PERTH CEMETERY (CHINA WALL)
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.84213 Longitude: 2.92075
Picture © Geerhard Joos
Location Information
Perth Cemetery (China Wall) is located 3 Kms east of Ieper town centre, on the Maaldestedestraat, a road leading from the Meenseweg (N8), connecting Ieper to Menen.
From Ieper town centre the Meenseweg is located via Torhoutstraat and right onto Basculestraat. Basculestraat ends at a main cross roads, directly over which begins the Meenseweg.
1.7 Kms along the Meenseweg at a major roundabout lies the right hand turning onto the Maaldestedestraat. The cemetery itself is located 1 Km along the Maaldestedestraat on the left hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun by French troops in November 1914 (the French graves were removed after the Armistice) and adopted by the 2nd Scottish Rifles in June 1917. It was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery. The cemetery was used for front line burials until October 1917 when it occupied about half of the present Plot I and contained 130 graves. It was not used again until after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the battlefields around Ypres and from the following smaller cemeteries:-
BECELAERE GERMAN CEMETERY No.1 (246th RESERVE INFANTRY REGIMENT), close to Becelaere Church, contained about 500 German and two British burials.
BELGIAN CHATEAU CEMETERY, VLAMERTINGHE, in the grounds of a chateau 2 Kms South-West of Ypres. It contained the graves of 12 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 11 from Canada, and one French soldier, dating from 1914 to 1917.
BROODSEINDE GERMAN CEMETERIES, ZONNEBEKE. These contained the graves of 27 British soldiers, who fell mainly in 1914. Broodseinde gave its name to the Battle of the 4th October 1917; and the Memorial of the 7th Division, which fought here in 1914 and 1917, is a little South of the hamlet on the road to Becelaere.
DURHAM CEMETERY, ZILLEBEKE, at the North end of the village, was used from December 1915 to March 1916. It contained the graves of 52 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 39 of whom belonged to Territorial battalions of the Durham Light Infantry.
GARTER POINT CEMETERY, ZONNEBEKE, on the road from Zonnebeke to Westhoek, was used from September 1917 to April 1918, and contained the graves of 19 soldiers from Australia, eight from the United Kingdom, one from New Zealand, three of unknown units, and one German.
GORDON HOUSE CEMETERY No.2, ZILLEBEKE, at Gordon House, contained the graves of 30 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in 1915 and 1917.
HANS KIRCHNER GERMAN CEMETERY, POELCAPELLE, 1.6 Kms South-East of Poelcapelle village, contained the graves of four soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October 1914.
HOUTHULST GERMAN CEMETERY, at the East end of the village, contained the graves of about 1,000 German soldiers and one R.F.C. Officer.
KEERSELAERE WEST GERMAN CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, a little West of the Zonnebeke-Langemarck road, contained the graves of 29 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell mainly in October 1914.
KEERSELAERHOEK GERMAN CEMETERY, PASSCHENDAELE, about 180 metres North-East of Tyne Cot Cemetery, contained the graves of twelve soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from Canada who fell in 1914 and 1915.
LANGEMARCK GERMAN CEMETERY No.7 (also known as TOTENWALDCHEN), 1.6 Kms North-West of the village, contained the graves of four soldiers from the United Kingdom.
LANGEMARCK GERMAN CEMETERY No.8, just beyond the railway on the road to Houthulst, contained the graves of 27 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October 1914.
L'EBBE FARM CEMETERY, POPERINGHE, about 1.6 Kms North-West of the town, contained the graves of 21 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in 1915 and 1918.
MANNEKEN FARM GERMAN CEMETERY No.3, ZARREN, in the South-East part of Houthulst Forest, contained the graves of about 700 Germans and 13 British soldiers who fell in 1917.
MANOR ROAD CEMETERY, ZILLEBEKE, at the railway halt 800 metres South-West of Zillebeke village. It contained the graves of 17 soldiers of the United Kingdom (mainly Royal Field Artillery) who fell in 1917 and 1918.
NACHTIGALL (or ROSSIGNOL, or VIEUX-CHIEN) GERMAN CEMETERY, GHELUVELT, 800 metres North of the Rossignol Cabaret on the Menin Road (near the hamlet of Vieux-Chien), contained the graves of 1,130 German soldiers and 69 from the United Kingdom, most of whom fell in September-October 1915.
POELCAPELLE GERMAN CEMETERY No.2, about 1.6 Kms South-East of the village, contained the graves of 96 soldiers from the United Kingdom and Canada who fell in 1914 and 1915.
POELCAPELLE GERMAN CEMETERY No.3, 800 metres South of the village, contained the graves of 23 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 19 from Canada who fell in 1914 and 1915.
RATION DUMP BURIAL GROUND, ZILLEBEKE, on the road a little South of Gordon House, contained the graves of 28 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly London Scottish and Liverpool Scottish) and one from Canada.
REUTEL GERMAN CEMETERY, BECELAERE, on the North side of the Reutel-Zwaanhoek road, contained a very large number of German graves and 125 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom, two Canadian soldiers and one from New Zealand, who fell in 1914-1917.
ST. JOSEPH GERMAN CEMETERY, HOOGHLEDE, on the North side of the hamlet of Geite or St. Joseph, contained the graves of four airmen from the United Kingdom who fell in 1918.
ST. JULIEN COMMUNAL CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, contained the graves of six soldiers of the 14th Canadian Battalion who fell in April 1915.
ST. JULIEN EAST GERMAN CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, on the Langemarck-Zonnebeke road, contained the graves of 65 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 31 from Canada who fell in October 1914 and April 1915.
