MÉTEREN MILITARY CEMETERY
Nord
France
Location Information
Méteren is a village 17.5 kilometres south-west of Ieper (Belgium) and 3 kilometres west of Bailleul on the main road to Cassel.
When heading through the village towards Bailleul from Cassel, turn left along D18 opposite the Mairie. Méteren Military cemetery is 200 metres further up this road on the left hand side and is situated to the rear of the civil cemetery.
Historical Information
Meteren was occupied by German forces early in October 1914 and on 13 October, their entrenched positions covering the village were captured by the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division. The village then remained in Allied hands until the German offensive of April 1918. The 33rd Division held it against heavy German attacks on 13 April, but it was lost on the 16th. The sector was then taken over by French troops for a time, but on 19 July, the 9th (Scottish) Division (2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and South African Composite Battalion) recovered the site of the village after a fortnight's bombardment which completely destroyed the houses.
The cemetery was made in 1919 by the French authorities, who brought in Commonwealth, French and German graves from the neighbouring battlefields and from other cemeteries, which included the following:-
BERTHEN CHURCHYARD, in which 13 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom, two soldiers from Canada, and one soldier from Newfoundland were buried (by Field Ambulances or fighting units) in 1916 and 1918.
LE ROUKLOSHILLE MILITARY CEMETERY, METEREN, a little South of the hamlet of Le Roukloshille, between Meteren and Godewaersvelde. Here, in April-August 1918, 38 soldiers from Australia, 26 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and one French soldier were buried by fighting units.
METEREN CHURCHYARD, in which 11 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried (one in 1914 and the others in 1917) by Field Ambulances or fighting units.
MONT-DES-CATS BRITISH AND INDIAN CEMETERIES, GODEWAERSVELDE, a quarter of a mile South-East of the gates of the Trappist monastery. The hill was captured on the 12th October 1914, by the 4th Hussars, the 5th and 16th Lancers and "D" Battery, R.H.A. Two small graveyards were made in April 1915, one containing the graves of nine soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from Canada, and the other those of 16 soldiers from India. Six other British soldiers, buried within the Monastery, have also been reinterred in Meteren Military Cemetery.
The German and some of the French graves have since been removed to other cemeteries.
Meteren Military Cemetery now contains 768 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 180 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to five casualties believed to be buried among them. There are also special memorials to one soldier buried in Meteren Churchyard, and one Indian soldier buried in Mont-des-Cats Indian Cemetery, whose graves were destroyed in later fighting. There are also 69 French burials here.
Casualty Details: UK 587, Canada 7, Australia 104, New Zealand 22, South Africa 31, India 17, France 69, Total Burials: 837
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Dedications
61230 Private Thomas W. Miatt, 1st Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 14th April 1918, aged 19.
Son of Christopher and Mary Amelia Miatt. Beloved brother of Dora Catherine Miatt (Looms)
Remembered by Suzanne Loom
Méteren is a village 17.5 kilometres south-west of Ieper (Belgium) and 3 kilometres west of Bailleul on the main road to Cassel.
When heading through the village towards Bailleul from Cassel, turn left along D18 opposite the Mairie. Méteren Military cemetery is 200 metres further up this road on the left hand side and is situated to the rear of the civil cemetery.
Historical Information
Meteren was occupied by German forces early in October 1914 and on 13 October, their entrenched positions covering the village were captured by the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division. The village then remained in Allied hands until the German offensive of April 1918. The 33rd Division held it against heavy German attacks on 13 April, but it was lost on the 16th. The sector was then taken over by French troops for a time, but on 19 July, the 9th (Scottish) Division (2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and South African Composite Battalion) recovered the site of the village after a fortnight's bombardment which completely destroyed the houses.
The cemetery was made in 1919 by the French authorities, who brought in Commonwealth, French and German graves from the neighbouring battlefields and from other cemeteries, which included the following:-
BERTHEN CHURCHYARD, in which 13 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom, two soldiers from Canada, and one soldier from Newfoundland were buried (by Field Ambulances or fighting units) in 1916 and 1918.
LE ROUKLOSHILLE MILITARY CEMETERY, METEREN, a little South of the hamlet of Le Roukloshille, between Meteren and Godewaersvelde. Here, in April-August 1918, 38 soldiers from Australia, 26 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and one French soldier were buried by fighting units.
METEREN CHURCHYARD, in which 11 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried (one in 1914 and the others in 1917) by Field Ambulances or fighting units.
MONT-DES-CATS BRITISH AND INDIAN CEMETERIES, GODEWAERSVELDE, a quarter of a mile South-East of the gates of the Trappist monastery. The hill was captured on the 12th October 1914, by the 4th Hussars, the 5th and 16th Lancers and "D" Battery, R.H.A. Two small graveyards were made in April 1915, one containing the graves of nine soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from Canada, and the other those of 16 soldiers from India. Six other British soldiers, buried within the Monastery, have also been reinterred in Meteren Military Cemetery.
