POPERINGHE OLD MILITARY CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.85077, Longitude: 2.72831
Location Information
Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery is located 10.5 Kms 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 Km along the R38 lies the right hand turning onto Deken De Bolan. The cemetery is located 200 metres from the ring road level with the junction with Polenlaan, on the right hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
ARRIVAL
The route to the cemetery is signposted.
PARKING
It is possible to park to the side of the main road, close to the cemetery entrance.
The main entrance to the cemetery is via a 10- to 15-metre-long path with brick walls on either side.
ACCESS, LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE
The cemetery is rectangular shaped, with an additional small narrow section in the bottom left corner (southeast) to the left of a brick tool shed.
Access into the cemetery is through a low level (waist height) metal gate approximately 1.10 metres wide. The gate is opened by turning a circular ring-shaped handle clockwise, opening a latch on the left side of the gate and opens inwards. The entrance is located off a paved footpath, with a metal drainage channel grille in front of the entrance.
A pathway, approximately 1.2 metres wide, and 15 metres long, between two brick walls, leads to an entrance building to access the cemetery. An identical shelter building in located in the northwest corner of the cemetery.
The Stone of Remembrance is located in front of the shelters, and the Cross of Sacrifice in the centre of the site, immediately in front of the burial area.
All the internal paths are grass, the ground is flat.
The Register Box is located inside the Shelter Building at the main entrance.
There are seating areas with stone benches inside each shelter.
An additional seating area with a stone bench is up against the rear boundary wall of the cemetery in line with the Cross of Sacrifice and Stone of Remembrance. The seat is on a raised platform, approximately 100 mm above ground level.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS
There are no alternative entrances into the cemetery.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The cemetery is permanently open.
Historical Information
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.
The Old Military Cemetery contains 451 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 24 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to seven casualties known or believed to be buried among them.
The graves of about 800 French and Belgian soldiers and nearly 500 civilians were removed from the cemetery after the Armistice. For the most part, the civilians died in an epidemic of typhoid at the end of 1914, and were buried from an emergency hospital housed in a neighbouring chateau.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and Noel Ackroyd Rew
Total Burials: 453.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 381, Canada 46, Germany 2. Total 429.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 22, Canada 2. Total 24.
Cemetery images © Werner Van Caneghem
Second Lieutenant
Robert Henry Chester Abercrombie
1st/8th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
3rd May 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. P. 16.
Son of Chester and Ada Maria Abercrombie, of The Mount, Pleshey, Chelmsford.
Robert Henry Chester Abercrombie
1st/8th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
3rd May 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. P. 16.
Son of Chester and Ada Maria Abercrombie, of The Mount, Pleshey, Chelmsford.
384 Private
Ernest Beck
1st/5th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
27th April 1915
Plot II. M. 15.
Ernest Beck
1st/5th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
27th April 1915
Plot II. M. 15.
27051 Private
Edwin John Chivas
15th Bn. Canadian Infantry
26th April 1915, aged 23.
Plot II. L. 14.
Son of Mrs. Ann Chivas, of 5816, Loraine Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son Sadly Missed By All Who Loved Him"
Edwin John Chivas
15th Bn. Canadian Infantry
26th April 1915, aged 23.
Plot II. L. 14.
Son of Mrs. Ann Chivas, of 5816, Loraine Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son Sadly Missed By All Who Loved Him"
Lieutenant
Colin Edward Cumming
103rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery
25th February 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. N. 54.
2nd son of Robert Charles Cumming, of Edinburgh, formerly of Stafford, retired Bank Manager, by his wife, Margaret, daughter of the late David Duff, of Calcutta, and grandson of the late Captain John Cumming, 26th (Cameronians), 4th (King's Own) and 80th Foot; b. Stafford, March, 1890;
Colin Edward Cumming
103rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery
25th February 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. N. 54.