SCHREIBOOM GERMAN CEMETERY, 800 metres East of Langemarck village, contained the graves of 34 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October 1914.
TRANSPORT FARM ANNEXE, ZILLEBEKE, 180 metres South of the South-West corner of Zillebeke Lake, and a little East of Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), contained the graves of 27 soldiers from the United Kingdom (16 of whom belonged to the 1st Dorsets) who fell in November 1914-June 1915.
TRENCH RAILWAY CEMETERY, ZILLEBEKE, on the West side of the hamlet of Verbrandenmolen, contained the graves of 21 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in 1915 and 1916.
TREURNIET GERMAN CEMETERY, POELCAPELLE, on the road from Poelcapelle village to the railway station, contained the grave of one Canadian soldier.
WALLEMOLEN GERMAN CEMETERY, PASSCHENDAELE, 180 metres South of the hamlet of Wallemolen, contained the graves of 20 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 15 from Canada who fell in 1915.
WEIDENDREFT GERMAN CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, at Weidendreft Farm, used by the Germans from October 1914 to August 1915, contained the graves of 98 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the Battles of Ypres, 1914.
WESTROOSEBEKE GERMAN CEMETERY No.2, 366 metres North-East of the village on the road to Hooghlede, contained the grave of one R.A.F. Officer who fell in August 1918.
There are now 2,791 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 1,369 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 27 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials bear the names of 104 casualties buried in the cemeteries concentrated here, whose graves could not be found.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and John Reginald Truelove
Total Burials: 2,791.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,214, Australia 128, Canada 56, New Zealand 19, South Africa 7. Total 1,424.
Unidentified Burials: 1,369.
Perth Cemetery (China Wall) is located 3 Kms east of Ieper town centre, on the Maaldestedestraat, a road leading from the Meenseweg (N8), connecting Ieper to Menen.
From Ieper town centre the Meenseweg is located via Torhoutstraat and right onto Basculestraat. Basculestraat ends at a main cross roads, directly over which begins the Meenseweg.
1.7 Kms along the Meenseweg at a major roundabout lies the right hand turning onto the Maaldestedestraat. The cemetery itself is located 1 Km along the Maaldestedestraat on the left hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun by French troops in November 1914 (the French graves were removed after the Armistice) and adopted by the 2nd Scottish Rifles in June 1917. It was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery. The cemetery was used for front line burials until October 1917 when it occupied about half of the present Plot I and contained 130 graves. It was not used again until after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the battlefields around Ypres and from the following smaller cemeteries:-
BECELAERE GERMAN CEMETERY No.1 (246th RESERVE INFANTRY REGIMENT), close to Becelaere Church, contained about 500 German and two British burials.
BELGIAN CHATEAU CEMETERY, VLAMERTINGHE, in the grounds of a chateau 2 Kms South-West of Ypres. It contained the graves of 12 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 11 from Canada, and one French soldier, dating from 1914 to 1917.
BROODSEINDE GERMAN CEMETERIES, ZONNEBEKE. These contained the graves of 27 British soldiers, who fell mainly in 1914. Broodseinde gave its name to the Battle of the 4th October 1917; and the Memorial of the 7th Division, which fought here in 1914 and 1917, is a little South of the hamlet on the road to Becelaere.
DURHAM CEMETERY, ZILLEBEKE, at the North end of the village, was used from December 1915 to March 1916. It contained the graves of 52 soldiers from the United Kingdom, 39 of whom belonged to Territorial battalions of the Durham Light Infantry.
GARTER POINT CEMETERY, ZONNEBEKE, on the road from Zonnebeke to Westhoek, was used from September 1917 to April 1918, and contained the graves of 19 soldiers from Australia, eight from the United Kingdom, one from New Zealand, three of unknown units, and one German.
GORDON HOUSE CEMETERY No.2, ZILLEBEKE, at Gordon House, contained the graves of 30 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in 1915 and 1917.
HANS KIRCHNER GERMAN CEMETERY, POELCAPELLE, 1.6 Kms South-East of Poelcapelle village, contained the graves of four soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October 1914.
HOUTHULST GERMAN CEMETERY, at the East end of the village, contained the graves of about 1,000 German soldiers and one R.F.C. Officer.
KEERSELAERE WEST GERMAN CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, a little West of the Zonnebeke-Langemarck road, contained the graves of 29 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell mainly in October 1914.
KEERSELAERHOEK GERMAN CEMETERY, PASSCHENDAELE, about 180 metres North-East of Tyne Cot Cemetery, contained the graves of twelve soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from Canada who fell in 1914 and 1915.
LANGEMARCK GERMAN CEMETERY No.7 (also known as TOTENWALDCHEN), 1.6 Kms North-West of the village, contained the graves of four soldiers from the United Kingdom.
LANGEMARCK GERMAN CEMETERY No.8, just beyond the railway on the road to Houthulst, contained the graves of 27 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October 1914.
L'EBBE FARM CEMETERY, POPERINGHE, about 1.6 Kms North-West of the town, contained the graves of 21 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in 1915 and 1918.
MANNEKEN FARM GERMAN CEMETERY No.3, ZARREN, in the South-East part of Houthulst Forest, contained the graves of about 700 Germans and 13 British soldiers who fell in 1917.
MANOR ROAD CEMETERY, ZILLEBEKE, at the railway halt 800 metres South-West of Zillebeke village. It contained the graves of 17 soldiers of the United Kingdom (mainly Royal Field Artillery) who fell in 1917 and 1918.
