POELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.92103, Longitude: 2.97194
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Poelcapelle British Cemetery is located 10 Kms north-east of Ieper town centre on the Brugseweg (N313), a road connecting Ieper to Brugge.
Two streets connect Ieper town centre onto the Brugseweg; Torhoutstraat leads from the market square onto the Kalfvaartstraat. At the end of Kalfvaartstraat is a large junction on which Brugseweg is the first right hand turning.
The cemetery itself lies 10 Kms along the Brugseweg on the right hand side of the road after passing through the village of Poelkapelle.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to site possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
Poelcapelle (now Poelkapelle) was taken by the Germans from the French on 20 October 1914, entered by the 11th Division on 4 October 1917, evacuated by Commonwealth forces in April 1918, and retaken by the Belgians on 28 September 1918.
Poelcapelle British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and the following smaller cemeteries:-
HOUTHULST FOREST NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, near the South side of the Forest, on the road from Poelcapelle to Houthulst. Here were buried a number of French soldiers, as well as 21 soldiers and two airmen from the United Kingdom, who fell in the winter of 1917-18.
KEERSELAERE FRENCH CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, about 800 metres West of the hamlet of Keerselaere, in which 29 French soldiers, five Canadian and two from the United Kingdom were buried in 1915, apparently by the enemy.
PILCKEM ROAD GERMAN CEMETERY, LANGEMARCK, on the South-West side of the bridge over the Hannebeek, in which 13 soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Canada were buried by the enemy in 1914-17.
POELCAPELLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, in which one soldier from the United Kingdom was buried in 1915.
POELCAPELLE GERMAN CEMETERY No.2, nearly 1.6 Kms South-East of the village, which contained the graves of 96 soldiers from the United Kingdom and Canada who fell in 1914-15.
ST. JEAN CHURCHYARD, in which 44 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried in 1915, but which was completely destroyed in later fighting.
STADEN FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY, made by the 169th Infantry Regiment and containing the graves of 80 French soldiers and one R.A.F. Officer.
VIJFWEGEN GERMAN CEMETERY No.1, close to the railway halte, in which three soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried by the enemy.
The great majority of the graves date from the last five months of 1917, and in particular October, but certain plots (IA, VIA, VIIA, LI and LXI) contain many graves of 1914 and 1915.
There are now 7,479 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in Poelcapelle British Cemetery. 6,230 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate 8 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 24 servicemen buried by the Germans in other burial grounds in the area whose graves could not be located. There is also 1 burial of the Second World War within the cemetery.
The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden and Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, M. C.
Among those buried in the cemetery is Private, John Condon of the Royal Irish Regiment, who at 14 is thought to be the youngest battle casualty of the First World War commemorated by the Commission.
Total Burials: 7,479.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 1,042, Canada 117, New Zealand 46, Australia 38, South Africa 5. Total 1,248.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: 6,230.
World War Two Identified Casualties: 1.
Original burials at Potijze, the identifiable graves to the left of the image are F.T. Gardiner, grave now lost and commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, and R.L. Torrome and W. Bold of the Scots Guards, both now buried at Poelcapelle British Cemetery.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Battle of Langemarck. A distant shell-burst on Pilckem Ridge, 18th August 1917. British and French soldier in foreground. © IWM (Q 2740)
6322 Private
John Condon 2nd Bn. Royal Irish Regiment 24th May 1915, aged 14. Plot LVI. F. 8. Son of John and Mary Condon, of Waterford. Youngest known battle casualty of the war. It may be that the grave is in fact not Condon’s, but that of another Rifleman, Patrick Fitzsimmons — whose body was not reported as recovered & whose name thus appears on the Menin Gate Memorial. For the identifying details noted on the boot of the corpse actually buried do not refer to Condon’s Battalion & could well refer to Fitzsimmons (who seems to have shared the same Service number, but in a different Battalion)— & it now appears from Condon’s birth certificate, & other records that he was aged 18, not 14 at the time of death. [from Wikipedia, which gives supporting references, April 2018] |
Picture © Nicholas Philpot
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2316 Private
Norman Ferguson
37th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th October 1917, aged 28.
Plot XXXIII. E.12.
