POPERINGE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.85212, Longitude: 2.72675
Location Information
Poperinge Communal Cemetery is located 10.5 kilometres west of Ieper town centre, in the town of Poperinge itself.
From Ieper, Poperinge is reached via N308. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the J.Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J.Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. On reaching the town of Poperinge the left hand turning from the N308 leads onto the R33 Poperinge ring road. 1 kilometre along the N33 lies the right hand turning onto Deken De Bolaan. The cemetery is located 800 metres along the Deken De Bolaan on the corner with Rekhof.
The Commission headstones are located against the cemetery wall on the far right hand side of the site and in the middle of the cemetery.
The town of Poperinghe (now Poperinge) was of great importance during the First World War because, although occasionally bombed or bombarded at long range, it was the nearest place to Ypres (now Ieper) which was both considerable in size and reasonably safe. It was at first a centre for casualty clearing stations, but by 1916 it became necessary to move these units further back and field ambulances took their places.
The earliest Commonwealth graves in the town are in the communal cemetery, which was used from October 1914 to March 1915. The Old Military Cemetery was made in the course of the First Battle of Ypres and was closed, so far as Commonwealth burials are concerned, at the beginning of May 1915. The New Military Cemetery was established in June 1915.
Poperinge Communal Cemetery contains 22 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 21.
Poperinge Communal Cemetery is located 10.5 kilometres west of Ieper town centre, in the town of Poperinge itself.
From Ieper, Poperinge is reached via N308. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the J.Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J.Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. On reaching the town of Poperinge the left hand turning from the N308 leads onto the R33 Poperinge ring road. 1 kilometre along the N33 lies the right hand turning onto Deken De Bolaan. The cemetery is located 800 metres along the Deken De Bolaan on the corner with Rekhof.
The Commission headstones are located against the cemetery wall on the far right hand side of the site and in the middle of the cemetery.
The town of Poperinghe (now Poperinge) was of great importance during the First World War because, although occasionally bombed or bombarded at long range, it was the nearest place to Ypres (now Ieper) which was both considerable in size and reasonably safe. It was at first a centre for casualty clearing stations, but by 1916 it became necessary to move these units further back and field ambulances took their places.
The earliest Commonwealth graves in the town are in the communal cemetery, which was used from October 1914 to March 1915. The Old Military Cemetery was made in the course of the First Battle of Ypres and was closed, so far as Commonwealth burials are concerned, at the beginning of May 1915. The New Military Cemetery was established in June 1915.
Poperinge Communal Cemetery contains 22 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 21.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Captain
William Stewart Burdett Blackett
Grenadier Guards and attached to Leicestershire Yeomanry.
24th November 1914, aged 41.
Plot I. B. 3.
Son of Capt. Blackett (R.N.); husband of Mrs. Blackett Swiny, of Arbigland, Dumfries. Served in the South African Campaign with the 3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards.
His headstone bears the inscription "Mortally Wounded Nov. 20th While Attached Leicestershire Yeomanry Pro Patria"
William Stewart Burdett Blackett
Grenadier Guards and attached to Leicestershire Yeomanry.
24th November 1914, aged 41.
Plot I. B. 3.
Son of Capt. Blackett (R.N.); husband of Mrs. Blackett Swiny, of Arbigland, Dumfries. Served in the South African Campaign with the 3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards.
His headstone bears the inscription "Mortally Wounded Nov. 20th While Attached Leicestershire Yeomanry Pro Patria"
Second Lieutenant
Archer Chernocke Downes
2nd Bn. Cheshire Regiment
20th November 1914, aged 22.
Plot I. B. 7.
Son of Catherine E. A. Downes, of Aspley House, Aspley Guise, Beds., and the late Lt. Col. C. V. Downes. His brother, Villiers Chernocke Downes also fell and is buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery
His headstone bears the inscription "Son Of Lt. Col. Downes, Beds. He Shall Receive The Crown Of Life"
Archer Chernocke Downes
2nd Bn. Cheshire Regiment
20th November 1914, aged 22.
Plot I. B. 7.
Son of Catherine E. A. Downes, of Aspley House, Aspley Guise, Beds., and the late Lt. Col. C. V. Downes. His brother, Villiers Chernocke Downes also fell and is buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery
His headstone bears the inscription "Son Of Lt. Col. Downes, Beds. He Shall Receive The Crown Of Life"
Captain
John Frederick Strathearn Gordon
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and attached to 1st Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
19th November 1914, aged 32.
Plot I. B. 5.
Son of Gen. Sir John J. H. Gordon, G.C.B. (Indian Army) and the Hon. Lady Gordon.
His headstone bears the inscription "Son Of General Sir John J. H. Gordon G. C. B. Indian Army & the Hon. Lady Gordon"
John Frederick Strathearn Gordon
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and attached to 1st Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
19th November 1914, aged 32.