NACHTIGALL (or ROSSIGNOL, or VIEUX-CHIEN) GERMAN CEMETERY, GHELUVELT, 800 metres North of the Rossignol Cabaret on the Menin Road (near the hamlet of Vieux-Chien), contained the graves of 1,130 German soldiers and 69 from the United Kingdom, most of whom fell in September-October 1915.
POELCAPELLE GERMAN CEMETERY No.2, about 1.6 Kms South-East of the village, contained the graves of 96 soldiers from the United Kingdom and Canada who fell in 1914 and 1915.
POELCAPELLE GERMAN CEMETERY No.3, 800 metres South of the village, contained the graves of 23 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 19 from Canada who fell in 1914 and 1915.
RATION DUMP BURIAL GROUND, ZILLEBEKE, on the road a little South of Gordon House, contained the graves of 28 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly London Scottish and Liverpool Scottish) and one from Canada.
REUTEL GERMAN CEMETERY, BECELAERE, on the North side of the Reutel-Zwaanhoek road, contained a very large number of German graves and 125 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom, two Canadian soldiers and one from New Zealand, who fell in 1914-1917.
ST. JOSEPH GERMAN CEMETERY, HOOGHLEDE, on the North side of the hamlet of Geite or St. Joseph, contained the graves of four airmen from the United Kingdom who fell in 1918.
ST. JULIEN COMMUNAL CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, contained the graves of six soldiers of the 14th Canadian Battalion who fell in April 1915.
ST. JULIEN EAST GERMAN CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, on the Langemarck-Zonnebeke road, contained the graves of 65 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 31 from Canada who fell in October 1914 and April 1915.
SCHREIBOOM GERMAN CEMETERY, 800 metres East of Langemarck village, contained the graves of 34 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October 1914.
TRANSPORT FARM ANNEXE, ZILLEBEKE, 180 metres South of the South-West corner of Zillebeke Lake, and a little East of Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), contained the graves of 27 soldiers from the United Kingdom (16 of whom belonged to the 1st Dorsets) who fell in November 1914-June 1915.
TRENCH RAILWAY CEMETERY, ZILLEBEKE, on the West side of the hamlet of Verbrandenmolen, contained the graves of 21 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in 1915 and 1916.
TREURNIET GERMAN CEMETERY, POELCAPELLE, on the road from Poelcapelle village to the railway station, contained the grave of one Canadian soldier.
WALLEMOLEN GERMAN CEMETERY, PASSCHENDAELE, 180 metres South of the hamlet of Wallemolen, contained the graves of 20 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 15 from Canada who fell in 1915.
WEIDENDREFT GERMAN CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, at Weidendreft Farm, used by the Germans from October 1914 to August 1915, contained the graves of 98 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the Battles of Ypres, 1914.
WESTROOSEBEKE GERMAN CEMETERY No.2, 366 metres North-East of the village on the road to Hooghlede, contained the grave of one R.A.F. Officer who fell in August 1918.
There are now 2,791 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 1,369 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 27 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials bear the names of 104 casualties buried in the cemeteries concentrated here, whose graves could not be found.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and John Reginald Truelove
Total Burials: 2,791.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,214, Australia 128, Canada 56, New Zealand 19, South Africa 7. Total 1,424.
Unidentified Burials: 1,369.
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Lieutenant Frederick Birks, V. C. & M. M.
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
21st September 1917, aged 23
Plot I. G. 45,
Son of Samuel and Mary Birks. Born at Buckley, Flintshire, Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That He Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
Citation
An extract from the Third Supplement to "The London Gazette," No. 30372, of 8th November, 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery in attack, when, accompanied by only a corporal, he rushed a strong point which was holding up the advance. The corporal was wounded by a bomb, but 2nd Lt. Birks went on by himself, killed the remainder of the enemy occupying the position, and captured a machine gun. Shortly afterwards he organised a small party and attacked another strong point which was occupied by about twenty-five of the enemy, of whom many were killed and an officer and fifteen men captured. During the consolidation this officer did magnificent work in reorganising parties of other units which had been disorganised during the operations. By his wonderful coolness and personal bravery 2nd Lt. Birks kept his men in splendid spirits throughout. He was killed at his post by a shell whilst endeavouring to extricate some of his men who had been buried by a shell."
Headstone
Image © Geerhard Joos
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Major William Henry Johnston, V. C. & Mentioned in Dispatches.
15th Infantry Brigade, Royal Engineers.
8th June 1915, aged 34,
Plot III. C. 12.
Son of Mary Johnston, of 36, Cathcart Rd., South Kensington, London, and the late Maj. William Johnston.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Souls Of The Righteous Are In The Hand Of God Jesu Mercy"
Citation
An extract from the Supplement to "The London Gazette," No. 28985, of 25th Nov., 1914, records the following:- "At Missy, on 14th Sept., under a heavy fire all day until 7 p.m., worked with his own hand two rafts bringing back wounded and returning with ammunition; thus enabling advanced Brigade to maintain its position across the river.
Headstone
Image © Geerhard Joos
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Shot at Dawn:
11599 Private Thomas Docherty, 2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers, executed for desertion,16th July 1915, Plot VI, E. 1. He had served at Mons; & when under heavy bombardment in the front line in the Ypres Salient, deserted, being arrested 3 months later, having thus avoided some of the worst fighting. At trial, he claimed that he had lost his memory when under fire, & must have wandered off in a daze. (Putkowski, p 48)
9722 Private Ernest Fellows, 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment, executed for desertion, 26th July 1915, aged 29. Plot V. K. 13. Son of James and Emma Fellows, of 65, Moseley Rd., Birmingham; husband of Mary Annie Crosby (formerly Fellows), of 5 Court, 5 House, Dymoke St., Birmingham.
