NINE ELMS BRITISH CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.85095 Longitude: 2.69701
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Location Information
Nine Elms British Cemetery is located west of Poperinge on the Helleketelweg, a road leading from the N33 Poperinge ring road.
From Ieper follow the signs to Poperinge. At the traffic lights at the end of the expressway turn left onto the Poperinge ring road, the Europalaan. Follow the ring road to the roundabout and take the second exit. At the next roundabout take the second exit, follow the ring road and take the first turning on the left, the Helleketelweg. The cemetery is along here on the left.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access with some difficulty.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun and used by the 3rd Australian and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations when they moved to Poperinghe (now Poperinge), from Brandhoek and Lijssenthoek respectively, in September 1917. Nearly all the burials in Plots I to IX came from these Casualty Clearing Stations, whilst they operated in this area during the 1917 Battle of Ypres, up until December 1917.
Plots X, XI, XIII, XIV and XV cover the dates between the beginning of March, 1918 and the 12th October, 1918, the period of the German offensive in Flanders, the British counter attacks and the final advance of August-September. The burials in these cases were carried out almost entirely by fighting units.
The cemetery contains 1,556 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 37 German war graves from this period. There are also 22 Second World War burials in the cemetery, all dating from the Allied retreat to Dunkirk in 1940.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, M. C.
Total Burials: 1,615.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 960, Canada 299, Australia 150, New Zealand 117, Germany 37, South Africa 26, Canada 1. Total 1,590.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 20. Total 20.
Dedications
3462 Private Hugh Currie, 1st Bn., Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 4th March 1918, aged 36. Plot XIII. F. 10. Son of Alexander and Amelia Currie, of Ayrshire; husband of Alice Currie, of 63, Commercial Road, South Side, Glasgow.
Submitted by his great-granddaughter, Patricia Tennent
An Auckland officer placing a wreath, puchased by his company, on the grave of Lieutenant W. P. Richards. Taken near Abeele, Belgium, 6 February 1918 by Henry Armytage Sanders. The image is actually Nine Elms British Cemetery and Lt W. P. Richards is now buried in Plot III. A. 10. Courtesy - Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
French women employed in an Army laundry, hanging out soldiers' shirts to dry at Poperinghe, 30 September 1917. © IWM Q 2919
19143 Private
Horace Gordon Brookes
"B" Coy. 7th Bn. The Buffs, (East Kent Regiment)
30th September 1917, aged 20.
Plot II. F. 7.
Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Brookes, of Enfield, Middx.
Picture courtesy of Peter Jones
Horace Gordon Brookes
"B" Coy. 7th Bn. The Buffs, (East Kent Regiment)
30th September 1917, aged 20.
Plot II. F. 7.
Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Brookes, of Enfield, Middx.
Picture courtesy of Peter Jones
881 Private
Edwin James Gale
43rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st October 1917, aged 29.
Plot V. C. 5.
Son of Elizabeth and the late Henry Gale, of Yacka, South Australia.
His brother Samuel also died and is buried at Kandahar Farm Cemetery
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Wayne Eberhard
Edwin James Gale
43rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
21st October 1917, aged 29.
Plot V. C. 5.
Son of Elizabeth and the late Henry Gale, of Yacka, South Australia.
His brother Samuel also died and is buried at Kandahar Farm Cemetery
Picture courtesy of great nephew, Wayne Eberhard
Captain
Charles Robinson, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
15th July 1918, aged 26.
Plot XV. A. 1.
Son of Robert J. and Mary Robinson, of the Avenue, Scholes, Leeds.
Charles Robinson, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
15th July 1918, aged 26.
Plot XV. A. 1.
Son of Robert J. and Mary Robinson, of the Avenue, Scholes, Leeds.
Troops collecting in Poperinghe to go on leave, 30th September 1917. Many are waving their leave papers. © IWM Q 3095
Pictures in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Mule-drawn column of the Royal Artillery passing through Poperinghe towards the front, 22 February 1918. © IWM Q 10270
Shot at Dawn
265427 Private, John McFarlane, 4th Bn. King's Liverpool Regiment, executed for desertion, 22nd May 1918, aged 27. Plot XI. A. 2. Son of William and Margaret McFarlane, of 14, Gerard Street, Byrom Street, Liverpool. The sixth & last soldier from his regiment to be executed. (Putkowski,p 245)
11682 Private Joseph Nisbet, 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regiment, executed for desertion, 23rd August 1918. Plot XV. C. 21. During 4 years’ service, he was convicted of violence, & also of disobedience, for which he was sentenced to death. In the summer of 1918, he reported sick when his battalion was warned for the front line, but he failed to attend the next sick parade, & absconded, being arrested — without his equipment — at Calais 3 days later. (Putkowski, p 255)
265427 Private, John McFarlane, 4th Bn. King's Liverpool Regiment, executed for desertion, 22nd May 1918, aged 27. Plot XI. A. 2. Son of William and Margaret McFarlane, of 14, Gerard Street, Byrom Street, Liverpool. The sixth & last soldier from his regiment to be executed. (Putkowski,p 245)
11682 Private Joseph Nisbet, 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regiment, executed for desertion, 23rd August 1918. Plot XV. C. 21. During 4 years’ service, he was convicted of violence, & also of disobedience, for which he was sentenced to death. In the summer of 1918, he reported sick when his battalion was warned for the front line, but he failed to attend the next sick parade, & absconded, being arrested — without his equipment — at Calais 3 days later. (Putkowski, p 255)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Canadian troops being issued with a tea ration from their field kitchen; near Poperinghe, 14th June 1916. They wearing captured German headware - feldmutzen and stahlhelms. The soldier in the foreground created a little peak of sand on the top of his helmet to imitate a pickelhaube. © IWM Q 703
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Tank officers relaxing around a gramophone player with their pet dog, in camp at Poperinghe, 26 September 1917. © IWM Q 2897
Pontoon waggon on the Ypres-Poperinghe Road, October 1916. © IWM Q 1602