Son of Hugh and Janet Ferguson; husband of Mrs. R. M. Ferguson, of Milawa, Victoria, Australia. Born at Bobinawarrah, Victoria.
A farmer prior to enlistment in June 1916, he embarked on board HMAT Port Lincoln (A17) on 20 October 1916. Pte Ferguson was killed action at Passchendaele, Belgium on 12 October 1917. He was 28 years of age. Pte Norman Ferguson was one of four brothers who enlisted between March 1915 and June 1916. Only one survived the war and returned to Australia.
Norman Ferguson
37th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th October 1917, aged 28.
Plot XXXIII. E.12.
Son of Hugh and Janet Ferguson; husband of Mrs. R. M. Ferguson, of Milawa, Victoria, Australia. Born at Bobinawarrah, Victoria.
A farmer prior to enlistment in June 1916, he embarked on board HMAT Port Lincoln (A17) on 20 October 1916. Pte Ferguson was killed action at Passchendaele, Belgium on 12 October 1917. He was 28 years of age. Pte Norman Ferguson was one of four brothers who enlisted between March 1915 and June 1916. Only one survived the war and returned to Australia.
4692 Private
James Fooke
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th October 1917, aged 30.
Plot LII. D. 9.
Son of George and Maria Fooke; husband of Margaret E. Fooke, of 28, Gibbs St., Newtown, New South Wales. Born at Myrtle Creek, Redesdale, Victoria, Australia.
A labourer from Richmond, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Fooke embarked with the 12th Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT Malwa on 26 April 1916. On 16 October 1917 he was killed in action at Passchendaele in Belgium, aged 30.
4697 Private, Arthur Fraser was with Jimmy Fooke when he was killed:
"I came from Victoria on the same boat. He was being bandaged for a head wound when a piece of shell hit him on the side, killing him instantaneously. I have hid belt in my possession with the hole the shell made through it. He was buried in a field near Passchendaele by Ptes. Gorrie, Coppard and myself and we made a cross. I wrote the inscription on it."
James Fooke
23rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th October 1917, aged 30.
Plot LII. D. 9.
Son of George and Maria Fooke; husband of Margaret E. Fooke, of 28, Gibbs St., Newtown, New South Wales. Born at Myrtle Creek, Redesdale, Victoria, Australia.
A labourer from Richmond, Vic prior to enlistment, Pte Fooke embarked with the 12th Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT Malwa on 26 April 1916. On 16 October 1917 he was killed in action at Passchendaele in Belgium, aged 30.
4697 Private, Arthur Fraser was with Jimmy Fooke when he was killed:
"I came from Victoria on the same boat. He was being bandaged for a head wound when a piece of shell hit him on the side, killing him instantaneously. I have hid belt in my possession with the hole the shell made through it. He was buried in a field near Passchendaele by Ptes. Gorrie, Coppard and myself and we made a cross. I wrote the inscription on it."
40964 Private
John Smith Johnston
1st Bn. Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F
1st October 1917, aged 27.
Plot VIA. C. 3.
Son of Margaret Crawford (formerly Johnston), of Lawrence St. East, Gore, New Zealand, and the late Adam Johnston
John Smith Johnston
1st Bn. Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F
1st October 1917, aged 27.
Plot VIA. C. 3.
Son of Margaret Crawford (formerly Johnston), of Lawrence St. East, Gore, New Zealand, and the late Adam Johnston
Lieutenant
James Lunan
4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
20th September 1917, aged 24.
Plot XLV. E. 12.
Son of William Scott Lunan and Margaret A. Slater Lunan, of Woodhouselee, Cults, Aberdeenshire.
James Lunan
4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders
20th September 1917, aged 24.
Plot XLV. E. 12.
Son of William Scott Lunan and Margaret A. Slater Lunan, of Woodhouselee, Cults, Aberdeenshire.
1972 Private
Hector Leslie McDonald
57th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th September 1917
Plot LIII. F. 15.
A farmer from Queenscliff, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte McDonald embarked with the 3rd Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Ajana on 8 July 1916. On 27 July 1917 whilst serving in Belgium, he was killed in action and buried in a temporary grave. Following the Armistice his remains were recovered and re-interred in the Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium.
Hector Leslie McDonald
57th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th September 1917
Plot LIII. F. 15.