He enlisted in Sept 1914, arriving in France in December. On 15 June 1915, Fellows & Pte Bert Hartells were in a platoon warned for an attack near Ypres the next morning, but by 1700 both men were missing. On 8 July they were found together by the RMP in Hondeghem, half-way to Dunkirk, in uniform but without their equipment, saying when questioned that they had both left their unit only 2 days previously.
At trial, Fellows blamed heavy drinking for his conduct, saying that he had been trying to find his battalion when found by the RMP in a barn. He said, as did Hartells, that he had not intended to desert, being a married man with children. His CO said that Fellows had done his work well in & out of the trenches, but was stupid & easily led. All commanders endorsed the death sentence, which was confirmed on 23 July. (Corns, pp. 224-228)
Hartells is buried in Aeroplane Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium.
11653 Private Evan Fraser, 2nd Bn. Royal Scots, executed for attempted desertion 2nd August 1915, aged 19. Commemorated on Special Memorial C. 8.
He enlisted in June 1914 & was sent to France — after his 19th birthday — in Dec 1914.
On 21 Apr 1915, he was convicted of attempted desertion & sentenced to death, but this was commuted to 10 years’ Penal Servitude, suspended.
On 13 July 1915, Fraser was tried on 3 charges of desertion, & one relating to a forged pass.
(1) At La Clytte, on 24 May 1915 — i.e., less than a month after Fraser’s return to his unit on 27 Apr — sudden orders were given for the battalion to move, but Fraser was absent from roll-call. When he was found, he tendered a forged leave-pass. He was acquitted of desertion, on technical legal grounds; & pleaded Guilty in relation to the pass.
(2) On the night of 3-4 June 1915, Fraser escaped from his escort, being next seen on 5 June behind the lines at St Sylvestre Cappel . Without rifle, equipment or adequate explanation, he was arrested. Fraser — unrepresented — made no contest.
(3) On 19 June, when the battalion was in the trenches, Fraser was handed over for fatigue duties, but went missing. He was seen next day in a farmhouse, & was, after some difficulty, arrested. This charge was not contested either; & no plea in mitigation was made.
After conviction on both charges of desertion, & sentence of death, the Divisional commander ordered a retrial on the grounds of insufficiency of evidence to prove desertion.
In the further proceedings, Fraser was convicted of (respectively) absence without leave, & attempted desertion, but still sentenced to death. None of the formation commanders demurred: Fraser became the first man under a commuted & suspended sentence to be executed. (Corns, pp 338-340)
L/10132 Private Thomas Harris,1st Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), executed for desertion, 21st June 1915, aged 21. Plot V. K. 14.
At Le Cateau, probably on 27 Aug 1914, Harris disappeared in the confusion, in due course moving in with an English family in Paris, where he posed as a sergeant of military police, searching for deserters. On 28 May 1915 at Bures, the real Military Police found & arrested him, posing in plain clothes as a detective.
At trial he testified as follows: ‘I was at the battle of Mons & Le Cateau & my nerves were shattered by the sights I saw. I lost my memory & wandered away after Le Cateau. I can’t remember anything until I found myself in Paris. In Paris I met some English people who persuaded me to stay with them, & after a time I did not like to come back. I am very sorry I stayed away’. The CO commented that Harris's’ sole object had been to avoid service. (Corns, pp. 220-221)
12295 Corporal Frederick Ives, 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment, executed for desertion, 22nd July 1915, aged 31. Plot I. G. 41.
In Sept 1914, having 3 days before been remanded on a court martial charge (details not known),Ives made a run for it from his trench when under shell-fire. He was arrested only on 24 June 1915, when he was seen in plain clothes in Gournay en Bray.
At trial, he said on oath that he ‘lost his memory when he went away’. Further, he claimed to have worked in a munitions factory, & to have had no intention to leave the country, intending to give himself up.
Surprisingly the court recommended mercy, the corporal’s loss of memory possibly resulting from heavy shell-fire. But higher authority was unimpressed. (Corns, pp.218-219, 224-225)
10315 Private Louis Phillips, 6th Bn. Somerset Light Infantry, executed for desertion, 19th August 1915, aged 23. Plot VI. K. 1. He went absent for 4 days from service in the Ypres Salient. At trial, he said that he had been grievously concerned at not receiving letters from home for several weeks. The sentencing court had added a recommendation for mercy. (Putkowski, p 52)
3/1433 Private George Ernest Roe, 2nd Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, executed for desertion, 11th June 1915, aged 19. Plot VI. K. 20. Son of Mrs. Mary Roe, of 24, Brough Street, Sheffield, Yorks. His battalion had seen heavy fighting & suffered huge casualties in the Ypres Salient. He was undefended at trial, where he was given a good character, but said to have lost his nerve. (Putkowski, pp 42-43)
11599 Private Thomas Docherty, 2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers, executed for desertion,16th July 1915, Plot VI, E. 1. He had served at Mons; & when under heavy bombardment in the front line in the Ypres Salient, deserted, being arrested 3 months later, having thus avoided some of the worst fighting. At trial, he claimed that he had lost his memory when under fire, & must have wandered off in a daze. (Putkowski, p 48)
9722 Private Ernest Fellows, 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment, executed for desertion, 26th July 1915, aged 29. Plot V. K. 13. Son of James and Emma Fellows, of 65, Moseley Rd., Birmingham; husband of Mary Annie Crosby (formerly Fellows), of 5 Court, 5 House, Dymoke St., Birmingham.