The German and some of the French graves have since been removed to other cemeteries.
Meteren Military Cemetery now contains 768 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 180 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to five casualties believed to be buried among them. There are also special memorials to one soldier buried in Meteren Churchyard, and one Indian soldier buried in Mont-des-Cats Indian Cemetery, whose graves were destroyed in later fighting. There are also 69 French burials here.
Casualty Details: UK 587, Canada 7, Australia 104, New Zealand 22, South Africa 31, India 17, France 69, Total Burials: 837
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker
Dedications
61230 Private Thomas W. Miatt, 1st Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 14th April 1918, aged 19.
Son of Christopher and Mary Amelia Miatt. Beloved brother of Dora Catherine Miatt (Looms)
Remembered by Suzanne Loom
2783 Private
Clifford Harold Archibald
10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
24th April 1918.
Plot II. L. 303.
Son of David Black Archibald and Emma Archibald, of 16, Tudor St., Victoria Park, Western Australia. Native of Adelaide, South Australia.
7068 Private H. G. Spooner later gave these details of the death of Clifford Archibald;
"This was at Meteren, during the first attack and we had to withdraw owing to very heavy M. G. (Machine Gun) fire from strongly fortified farm houses. i did not actually see him killed but his mate, F. Fry of B Coy., told me he was hit by a M. G. bullet in the forehead and died instantly at 1.30 during the full moon. We had gone over to raid the farm houses. He was brought in by Stretcher Bearers Jack Edwards and Tom Lower but was then dead."
Clifford Harold Archibald
10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
24th April 1918.
Plot II. L. 303.
Son of David Black Archibald and Emma Archibald, of 16, Tudor St., Victoria Park, Western Australia. Native of Adelaide, South Australia.
7068 Private H. G. Spooner later gave these details of the death of Clifford Archibald;
"This was at Meteren, during the first attack and we had to withdraw owing to very heavy M. G. (Machine Gun) fire from strongly fortified farm houses. i did not actually see him killed but his mate, F. Fry of B Coy., told me he was hit by a M. G. bullet in the forehead and died instantly at 1.30 during the full moon. We had gone over to raid the farm houses. He was brought in by Stretcher Bearers Jack Edwards and Tom Lower but was then dead."
45976 Private
Edwin Bennett 3rd Bn. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F. 16th April 1918, aged 20. Plot II. M. 324. Son of E. W. C. N. Bennett, of Taradale, Napier, New Zealand. |
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5987 Private
Arthur Stewart Munro Bridson
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
24th April 1918, aged 27.
Plot III. F. 707.
Son of George and Mary Eunice Bridson. Native of Beaudesert, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Lord Hath Given The Lord Hath Taken Away."
Arthur Stewart Munro Bridson
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
24th April 1918, aged 27.
Plot III. F. 707.
Son of George and Mary Eunice Bridson. Native of Beaudesert, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "The Lord Hath Given The Lord Hath Taken Away."
6537 Private
Harold Vincent Brightwell
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
25th April 1918, aged 27.
Plot V. E. 697.
Son of George and Eugenie Brightwell, of Maroomba, Chowey, Queensland. Native of Brisbane, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Answered The Call, A Son Father And Mother Were Proud Of."
From Deligbo, Qld. A carpenter prior to enlistment, Pte Brightwell embarked with the 21st Reinforcements from Brisbane on HMAT Boonah on 21st October 1916. He received a gun shot wound to the face on 7th May 1917, returning to his battalion on 22nd June 1917 after treatment at Le Treport. He was killed in action on 25th April 1918.
5442 Private Edward O'Keefe gave the following description of the incident in which Harold Brightwell died:
"I saw Brightwell die in our trenches close to Meteren on April 25/18. He was just going to fire at a German when a ricochet bullet hit the ground in front of him and he just rolled over, dead. The bullet does not seem to have struck him as there was no mark on his body...It is supposed he died of heart failure."
Harold Vincent Brightwell
9th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
25th April 1918, aged 27.
Plot V. E. 697.
Son of George and Eugenie Brightwell, of Maroomba, Chowey, Queensland. Native of Brisbane, Queensland.
His headstone bears the inscription; "He Answered The Call, A Son Father And Mother Were Proud Of."
From Deligbo, Qld. A carpenter prior to enlistment, Pte Brightwell embarked with the 21st Reinforcements from Brisbane on HMAT Boonah on 21st October 1916. He received a gun shot wound to the face on 7th May 1917, returning to his battalion on 22nd June 1917 after treatment at Le Treport. He was killed in action on 25th April 1918.