2nd son of Robert Charles Cumming, of Edinburgh, formerly of Stafford, retired Bank Manager, by his wife, Margaret, daughter of the late David Duff, of Calcutta, and grandson of the late Captain John Cumming, 26th (Cameronians), 4th (King's Own) and 80th Foot; b. Stafford, March, 1890;
20763 Private
F. G. William Degon
10th Bn. Canadian Infantry
24th April 1915, aged 18.
Plot II. L. 53.
Son of F. P. and Margaret A. Degon, of 1006, Ross St., Medicine Hat, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription "Rest In Peace"
F. G. William Degon
10th Bn. Canadian Infantry
24th April 1915, aged 18.
Plot II. L. 53.
Son of F. P. and Margaret A. Degon, of 1006, Ross St., Medicine Hat, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription "Rest In Peace"
Captain
Frederic Leonard Hingston
1st Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
26th April 1915, aged 37.
Plot II. P. 27.
Born at Leicester. Son of E. Hingston, of "St. Oswald's", Selwyn Rd., Eastbourne.
His headstone bears the inscription "There Is No Death"
Frederic Leonard Hingston
1st Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
26th April 1915, aged 37.
Plot II. P. 27.
Born at Leicester. Son of E. Hingston, of "St. Oswald's", Selwyn Rd., Eastbourne.
His headstone bears the inscription "There Is No Death"
42351 Gunner
Robert Hill Mercer
3rd Bn. Canadian Field Artillery
27th April 1915, aged 34.
Plot II .K. 17.
Husband to Mrs Robert Mercer and Father of two children, 7 Bathurst Street.
Robert Hill Mercer
3rd Bn. Canadian Field Artillery
27th April 1915, aged 34.
Plot II .K. 17.
Husband to Mrs Robert Mercer and Father of two children, 7 Bathurst Street.
6067 Sergeant
Herbert Mole
1st Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
27th October 1914.
Plot I. L. 1.
Son of the late Henry and Isabell Mole, of Charlecote, Warwick.
Click on image to enlarge (Image © Geerhard joos)
Herbert was one of five brothers who fought during the First World War. Three brothers were killed and two 2 survived, but the son of one of the surviving brothers was killed in turn during the Second World War.
Corporal Benjamin Mole, was killed in action on 10th December 1914, aged 29. He is buried in Prowse Point Military Cemetery, Plot I. B. 6.
Private Arthur Henry Mole was killed on 28th August 1916 and is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Plot III. G. 30.
Albert and Edward Mole survived the was but Albert's son was killed in the Second World War. Flying Officer Douglas John Mole was killed on 18th December 1944, aged 29 and is buried in Taillette Communal Cemetery in France.
Herbert Mole
1st Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
27th October 1914.
Plot I. L. 1.
Son of the late Henry and Isabell Mole, of Charlecote, Warwick.
Click on image to enlarge (Image © Geerhard joos)
Herbert was one of five brothers who fought during the First World War. Three brothers were killed and two 2 survived, but the son of one of the surviving brothers was killed in turn during the Second World War.
Corporal Benjamin Mole, was killed in action on 10th December 1914, aged 29. He is buried in Prowse Point Military Cemetery, Plot I. B. 6.
Private Arthur Henry Mole was killed on 28th August 1916 and is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Plot III. G. 30.
Albert and Edward Mole survived the was but Albert's son was killed in the Second World War. Flying Officer Douglas John Mole was killed on 18th December 1944, aged 29 and is buried in Taillette Communal Cemetery in France.
8067 Private
William Page
1st Bn. South Wales Borderers
5th November 1914, aged 29.
Plot I. L. 31.
Son of Jeremiah and Catherine Page, of Cheltenham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Though Lost To Sight In Memory Ever Dear From His Loving Sisters"
William Page
1st Bn. South Wales Borderers
5th November 1914, aged 29.
Plot I. L. 31.
Son of Jeremiah and Catherine Page, of Cheltenham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Though Lost To Sight In Memory Ever Dear From His Loving Sisters"
7400 Private
Frederick George Tiller
1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
11th November 1914, aged 32.