He enlisted in Sept 1914, arriving in France in December. On 15 June 1915, Fellows & Pte Bert Hartells were in a platoon warned for an attack near Ypres the next morning, but by 1700 both men were missing. On 8 July they were found together by the RMP in Hondeghem, half-way to Dunkirk, in uniform but without their equipment, saying when questioned that they had both left their unit only 2 days previously.
At trial, Fellows blamed heavy drinking for his conduct, saying that he had been trying to find his battalion when found by the RMP in a barn. He said, as did Hartells, that he had not intended to desert, being a married man with children. His CO said that Fellows had done his work well in & out of the trenches, but was stupid & easily led. All commanders endorsed the death sentence, which was confirmed on 23 July. (Corns, pp. 224-228)
Hartells is buried in Aeroplane Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium.
11653 Private Evan Fraser, 2nd Bn. Royal Scots, executed for attempted desertion 2nd August 1915, aged 19. Commemorated on Special Memorial C. 8.
He enlisted in June 1914 & was sent to France — after his 19th birthday — in Dec 1914.
On 21 Apr 1915, he was convicted of attempted desertion & sentenced to death, but this was commuted to 10 years’ Penal Servitude, suspended.
On 13 July 1915, Fraser was tried on 3 charges of desertion, & one relating to a forged pass.
(1) At La Clytte, on 24 May 1915 — i.e., less than a month after Fraser’s return to his unit on 27 Apr — sudden orders were given for the battalion to move, but Fraser was absent from roll-call. When he was found, he tendered a forged leave-pass. He was acquitted of desertion, on technical legal grounds; & pleaded Guilty in relation to the pass.
(2) On the night of 3-4 June 1915, Fraser escaped from his escort, being next seen on 5 June behind the lines at St Sylvestre Cappel . Without rifle, equipment or adequate explanation, he was arrested. Fraser — unrepresented — made no contest.
(3) On 19 June, when the battalion was in the trenches, Fraser was handed over for fatigue duties, but went missing. He was seen next day in a farmhouse, & was, after some difficulty, arrested. This charge was not contested either; & no plea in mitigation was made.
After conviction on both charges of desertion, & sentence of death, the Divisional commander ordered a retrial on the grounds of insufficiency of evidence to prove desertion.
In the further proceedings, Fraser was convicted of (respectively) absence without leave, & attempted desertion, but still sentenced to death. None of the formation commanders demurred: Fraser became the first man under a commuted & suspended sentence to be executed. (Corns, pp 338-340)
L/10132 Private Thomas Harris,1st Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), executed for desertion, 21st June 1915, aged 21. Plot V. K. 14.
At Le Cateau, probably on 27 Aug 1914, Harris disappeared in the confusion, in due course moving in with an English family in Paris, where he posed as a sergeant of military police, searching for deserters. On 28 May 1915 at Bures, the real Military Police found & arrested him, posing in plain clothes as a detective.
At trial he testified as follows: ‘I was at the battle of Mons & Le Cateau & my nerves were shattered by the sights I saw. I lost my memory & wandered away after Le Cateau. I can’t remember anything until I found myself in Paris. In Paris I met some English people who persuaded me to stay with them, & after a time I did not like to come back. I am very sorry I stayed away’. The CO commented that Harris's’ sole object had been to avoid service. (Corns, pp. 220-221)
12295 Corporal Frederick Ives, 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment, executed for desertion, 22nd July 1915, aged 31. Plot I. G. 41.
In Sept 1914, having 3 days before been remanded on a court martial charge (details not known),Ives made a run for it from his trench when under shell-fire. He was arrested only on 24 June 1915, when he was seen in plain clothes in Gournay en Bray.
At trial, he said on oath that he ‘lost his memory when he went away’. Further, he claimed to have worked in a munitions factory, & to have had no intention to leave the country, intending to give himself up.
Surprisingly the court recommended mercy, the corporal’s loss of memory possibly resulting from heavy shell-fire. But higher authority was unimpressed. (Corns, pp.218-219, 224-225)
10315 Private Louis Phillips, 6th Bn. Somerset Light Infantry, executed for desertion, 19th August 1915, aged 23. Plot VI. K. 1. He went absent for 4 days from service in the Ypres Salient. At trial, he said that he had been grievously concerned at not receiving letters from home for several weeks. The sentencing court had added a recommendation for mercy. (Putkowski, p 52)
3/1433 Private George Ernest Roe, 2nd Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, executed for desertion, 11th June 1915, aged 19. Plot VI. K. 20. Son of Mrs. Mary Roe, of 24, Brough Street, Sheffield, Yorks. His battalion had seen heavy fighting & suffered huge casualties in the Ypres Salient. He was undefended at trial, where he was given a good character, but said to have lost his nerve. (Putkowski, pp 42-43)
Shot at Dawn Headstones © Geerhard Joos
Memorial to Private James Booth, 241973, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, Killed in action 26th September 1917 and buried within this cemetery. The memorial stands on top of his parents' grave in Burnley Town Cemetery.
No known image of James survives although it is believed that the memorial was sculpted in his image. James Booth is buried in plot IV. D. 15.
The inscription on the headstone reads: "Fold him in thy loving arms and let him henceforth be a message from a human heart o God to thee."
Memorial to Private James Booth, 241973, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, Killed in action 26th September 1917 and buried within this cemetery. The memorial stands on top of his parents' grave in Burnley Town Cemetery.
No known image of James survives although it is believed that the memorial was sculpted in his image. James Booth is buried in plot IV. D. 15.