5442 Private Edward O'Keefe gave the following description of the incident in which Harold Brightwell died:
"I saw Brightwell die in our trenches close to Meteren on April 25/18. He was just going to fire at a German when a ricochet bullet hit the ground in front of him and he just rolled over, dead. The bullet does not seem to have struck him as there was no mark on his body...It is supposed he died of heart failure."
Captain
Harry Ronald Collier, M. C.
1st Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
17th April 1918, aged 26.
Plot IV. J. 827.
Son of Alfred and Mattie Collier, of Nicholson St., Healesville, Victoria, Australia. Native of Melbourne, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "I Give Them Eternal Life And They Shall Never Perish." (John 10:28)
Harry Ronald Collier, M. C.
1st Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
17th April 1918, aged 26.
Plot IV. J. 827.
Son of Alfred and Mattie Collier, of Nicholson St., Healesville, Victoria, Australia. Native of Melbourne, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription; "I Give Them Eternal Life And They Shall Never Perish." (John 10:28)
Second Lieutenant
William Henry Field Flowers
1st/5th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
15th April 1918, aged 26.
Plot IV. H. 790.
Son of the Rev. J. F. and Mrs. Flowers, of Trent Farm, Nokomis, Saskatchewan. Native of Bonby, Lincs, England. Served as Private with 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles. 1914-1917.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Hope."
William Henry Field Flowers
1st/5th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
15th April 1918, aged 26.
Plot IV. H. 790.
Son of the Rev. J. F. and Mrs. Flowers, of Trent Farm, Nokomis, Saskatchewan. Native of Bonby, Lincs, England. Served as Private with 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles. 1914-1917.
His headstone bears the inscription; "In Hope."
14090 Private
Bertie Foster
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
19th April 1918.
Plot IV. D. 645.
Son of Mrs Teresa Foster, Karamea, via Westport, New Zealand
Bertie Foster
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
19th April 1918.
Plot IV. D. 645.
Son of Mrs Teresa Foster, Karamea, via Westport, New Zealand
2814/A Private
Roy Emanuel Fowler
1st Bn. Australian Machine Gun Corps
27th May 1918, aged 24.
Plot II. N. 347.
Son of Emanuel and Mary Jane Fowler, of Church St., Carlingford, New South Wales. Native of Parkes, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Till We Meet."
From Parramatta, NSW. A farmer prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Benalla (A24) on 9 November 1916. He was killed in action on 27 May 1918 during operations near Meteren, France, aged 24.
Roy Emanuel Fowler
1st Bn. Australian Machine Gun Corps
27th May 1918, aged 24.
Plot II. N. 347.
Son of Emanuel and Mary Jane Fowler, of Church St., Carlingford, New South Wales. Native of Parkes, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Till We Meet."
From Parramatta, NSW. A farmer prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Benalla (A24) on 9 November 1916. He was killed in action on 27 May 1918 during operations near Meteren, France, aged 24.
Meteren, France. c. 1917. The battlefield on which the Australian, British and German Armies fought.
16141 Private
John Gillespie
4th Regt. South African Infantry
12th July 1918, aged 33.
Plot I. A. 51.
Husband of Mary Gillespie, of 60, Watson St., Aberdeen.
John Gillespie
4th Regt. South African Infantry
12th July 1918, aged 33.
Plot I. A. 51.
Husband of Mary Gillespie, of 60, Watson St., Aberdeen.
30205 Lance Serjeant
Herbert John Hallam
3rd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
18th April 1918, aged 21.
Plot I. E. 139.
Son of David and Delilah Hallam.
Herbert John Hallam
3rd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
18th April 1918, aged 21.
Plot I. E. 139.
Son of David and Delilah Hallam.
Meteren, France. c. 1918. 11th Bn. Royal Scots about to embark on a daylight raid removing their personal belongings, pay books and identity discs.
4640 Corporal
John Mott Marion, M. M.
10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
24th April 1918, aged 25.
Plot I. L. 284.
Son of Charles and Sarah Marion, of Millicent, South Australia.
His headstone beards the inscription; "In Memory Of The Dearly Loved Son Of Mrs. S. Marion Millicent, S.A."
7282 Private Rowe later recalled the attack from which Jack Marion did not return §;
"I knew him from being in the battalion. He was an oldish man and tall and particularly dark with black hair and was a corporal and M. M. (Military Medal).On April 24th we were on the left of Meteren, about 1.30 in the morning, we attacked and got about 300-400 yards. When we got there we had to retire and Marion went out to find some men who were missing and never returned. After daylight the Germans were over the ground stripping the dead of their equipment, so it is quite impossible to say whether he is dead or a prisoner. It was never possible to search the ground properly as it was under constant fire."