Plot I. B. 5.
Son of Gen. Sir John J. H. Gordon, G.C.B. (Indian Army) and the Hon. Lady Gordon.
His headstone bears the inscription "Son Of General Sir John J. H. Gordon G. C. B. Indian Army & the Hon. Lady Gordon"
Captain
Mervyn James Hamilton
"C" Company, 1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders
28th November 1914, aged 35.
Plot I. B. 4.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Dacre Hamilton, of Comacassa, Monaghan, Co. Fermanagh; husband of Hildred L. Hamilton, of Terenicol House, Castle Ward, Downpatrick, Co. Down.
His headstone bears the inscription "Love......Endureth All Things Love Never Faileth 1. Cor. XIII. 4. 7. 8."
Mervyn James Hamilton
"C" Company, 1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders
28th November 1914, aged 35.
Plot I. B. 4.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Dacre Hamilton, of Comacassa, Monaghan, Co. Fermanagh; husband of Hildred L. Hamilton, of Terenicol House, Castle Ward, Downpatrick, Co. Down.
His headstone bears the inscription "Love......Endureth All Things Love Never Faileth 1. Cor. XIII. 4. 7. 8."
Lieutenant
Edward Robert Eyre Hickling
3rd Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment and attached to 1st Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
26th October 1914, aged 19.
Plot I. B. 10.
Son of John Bird Hickling and Clara Hickling, of 4, Chestnut Avenue, West Southbourne, Bournemouth, Hants.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death R. I. P. Beloved And Only Son"
Edward Robert Eyre Hickling
3rd Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment and attached to 1st Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
26th October 1914, aged 19.
Plot I. B. 10.
Son of John Bird Hickling and Clara Hickling, of 4, Chestnut Avenue, West Southbourne, Bournemouth, Hants.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death R. I. P. Beloved And Only Son"
Lieutanant
Geoffrey Archibald Loyd
2nd Bn. Scots Guards
13th November 1914, aged 24.
Plot I. B. 6.
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Son of Archie Kirkman Loyd, of Downs House, Berks, and 21, Cadogan Square, London; husband of Henrietta Louisa Loyd (nee Clutterbuck), of Hardenhuish, Chippenham, Wilts.
Geoffrey Archibald Loyd
2nd Bn. Scots Guards
13th November 1914, aged 24.
Plot I. B. 6.
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Son of Archie Kirkman Loyd, of Downs House, Berks, and 21, Cadogan Square, London; husband of Henrietta Louisa Loyd (nee Clutterbuck), of Hardenhuish, Chippenham, Wilts.
Images in this gallery © Johan Pauwels
Captain
Thomas McCann Phillips, Mentioned in Despatches
Royal Army Medical Corps
4th November 1914, aged 24.
Plot I. B. 8.
Son of the Rev. J. G. Phillips and Annie Phillips.
His headstone bears the inscription "Second Son Of The Rev. J. G. Phillips"
Thomas McCann Phillips, Mentioned in Despatches
Royal Army Medical Corps
4th November 1914, aged 24.
Plot I. B. 8.
Son of the Rev. J. G. Phillips and Annie Phillips.
His headstone bears the inscription "Second Son Of The Rev. J. G. Phillips"
Major
Henry Bingham Whistler Smith-Rewse
51st Battery, 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
22nd November 1914, aged 38.
Plot II. A. 7.
P.S.C. Son of Col. Smith-Rewse, C.B. (R.E.), and the late Florence Smith-Rewse (nee Bingham); husband of Olive Smith-Rewse (nee St. John), of Primrose Patch, Headley, Bordon, Hants.
His headstone bears the inscription "Who Dies If England Lives"
Henry Bingham Whistler Smith-Rewse
51st Battery, 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
22nd November 1914, aged 38.
Plot II. A. 7.
P.S.C. Son of Col. Smith-Rewse, C.B. (R.E.), and the late Florence Smith-Rewse (nee Bingham); husband of Olive Smith-Rewse (nee St. John), of Primrose Patch, Headley, Bordon, Hants.
His headstone bears the inscription "Who Dies If England Lives"
Lieutenant
Alma Cyril Thomas
2nd Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
7th November 1914, aged 23.
Plot I. B. 9.
Son of the late Harry Alma Thomas and Hettie Bloor, of The Cottage, Chadwick Rd., Westcliff, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace With Loved Ones Far Away In Jesu's Keeping We Are Safe & They"
Alma Cyril Thomas
2nd Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
7th November 1914, aged 23.
Plot I. B. 9.
Son of the late Harry Alma Thomas and Hettie Bloor, of The Cottage, Chadwick Rd., Westcliff, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace With Loved Ones Far Away In Jesu's Keeping We Are Safe & They"