The inscription on the headstone reads: "Fold him in thy loving arms and let him henceforth be a message from a human heart o God to thee."
5909 Sergeant
John Francis Commons
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 21.
Plot V. J. 20.
Son of Denis and Ellen Commons, of 10, Mark St., Fitzroy, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Born at Bright, Victoria.
A 19 year old bank clerk prior to enlisting on 11 March 1916, he embarked for overseas as a Private with the 16th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 2 October 1916 aboard HMAT Nestor. Following further training and promotion in England, he served with the battalion in France and then Belgium where he was killed in action at Passchendaele on 4 October 1917.
John Francis Commons
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 21.
Plot V. J. 20.
Son of Denis and Ellen Commons, of 10, Mark St., Fitzroy, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Born at Bright, Victoria.
A 19 year old bank clerk prior to enlisting on 11 March 1916, he embarked for overseas as a Private with the 16th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 2 October 1916 aboard HMAT Nestor. Following further training and promotion in England, he served with the battalion in France and then Belgium where he was killed in action at Passchendaele on 4 October 1917.
34520 Private
William Thomas Cunliffe
2nd Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
2nd July 1917, aged 19.
Plot I. D. 5.
Son of Thomas and Fannie Cunliffe, of 25, Athol St., Burnley.
William Thomas Cunliffe
2nd Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
2nd July 1917, aged 19.
Plot I. D. 5.
Son of Thomas and Fannie Cunliffe, of 25, Athol St., Burnley.
16454 Private
James Dunleavey
2nd Bn. Cameronians, (Scottish Rifles)
28th July 1917, aged 30.
Plot I. L. 47.
Lived at 44 Barracks Road, Burnley, Lancashire and worked for Burnley Ironworks. He was a talented wrestler.
James Dunleavey
2nd Bn. Cameronians, (Scottish Rifles)
28th July 1917, aged 30.
Plot I. L. 47.
Lived at 44 Barracks Road, Burnley, Lancashire and worked for Burnley Ironworks. He was a talented wrestler.
1540 Gunner
Ronald Frederick Eedy
3rd A. F. A. Bde. Australian Field Artillery
22nd October 1917, aged 20.
Plot III. F. 19.
Son of William Ferrier Eedy and Elonora Mary Eedy, of Byrne St., Botany, New South Wales.
Ronald Eedy enlisted on 5 April 1915 and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Themistocles on 12 May 1915. He was killed in action on 22 October 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium, aged 20 years. This portrait is framed by a painted art nouveau-style design on the reverse of the glass. The central portrait was taken prior to his embarkation and the glass was painted in 1917 following his death. The words "For King For Country" have been painted into two blocks on either side of the portrait. The Australian Coat-of-Arms is at top centre of the glass and on either side are two small photographs of King George V (left) and Lord Kitchener (right). A photograph of the troopship HMAT Themistocles is placed at the bottom of the glass, on either side are inscriptions: "ENLISTED/ APRIL 1915/ SAILED/ 12TH MAY 1915" and "KILLED IN ACTION/ FRANCE/ 22ND OCT/ 1917." Inscriptions underneath the ship describe his unit: "7th BATTERY" and "3rd BRIG FIELD ARTILLERY". His father 2249 Private (Pte) William Ferrier Eedy, 2nd Remount Unit, and three brothers, 3316 Lance Corporal George William Eedy, 14th Battalion, 1732 Gunner Peter Ferrier Eedy, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, 3403 Private Neil Arthur Matthew Eedy, AAMC, all served with the AIF. All except Ronald returned to Australia.
Ronald Frederick Eedy
3rd A. F. A. Bde. Australian Field Artillery
22nd October 1917, aged 20.
Plot III. F. 19.
Son of William Ferrier Eedy and Elonora Mary Eedy, of Byrne St., Botany, New South Wales.
Ronald Eedy enlisted on 5 April 1915 and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Themistocles on 12 May 1915. He was killed in action on 22 October 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium, aged 20 years. This portrait is framed by a painted art nouveau-style design on the reverse of the glass. The central portrait was taken prior to his embarkation and the glass was painted in 1917 following his death. The words "For King For Country" have been painted into two blocks on either side of the portrait. The Australian Coat-of-Arms is at top centre of the glass and on either side are two small photographs of King George V (left) and Lord Kitchener (right). A photograph of the troopship HMAT Themistocles is placed at the bottom of the glass, on either side are inscriptions: "ENLISTED/ APRIL 1915/ SAILED/ 12TH MAY 1915" and "KILLED IN ACTION/ FRANCE/ 22ND OCT/ 1917." Inscriptions underneath the ship describe his unit: "7th BATTERY" and "3rd BRIG FIELD ARTILLERY". His father 2249 Private (Pte) William Ferrier Eedy, 2nd Remount Unit, and three brothers, 3316 Lance Corporal George William Eedy, 14th Battalion, 1732 Gunner Peter Ferrier Eedy, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, 3403 Private Neil Arthur Matthew Eedy, AAMC, all served with the AIF. All except Ronald returned to Australia.
Lieutenant
Joseph William Forbes, Mentioned in Despatches.
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th September 1917, aged 26.
Plot I. G. 44.
An accountant from Melbourne, Vic prior to enlistment, Lt Forbes embarked with the 11th Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT Nestor on 11 October 1915. He was subsequently Mentioned in Despatches for "distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty in the field". He was killed in action on 20 September 1917 at Ypres, Belgium, aged 26 and was buried in the Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium. His brother Lt Muirton Warrand Forbes, 2nd Battalion, was also killed in action and is buried at the Borre British Cemetery.