6817 Private J. Rice added;
"I knew Marion, he was buried in the 3rd Brigade H. Q. Cemetery about 200 yards from Fletre; the third grave from Sergeant Robinson. I took the disc off his neck and knew it to be the man known as 'Jackie Marion' of D Coy."
Sergeant Francis Robinson is buried in the same cemetery as Jack Marion but no longer 3 graves away as Private Rice said at the time. He is now buried in Plot V. F. 735.
John Mott Marion, M. M.
10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
24th April 1918, aged 25.
Plot I. L. 284.
Son of Charles and Sarah Marion, of Millicent, South Australia.
His headstone beards the inscription; "In Memory Of The Dearly Loved Son Of Mrs. S. Marion Millicent, S.A."
7282 Private Rowe later recalled the attack from which Jack Marion did not return §;
"I knew him from being in the battalion. He was an oldish man and tall and particularly dark with black hair and was a corporal and M. M. (Military Medal).On April 24th we were on the left of Meteren, about 1.30 in the morning, we attacked and got about 300-400 yards. When we got there we had to retire and Marion went out to find some men who were missing and never returned. After daylight the Germans were over the ground stripping the dead of their equipment, so it is quite impossible to say whether he is dead or a prisoner. It was never possible to search the ground properly as it was under constant fire."
6817 Private J. Rice added;
"I knew Marion, he was buried in the 3rd Brigade H. Q. Cemetery about 200 yards from Fletre; the third grave from Sergeant Robinson. I took the disc off his neck and knew it to be the man known as 'Jackie Marion' of D Coy."
Sergeant Francis Robinson is buried in the same cemetery as Jack Marion but no longer 3 graves away as Private Rice said at the time. He is now buried in Plot V. F. 735.
44069 Private
Charles Edward Mayo
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
14th April 1918.
Plot III. D. 633.
Charles Edward Mayo
2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
14th April 1918.
Plot III. D. 633.
12th Battalion Royal Scots manning the lip of a mine crater at Meteren, 23 June 1918. © IWM (Q 6736)
Second Lieutenant
Arthur Molesworth Samuels
1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
13th October 1914, aged 25.
Plot I. A. 44.
Son of the late Lt. Col. William Frederick Samuels, A.M.S. and Althea Samuels, of Kingstown, Co. Dublin.
Arthur Molesworth Samuels
1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
13th October 1914, aged 25.
Plot I. A. 44.
Son of the late Lt. Col. William Frederick Samuels, A.M.S. and Althea Samuels, of Kingstown, Co. Dublin.
41368 Rifleman
Edmund Smeed
1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
19th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot IV. D. 648.
Son of Thomas and Edith Smeed.
Edmund Smeed
1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
19th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot IV. D. 648.
Son of Thomas and Edith Smeed.
S/16972 Lance Corporal
Colin Alexander Smith
"B" Coy. 7th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
28th June 1918, aged 39.
Plot V. B. 592.
Son of Malcolm Smith, of Sheildenish, Lochs; husband of Colina Smith, of 27, Balallan, Lochs, Stornaway.
Colin Alexander Smith
"B" Coy. 7th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
28th June 1918, aged 39.
Plot V. B. 592.
Son of Malcolm Smith, of Sheildenish, Lochs; husband of Colina Smith, of 27, Balallan, Lochs, Stornaway.
23258 Private
John Symons
2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion, N.Z.E.F.
13th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot II. E. 160.
Son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Symons, of England. Born in New Zealand.
John Symons
2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion, N.Z.E.F.
13th April 1918, aged 23.
Plot II. E. 160.
Son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Symons, of England. Born in New Zealand.
34947 Private
William Peter Taylor
3rd Bn. Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
14th April 1918, aged 22.
Plot II. M. 327.
Son of Simon and Helen Taylor, of Kia Ora, Oamaru, New Zealand.
William Peter Taylor
3rd Bn. Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
14th April 1918, aged 22.
Plot II. M. 327.
Son of Simon and Helen Taylor, of Kia Ora, Oamaru, New Zealand.
53291 Private
Robert William Weir
2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion, N.Z.E.F.
17th April 1918.
Plot V. A. 562.
Robert William Weir
2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion, N.Z.E.F.
17th April 1918.
Plot V. A. 562.
Original grave of 4 soldiers of the Seaforth Highlanders at Meteren. These soldiers, along with another 5 members of the same regiment are now buried in a collective grave (163-170) at Meteren Military Cemetery. Within the grave are: Pte. T. Potter, Pte. J. Alexander, Private I. J. Shortman, Sgt. J. Murray, Pte. W. Chalmers, Pte. J. Smellie, Pte. R. Hastie, Pte. D. Swanson and Pte. W. Innes. There are actually 9 burials in this grave, one (T. Potter) is listed on the casualty return as 169A.