Plot I. M. 70.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Tiller, of Croydon, Royston, Herts; husband of Riba Tiller, of Long Stowe, Cambridge.
His headstone bears the inscription "Be At Rest Gone From Our Home But Never From Our Hearts"
Picture courtesy of grandson, John Tiller
Frederick George Tiller
1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
11th November 1914, aged 32.
Plot I. M. 70.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Tiller, of Croydon, Royston, Herts; husband of Riba Tiller, of Long Stowe, Cambridge.
His headstone bears the inscription "Be At Rest Gone From Our Home But Never From Our Hearts"
Picture courtesy of grandson, John Tiller
3/9592 Private
George Varney
1st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment
6th November 1914.
Plot I. L. 20.
Son of George Henry Varney
George Varney
1st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment
6th November 1914.
Plot I. L. 20.
Son of George Henry Varney
Mule-drawn column of the Royal Artillery passing through Poperinghe towards the front, 22 February 1918. © IWM Q 10270
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
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
Shot at Dawn:
44735 Coolie Ch'un Ch'ih Wang, 107th Company Chinese Labour Corps, executed for murder, 8th May 1919, Plot II. O. 54.
The ‘coolies’ in the Chinese Labour Corps were subject to Military Law, alike with those serving from Britain & the Empire — even, as in this case, after the cessation of hostilities. Wang was one of 10 members of the CLC who were sentenced to death for murder. No details are available of his crime, nor indeed of the proceedings at court-martial, confirmation & execution. In published material, there seems to be only an exiguous reference in Putkowski (p. 264 & Index)
The perhaps inappropriate bilingual superscription added to the identifying details on the headstone (in English: 'A good reputation endures for ever’) is simply one of the 4 standard wordings routinely used for CLC burials (in 43 different cemeteries, c. 2000 CLC members being thus classified as war casualties, many of whom had died from disease, in particular the ‘Spanish flu’).
44735 Coolie Ch'un Ch'ih Wang, 107th Company Chinese Labour Corps, executed for murder, 8th May 1919, Plot II. O. 54.
The ‘coolies’ in the Chinese Labour Corps were subject to Military Law, alike with those serving from Britain & the Empire — even, as in this case, after the cessation of hostilities. Wang was one of 10 members of the CLC who were sentenced to death for murder. No details are available of his crime, nor indeed of the proceedings at court-martial, confirmation & execution. In published material, there seems to be only an exiguous reference in Putkowski (p. 264 & Index)
The perhaps inappropriate bilingual superscription added to the identifying details on the headstone (in English: 'A good reputation endures for ever’) is simply one of the 4 standard wordings routinely used for CLC burials (in 43 different cemeteries, c. 2000 CLC members being thus classified as war casualties, many of whom had died from disease, in particular the ‘Spanish flu’).
Picture © Geerhard Joos
TOC H was a rest centre for British soldiers of all ranks stationed in the Ypres sector in Flanders. It was the idea of a young army chaplain, the Reverend ‘Tubby’ Clayton, who established the centre in ‘Talbot House’ [TOC H in Army telephone jargon] in the Belgian town of Poperinge. Talbot House offered British troops a respite from the Front and an opportunity to develop and examine their understanding of the Christian faith. After the war former soldiers from Talbot House continued the work of TOC H as a civilian charity, establishing hostels and local branches to promote the Christian faith through community orientated work programmes. The work of TOC H continues to this day as an international Christian organisation involved in various charitable and social projects.
© IWM (Art.IWM PST 10992)
© IWM (Art.IWM PST 10992)
Pontoon waggon on the Ypres-Poperinghe Road, October 1916. © IWM Q 1602
French women employed in an Army laundry, hanging out soldiers' shirts to dry at Poperinghe, 30 September 1917. © IWM Q 2919
Troops collecting in Poperinghe to go on leave, 30th September 1917. Many are waving their leave papers. © IWM Q 3095
Tank officers relaxing around a gramophone player with their pet dog, in camp at Poperinghe, 26 September 1917. © IWM Q 2897