Joseph William Forbes, Mentioned in Despatches.
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th September 1917, aged 26.
Plot I. G. 44.
An accountant from Melbourne, Vic prior to enlistment, Lt Forbes embarked with the 11th Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT Nestor on 11 October 1915. He was subsequently Mentioned in Despatches for "distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty in the field". He was killed in action on 20 September 1917 at Ypres, Belgium, aged 26 and was buried in the Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium. His brother Lt Muirton Warrand Forbes, 2nd Battalion, was also killed in action and is buried at the Borre British Cemetery.
Second Lieutenant
George Leslie Fresson Forshaw
3rd/5th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
19th November 1917, aged 22.
Plot V. J. 3.
Son of Edward Roney Forshaw, and Augusta Maud Forshaw, of Demerara, British Guiana.
George Leslie Fresson Forshaw
3rd/5th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
19th November 1917, aged 22.
Plot V. J. 3.
Son of Edward Roney Forshaw, and Augusta Maud Forshaw, of Demerara, British Guiana.
4234 Gunner
Frank Hansen
102nd Howitzer Bty. 2nd Bde. Australian Field Artillery
1st August 1917
Plot II. B. 30.
From East Caulfield, Vic. Pte Hansen enlisted on 2 August 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 29 December 1915. On 1 August 1917 he was killed in action at Zillebeke in Belgium.
Frank Hansen
102nd Howitzer Bty. 2nd Bde. Australian Field Artillery
1st August 1917
Plot II. B. 30.
From East Caulfield, Vic. Pte Hansen enlisted on 2 August 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 29 December 1915. On 1 August 1917 he was killed in action at Zillebeke in Belgium.
52219 Private
Harold Hart
19th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
23rd June 1917, aged 23.
Plot I. B. 5.
Son of the late James and Maria Hart, of Cloughfold, Manchester.
Harold Hart
19th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
23rd June 1917, aged 23.
Plot I. B. 5.
Son of the late James and Maria Hart, of Cloughfold, Manchester.
2440 Private
Downie McLellan
4th Australian Pioneers
12th October 1917, aged 37.
Plot V. B. 13.
A Scottish-born migrant who emigrated to Australia in 1883, Pte McLellan worked as a farmer before he enlisted in March 1916. Leaving Australia for England with the 4th Reinforcements in August 1916, he arrived in France for service on the Western Front in February 1917. According to the 4th Pioneer Battalion war diary, Pte McLellan was killed by an explosive shell from German counter-battery artillery fire whilst working on rebuilding the Zonnebeke-Frezenburg road when the infantry of the 3rd and 4th Divisions attacked nearby Passchendaele Ridge on 12 October 1917. He was aged 37.
Picture courtesy of Jim Donald
Downie McLellan
4th Australian Pioneers
12th October 1917, aged 37.
Plot V. B. 13.
A Scottish-born migrant who emigrated to Australia in 1883, Pte McLellan worked as a farmer before he enlisted in March 1916. Leaving Australia for England with the 4th Reinforcements in August 1916, he arrived in France for service on the Western Front in February 1917. According to the 4th Pioneer Battalion war diary, Pte McLellan was killed by an explosive shell from German counter-battery artillery fire whilst working on rebuilding the Zonnebeke-Frezenburg road when the infantry of the 3rd and 4th Divisions attacked nearby Passchendaele Ridge on 12 October 1917. He was aged 37.
Picture courtesy of Jim Donald
7271 Private
William Owen Mumford
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd October 1917, aged 20.
Plot VI. C. 18.
Son of Howard and Margaret Ann Mumford, of 111, Honeysuckle St., Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Born at Golden Gully, Victoria.
A farm labourer prior to enlistment he embarked from Melbourne, VIC with the 24th Reinforcements on HMAT Ballarat (A70) on 19 February 1917. Pte Mumford was killed instantly by a High Explosive shell burst on 3 October 1917, aged 20.
William Owen Mumford
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
3rd October 1917, aged 20.
Plot VI. C. 18.
Son of Howard and Margaret Ann Mumford, of 111, Honeysuckle St., Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Born at Golden Gully, Victoria.
A farm labourer prior to enlistment he embarked from Melbourne, VIC with the 24th Reinforcements on HMAT Ballarat (A70) on 19 February 1917. Pte Mumford was killed instantly by a High Explosive shell burst on 3 October 1917, aged 20.
2423 Private
Harry Poole
2nd Australian Pioneers
21st October 1917, aged 23.
Plot IV. F. 15.
Son of Harry and Elizabeth Poole, of Poowong South, Victoria, Australia. Born in Australia. His brother Ernest James Poole also fell.
Brothers, 2512A Private (Pte) Ernest James Poole and 2423 Pte Harry Poole, both of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. Both men were farmers from Poowong, Vic prior to enlistment and embarked with the 4th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles on 28 July 1916. Pte Ernest Poole was killed in action on 15 September 1917 near Ypres, aged 27, and was buried in the Hooge Crater Cemetery. Pte Harry Poole was killed in action on 21 October 1917 also near Ypres.
Harry Poole
2nd Australian Pioneers
21st October 1917, aged 23.
Plot IV. F. 15.
Son of Harry and Elizabeth Poole, of Poowong South, Victoria, Australia. Born in Australia. His brother Ernest James Poole also fell.
Brothers, 2512A Private (Pte) Ernest James Poole and 2423 Pte Harry Poole, both of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. Both men were farmers from Poowong, Vic prior to enlistment and embarked with the 4th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles on 28 July 1916. Pte Ernest Poole was killed in action on 15 September 1917 near Ypres, aged 27, and was buried in the Hooge Crater Cemetery. Pte Harry Poole was killed in action on 21 October 1917 also near Ypres.
