POND FARM CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.76906, Longitude: 2.84544
Location Information
Pond Farm Cemetery is located south-west of Ieper near the village of Wulvergem. From Ieper town centre follow the Rijselstraat to the roundabout at the ring road; go straight over the roundabout and follow direction for Armentieres. In the next village at the roundabout bear right in the direction of Mesen. Follow the main road straight through Wijtschate and onto Mesen. On reaching the village of Mesen, turn right at the crossroads in the direction of Wulvergem. At the crossroads in Wulvergem by the church turn right in the direction of Wijtschate. Follow this road for a short distance then take the first turning left into Vrooilandstraat. The cemetery is along here on the left.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note the 400 metre grassed access path is not suitable for vehicles.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Wulverghem (now Wulvergem) was the scene of a German gas attack on the night of 29-30 April 1916 which was repulsed by the 3rd and 24th Divisions. The village was captured by the Germans on 14 April 1918 and reoccupied by the 30th Division on the following 2 September.
'POND FARM' was in the fields about 800 metres East of Packhorse Farm, and on the North-West side of Pond Farm is the Cemetery. The cemetery was begun by the 3rd Rifle Brigade and the 8th Buffs in July 1916 and it was used by fighting units and field ambulances until October 1917. Further burials were made in April and September 1918.
There are now 29 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery, including special memorials to three casualties of the 1st/7th Cheshires, buried here early in September 1918, whose graves could not be found. The cemetery also contains five German war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden and William Harrison Cowlishaw
Total Burials: 301.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 292, Germany 5. Total 297.
Pond Farm Cemetery is located south-west of Ieper near the village of Wulvergem. From Ieper town centre follow the Rijselstraat to the roundabout at the ring road; go straight over the roundabout and follow direction for Armentieres. In the next village at the roundabout bear right in the direction of Mesen. Follow the main road straight through Wijtschate and onto Mesen. On reaching the village of Mesen, turn right at the crossroads in the direction of Wulvergem. At the crossroads in Wulvergem by the church turn right in the direction of Wijtschate. Follow this road for a short distance then take the first turning left into Vrooilandstraat. The cemetery is along here on the left.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note the 400 metre grassed access path is not suitable for vehicles.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Wulverghem (now Wulvergem) was the scene of a German gas attack on the night of 29-30 April 1916 which was repulsed by the 3rd and 24th Divisions. The village was captured by the Germans on 14 April 1918 and reoccupied by the 30th Division on the following 2 September.
'POND FARM' was in the fields about 800 metres East of Packhorse Farm, and on the North-West side of Pond Farm is the Cemetery. The cemetery was begun by the 3rd Rifle Brigade and the 8th Buffs in July 1916 and it was used by fighting units and field ambulances until October 1917. Further burials were made in April and September 1918.
There are now 29 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery, including special memorials to three casualties of the 1st/7th Cheshires, buried here early in September 1918, whose graves could not be found. The cemetery also contains five German war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden and William Harrison Cowlishaw
Total Burials: 301.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 292, Germany 5. Total 297.
Cemetery images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
A limber going back to load up with provisions near Lindenhoek, 10 June 1917. © IWM Q 5489
32357 Private
Fred Crabtree
10th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
15th July 1917, aged 29.
Row M. 3.
Husband of Beatrice E. Crabtree, of 19, Basnett St., Burnley. Son of Mr & Mrs Richard Crabtree of 1 Boundary Street, Rake-Head.
Prior to enlisting, Fred was employed as a Loom Overlooker at Coronation Mill.
The Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Simpson Thomas wrote to Beatrice;
"Pte. Fred Crabtree of the Yorks and Lancaster Regt., was brought down country some three miles and buried
two days later in a quiet British cemetery. Our duty, often calls us to look on death, but not one of us
forgets the pain brought to friends and relatives in the homeland when one and another of our
companions pass from us. As soon as possible, and when I am permitted. I will tell you where
your husband fell and exactly where his body lies."
Fred Crabtree
10th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
15th July 1917, aged 29.
Row M. 3.
Husband of Beatrice E. Crabtree, of 19, Basnett St., Burnley. Son of Mr & Mrs Richard Crabtree of 1 Boundary Street, Rake-Head.
Prior to enlisting, Fred was employed as a Loom Overlooker at Coronation Mill.
The Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Simpson Thomas wrote to Beatrice;
"Pte. Fred Crabtree of the Yorks and Lancaster Regt., was brought down country some three miles and buried
two days later in a quiet British cemetery. Our duty, often calls us to look on death, but not one of us
forgets the pain brought to friends and relatives in the homeland when one and another of our
companions pass from us. As soon as possible, and when I am permitted. I will tell you where
your husband fell and exactly where his body lies."
Second Lieutenant
William Nagle Creagh
3rd Bn. Leinster Regiment
7th March 1917, aged 36.
Row K. 15.
Son of William and Emma Creagh, of Mallow, Co. Cork; husband of Christina M. Creagh, of 3, Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, London.
William Nagle Creagh
3rd Bn. Leinster Regiment
7th March 1917, aged 36.
Row K. 15.
Son of William and Emma Creagh, of Mallow, Co. Cork; husband of Christina M. Creagh, of 3, Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, London.
60156 Private
William Duncan Nicol
33rd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) formerly 4th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
29th May 1917, aged 32.
Row O. 11.
Son of William and Margaret Nicol, of 1, Gowrie St., Blackness Avenue. Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Dawns"
Picture courtesy of Gordon Spalding
Click on image to enlarge
William Duncan Nicol
33rd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) formerly 4th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
29th May 1917, aged 32.
Row O. 11.
Son of William and Margaret Nicol, of 1, Gowrie St., Blackness Avenue. Dundee.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Dawns"
Picture courtesy of Gordon Spalding
Click on image to enlarge
Captain
George Averil Read
3rd Bn. attd. 11th Bn. Leinster Regiment
8th March 1917, aged 30.
Plot K. 14.
Son of Turner O. and Emily M. Read, of Dungar, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
George Averil Read
3rd Bn. attd. 11th Bn. Leinster Regiment
8th March 1917, aged 30.
Plot K. 14.
Son of Turner O. and Emily M. Read, of Dungar, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
31st July 1918 - Plotting reference: 28T 4 5 Key feature: Wulverghem Trenches.
© IWM (BOX 201-144-10B-28T-1918)
Tea being issued to troops resting on newly captured ground, near Lindenhoek, 11th June 1917. © IWM Q 2324
Ruined village of Wulverghem.
