and a member of the gun and tennis clubs. An excellent horseman, Tubb served in the Victorian Mounted Rifles, the Australian Light Horse and the 60th (Princes Hill) Infantry Regiment. His interest in the military continued when he joined the 58th Infantry Regiment (Essendon Rifles) in 1913, in which he held a commission as second lieutenant at the outbreak of the First World War.
Tubb enlisted in the AIF on 24 August 1914, only 20 days after the proclamation of war, and was posted as a second lieutenant to the 7th Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Harold 'Pompey' Elliott. He was promoted lieutenant on 3 February 1915 and captain on 6 August, three days before the action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Due to wounds he received in the battle, Tubb was invalided to England and took no further part in the Gallipoli campaign. While recuperating, further surgery was required to remove his appendix on 27 December. Physically weak due to effects of the wounds and exacerbated by the surgery, Tubb was sent to Australia to convalesce in March 1916. When asked by reporters on his return to describe his Victoria Cross action he replied 'I did not do a darned thing, when you consider what 6000 other fellows did but they did not survive that terrible four days and I did'. He left Australia in early October and rejoined his battalion, now in France, on 10 December.
Tubb was promoted to the rank of major in February 1917. In June, he again became ill and was invalided to England, rejoining his unit on 7 August. On the 20th of the following month the battalion took part in the fighting around Passchendaele. Near Polygon Wood, Tubb's company seized nine pillboxes only to come under allied shelling when the supporting artillery barrage fell short. Tubb was mortally wounded by one of the shells and died later that evening.
Major Frederick Tubb is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery near Poperinge, Belgium. His original cross was erected by his brothers, Lieutenant Arthur Oswald Tubb, Sapper Alfred Charles Tubb and Captain Frank Reid Tubb. Frank Tubb also served in the 7th Battalion, being awarded a Military Cross in fighting around Pozieres in August 1916.
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.
Headstone
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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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
Nurses outside a French Hospital, Remy Siding. © IWM Q 51881
French Motor Ambulance Convoy, near Remy Siding, 1915. © IWM Q 51895
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Archive Pictures
(Click to enlarge)
King George V conversing with officers at a Casualty Clearing Station at Remy, 14th August 1916. © IWM (Q 978)
Exterior of an YMCA hut at Remy, May 1917. © IWM Q 5393B
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery c.1919. © Jeremy Gordon-Smith
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery c.1919. © Jeremy Gordon-Smith
Wooden cross from the grave of Sergeant H Lewis Burt Sergeant Burt was first wounded in April 1915 while serving with the Motor Machine Gun Service. He transferred to the Tank Corps and on 22 August 1917 was wounded during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). He died two days later at No 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery near Ypres. He now lies in plot XVIII. D. 17A. © IWM (EPH 950)
H.M. the King at a Casualty Clearing Station at Remy near Reningelst, 14th August 1916. With him is Surgeon-General Porter. Note Red Cross in coloured stones on the ground for the information of aircraft. © IWM (Q 1020)
Image provided by Nicholas Philpot
c.1917; A simple wooden cross marks the graves of 2857 Private (Pte) Leslie Victor Brooks, 3rd Battalion AIF and 13892 Pte F C Davies, Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding Regiment) 10th Battalion, at Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Belgium. Pte Brooks, a clerk of Petersham, NSW, enlisted on 13 August 1915 and sailed with the 6th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Euripdes on 2 November 1915. He died of wounds on 21 September 1917, aged 23.
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c.1917; Grave cross of 6365 Private Cecil Percy Mallett, 'A' Company, 18th Battalion, A. I. F. Pte Mallett, of Burwood, NSW, was serving with the 40th Infantry when he enlisted in the AIF on 30 October 1916. He embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT A29 Suevic on 11 November 1916. He was wounded in the leg by either shrapnel or bullets and was taken to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station, near Zonnebeke, Belgium, by the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance. He died on admission on 5 October 1917, aged 22.
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1920's image of the headstone of 2824 Sergeant Joseph Church Daley, 56th Australian Infantry Battalion which is located in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
A clerk from Bexley, NSW, Sgt Daley enlisted on 18 July 1915 and joined the 4th Battalion. Transferred to the 56th Battalion, Daley arrived on the Western Front on 29th June 1916 and after receiving various promotions, was wounded and eventually died of his wounds on the 30th September 1917 at the 10th Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium.