2709 Private
Bert Schemmell
5th Australian Pioneers
12th October 1917, aged 23.
Plot VI. G. 14.
Son of James and Ellen Schemmell, of Strathalbyn, South Australia.
A labourer before enlisting in July 1916, Pte Schemmell left Australia for England with the 5th Reinforcements in September 1916 and arrived in France for service on the Western Front in February 1917. He was killed by German artillery fire whilst constructing an ammunition dump at Birr Cross Roads, near Zillebeke.
Bert Schemmell
5th Australian Pioneers
12th October 1917, aged 23.
Plot VI. G. 14.
Son of James and Ellen Schemmell, of Strathalbyn, South Australia.
A labourer before enlisting in July 1916, Pte Schemmell left Australia for England with the 5th Reinforcements in September 1916 and arrived in France for service on the Western Front in February 1917. He was killed by German artillery fire whilst constructing an ammunition dump at Birr Cross Roads, near Zillebeke.
5145 Private
Charles Victor Firmin Thomas
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 20.
Garter Point Cem. Mem. 24.
Son of William Griffith Thomas and Ada Thomas, of Stawell, Victoria, Australia.
An 18 year old labourer prior to enlistment on 20 January 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 13th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 19 July 1916 aboard HMAT Armadale. He was killed in action on 4 October 1917 at Broodseinde Ridge.
Charles Victor Firmin Thomas
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th October 1917, aged 20.
Garter Point Cem. Mem. 24.
Son of William Griffith Thomas and Ada Thomas, of Stawell, Victoria, Australia.
An 18 year old labourer prior to enlistment on 20 January 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 13th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 19 July 1916 aboard HMAT Armadale. He was killed in action on 4 October 1917 at Broodseinde Ridge.
32252 Gunner
Cappur Mitchell Webb
8th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
19th September 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 16.
Son of Richard Cappur Webb and Alice M. Ann Webb, of "Clendoxey," Seymour Victoria, Australia. Born at Roto Station, Hillston, New South Wales.
From Hawthorn, Victoria. A 20 year old medical student prior to enlisting on 4 October 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 24th Reinforcements of the 2nd FAB from Melbourne on 14 February 1917 aboard RMS Osterley. After arriving on the Western Front, he transferred to the 29th Battery of 8th FAB in Belgium where he was killed in action at Zillebeke.
Above right is a hexagonal shaped brown pressed fibre identity disc with two 4 mm mounting holes on either end. The following details are handwritten on both sides of the disc : '32252 CM WEBB 29TH Bty 8 F.A.B PRES'. It was worn by 32252 Gunner Cappur Mitchell Webb who served in 8 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF during the First World War.
Cappur Mitchell Webb
8th Bde. Australian Field Artillery
19th September 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 16.
Son of Richard Cappur Webb and Alice M. Ann Webb, of "Clendoxey," Seymour Victoria, Australia. Born at Roto Station, Hillston, New South Wales.
From Hawthorn, Victoria. A 20 year old medical student prior to enlisting on 4 October 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 24th Reinforcements of the 2nd FAB from Melbourne on 14 February 1917 aboard RMS Osterley. After arriving on the Western Front, he transferred to the 29th Battery of 8th FAB in Belgium where he was killed in action at Zillebeke.
Above right is a hexagonal shaped brown pressed fibre identity disc with two 4 mm mounting holes on either end. The following details are handwritten on both sides of the disc : '32252 CM WEBB 29TH Bty 8 F.A.B PRES'. It was worn by 32252 Gunner Cappur Mitchell Webb who served in 8 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF during the First World War.
Original grave at Perth Cemetery (China Wall) of 20708 Gunner, Frederick William Young, "A" Bty. 86th Army Bde. Royal Field Artillery, 31st August 1917, aged 21. Son of William Frederick and Miriam Young, of 104, Kambala Rd., Battersea, London. Now buried in Plot II. B. 48. His parents added the inscription "Nobly he did his duty" to his headstone. © Jeremy Gordon-Smith
Soldiers of the 11th Regiment Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) digging graves behind the line at Zillebeke, January-February 1915. © IWM (Q 51190)
Royal Field Artillery gunners hauling an 18 pounder field gun out of the mud near Zillebeke, 9 August 1917. © IWM (Q 6236)
Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. Troops of the 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry digging out wounded from their Regimental Aid Post near Zillebeke after the position had be hit by German artillery fire, 20 September 1917. © IWM (Q 5979)
British Cemetery at Zillebeke. © IWM (Q 17849)
A ceremonial burial was held on Wednesday 6 September 2017 at 11am at Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium, for an unknown First World War soldier of the Worcestershire Regiment.
He was found in a field near Waterstraat in Zonnebeke, Belgium, with artefact of the Worcestershire Regiment. Despite research it has been impossible to identify him.
Pictures © Geerhard Joos
Stretcher bearers of the Royal Army Medical Corps going forward. Near Zillebeke, 21 September 1917. © IWM (Q 5987)
Three Canadian gunners and a dump of 18 pounder shells. In front of Zillebeke, 21 September 1917. © IWM (Q 5990)
Two artillery officers, one reading and one asleep on a sofa outside a dugout in the sunshine near Zillebeke, 24 September 1917. © IWM (Q 6016)
Graves behind the 11th Regiment Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) sector of the Zillebeke trenches. January - February 1915. © IWM (Q 51177)