A farmer from Queenscliff, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte McDonald embarked with the 3rd Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Ajana on 8 July 1916. On 27 July 1917 whilst serving in Belgium, he was killed in action and buried in a temporary grave. Following the Armistice his remains were recovered and re-interred in the Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium.
45002 Private
Frank Newton
1st/5th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
26th October 1917, aged 23.
Plot III. E. 7.
Son of Frank and Annie Lucy Newton, of 128, Crompton Rd., Macclesfield.
Frank Newton
1st/5th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
26th October 1917, aged 23.
Plot III. E. 7.
Son of Frank and Annie Lucy Newton, of 128, Crompton Rd., Macclesfield.
1282 Private
George Wilfred Stewart
57th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th September 1917, aged 23.
Plot LIII. F. 13.
Son of Alexander Simpson Stewart and Mary Hannah Stewart, of Daytrap, Chinkapook, Victoria, Australia. Born at Arragrea, Victoria.
A farmer from Daytrap, Vic, Pte Stewart embarked with the 6th Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915. During his service in France with the 57th Battalion, Pte Stewart was killed in action near Polygon Wood, Belgium.
George Wilfred Stewart
57th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th September 1917, aged 23.
Plot LIII. F. 13.
Son of Alexander Simpson Stewart and Mary Hannah Stewart, of Daytrap, Chinkapook, Victoria, Australia. Born at Arragrea, Victoria.
A farmer from Daytrap, Vic, Pte Stewart embarked with the 6th Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915. During his service in France with the 57th Battalion, Pte Stewart was killed in action near Polygon Wood, Belgium.
4282 Private
Albert Herman Thiele
50th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th September 1918, aged 24.
Plot LVI. A. 2.
Son of Hermann Gustav and Florence Thiele, of Oakbank, South Australia.
23 year old blacksmith prior to enlisting on 23 August 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 13th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion from Adelaide on 11 January 1916 aboard HMAT Borda. Upon arrival in Egypt, he transferred to the 50th Battalion and went with them to France in June 1916. Pte Thiele was killed in action at Westhoek Ridge, Belgium on 27 September 1917 and buried in the Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium. His younger brother, 4283 Pte George Victor Thiele enlisted and embarked with Albert and also transferred to the 50th Battalion but returned to Australia on 30 July 1919.
Albert Herman Thiele
50th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
27th September 1918, aged 24.
Plot LVI. A. 2.
Son of Hermann Gustav and Florence Thiele, of Oakbank, South Australia.
23 year old blacksmith prior to enlisting on 23 August 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 13th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion from Adelaide on 11 January 1916 aboard HMAT Borda. Upon arrival in Egypt, he transferred to the 50th Battalion and went with them to France in June 1916. Pte Thiele was killed in action at Westhoek Ridge, Belgium on 27 September 1917 and buried in the Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium. His younger brother, 4283 Pte George Victor Thiele enlisted and embarked with Albert and also transferred to the 50th Battalion but returned to Australia on 30 July 1919.
Thomas Alfred Sewell was head gardener at Poelcapelle British Cemetery after the war. He died in 1931 aged 41. He was originally buried at Ypres Town Cemetery but was moved to the extension in 2001.
Images below © Marion Grace Woolley (Great Granddaughter)
Click in images to enlarge
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
First Battle of Passchendaele. Two guardsmen bringing in a wounded comrade on a stretcher. Near Langemarck (Langemark-Poelkapelle), 12 October 1917. © IWM (Q 3009)
World War Two Burial
5337841 Private Rupert Edward Mills, 4th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment, died 30th May 1940, aged 19. Son of Frank and Thirza Ann Mills, of Speen, Berkshire.
5337841 Private Rupert Edward Mills, 4th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment, died 30th May 1940, aged 19. Son of Frank and Thirza Ann Mills, of Speen, Berkshire.
INSCRIPTION.
ONE THING CHANGES NEVER; THE MEMORY OF THOSE HAPPY DAYS, WHEN WE WERE ALL TOGETHER.
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A wrecked British tank on the road from Ypres to Poelcapelle, 19 December 1918.
© IWM (Q 110761)
Captured German officers guarded by a Scottish sentry outside a recently taken concrete bunker near Langemarck (Langemark-Poelkapelle), 12 October 1917. © IWM (Q 3013)
