RAMPARTS CEMETERY (LILLE GATE)
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.84478, Longitude: 2.88932
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Ramparts Cemetery lies within the town of Ieper itself, 1 Km south of Ieper Market Square. The Rijselstraat connects the Market Square with the Rijselpoort (Lille Gate) and on to Armentieres. Prior to passing through the Lille Gate and immediately after the Police station, is the right hand turning onto the Kanonweg. The cemetery is located on a pathway along the Ramparts, 50 metres along the Kanonweg.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this site is possible, but maybe by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
From October 1914 to the summer of 1918, Ypres (now Ieper) formed the centre of a salient held by Commonwealth (and for a while French) forces. From April 1915, the town was bombarded and destroyed more completely than any other town of its size on the western front.
The cemetery is by the Lille Gate, on top of the old rampart, over what had been dug-outs. It was begun by French troops in November 1914 and used by Commonwealth units at intervals from February 1915 to April 1918.
The cemetery contains 198 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The French graves have been removed.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and George Hartley Goldsmith
Total Burials: 198.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 153, New Zealand 14, Australia 11, Canada 10. Total 188.
8th October 1917 - Australian soldiers billeted in dugouts along the ramparts of Ypres. Note the damaged buildings in the background.
26375 Lance Corporal
William John Bickerstaff
New Zealand Engineers
17th December 1917, aged 35.
Row J. 4.
Son of John and Mary Bickerstaff, of 60, Brighton Rd., Horsham, Sussex.
William John Bickerstaff
New Zealand Engineers
17th December 1917, aged 35.
Row J. 4.
Son of John and Mary Bickerstaff, of 60, Brighton Rd., Horsham, Sussex.
38513 Private
Bennie Edmonds
New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion
31st December 1917, aged 22.
Row B. 5.
Son of Salmond and Millie Edmonds, of Whitianga, Mercury Bay, New Zealand.
Bennie Edmonds
New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion
31st December 1917, aged 22.
Row B. 5.
Son of Salmond and Millie Edmonds, of Whitianga, Mercury Bay, New Zealand.
187615 Sapper
Erick Kunnos 2nd Tunnelling Company, Canadian Engineers 29th June 1917. Row J. 13. |
Click on image to enlarge
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Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
59 Sergeant
Donald Trevlyn Hood
2nd H. Q. Australian Division
29th October 1917
Row B. 8.
Son of William Percy and Caroline Burbury Hood, of Hobart, Tasmania.
A clerk prior to enlistment, 596 Private Hood embarked with the 27th Battalion from Adelaide on HMAT Geelong (A2) on 31 May 1915. In March 1916 he transferred to the 2nd Australian Division Headquarters. On 29 October 1917, he was killed in action in Belgium and buried at Ramparts Cemetery Lille Gate, Ypres. He was 21 years of age.
Donald Trevlyn Hood
2nd H. Q. Australian Division
29th October 1917
Row B. 8.
Son of William Percy and Caroline Burbury Hood, of Hobart, Tasmania.
A clerk prior to enlistment, 596 Private Hood embarked with the 27th Battalion from Adelaide on HMAT Geelong (A2) on 31 May 1915. In March 1916 he transferred to the 2nd Australian Division Headquarters. On 29 October 1917, he was killed in action in Belgium and buried at Ramparts Cemetery Lille Gate, Ypres. He was 21 years of age.
71285 Sapper
Alfred Wright Martin 3rd Tunnelling Company, Canadian Engineers 16th October 1917. Row J. 22. |
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19621 Pioneer
Pona Marunui
New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion
23rd December 1917, aged 31.
Row J. 3.
Pona Marunui
New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion
23rd December 1917, aged 31.
Row J. 3.
3073 Lance Corporal
Frederick William Mawson
5th Field Coy. Australian Engineers
9th November 1917, aged 24.
Row J. 24.
Son of Catherine and the late Frederick William Mawson, of 7, Kingsley St., Camberwell, Victoria, Australia.
A carpenter from Surrey Hills, Victoria prior to enlistment, Spr Mawson embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic on 24 November 1915. Later promoted to Lance Corporal, he was killed in action on 9 November 1917, aged 24.
His friend, Sapper Adrian Lord said:
"He was buried at Lille Gate - well known ruins - ancient archway under rampart - grave was nicely marked - they went to particular trouble. K/A (Killed in action) 4 miles away, Oestoik or Westoak Bridge (sic) (Westhoek Ridge) while putting up barbed wire, was brought into Lille Gate. Was made a corporal on the morning of his death. He was a particular friend of mine."
Frederick William Mawson
5th Field Coy. Australian Engineers
9th November 1917, aged 24.
Row J. 24.
Son of Catherine and the late Frederick William Mawson, of 7, Kingsley St., Camberwell, Victoria, Australia.
A carpenter from Surrey Hills, Victoria prior to enlistment, Spr Mawson embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic on 24 November 1915. Later promoted to Lance Corporal, he was killed in action on 9 November 1917, aged 24.
His friend, Sapper Adrian Lord said:
"He was buried at Lille Gate - well known ruins - ancient archway under rampart - grave was nicely marked - they went to particular trouble. K/A (Killed in action) 4 miles away, Oestoik or Westoak Bridge (sic) (Westhoek Ridge) while putting up barbed wire, was brought into Lille Gate. Was made a corporal on the morning of his death. He was a particular friend of mine."
Captain
William Cecil Kennedy Megaw, M. C.
Adjt. 1st Bn. Norfolk Regiment
31st March 1915, aged 29.
Row D. 29.
Son of Kennedy and Mamie Megaw, of Chesham Rd., Brighton, Sussex; husband of Alice May Megaw (nee Gaussen), of Farnborough, Hants.
William Cecil Kennedy Megaw, M. C.
Adjt. 1st Bn. Norfolk Regiment
31st March 1915, aged 29.
Row D. 29.
Son of Kennedy and Mamie Megaw, of Chesham Rd., Brighton, Sussex; husband of Alice May Megaw (nee Gaussen), of Farnborough, Hants.
20846 Lance Corporal
Raika Whakarongotai Murray
New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion
31st December 1917, aged 19.
Row B. 3.
Son of Wikitoria Te Ngahue and S. Murray.
Raika Whakarongotai Murray
New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion
31st December 1917, aged 19.
Row B. 3.
Son of Wikitoria Te Ngahue and S. Murray.
19740 Private
Nehe Patara
New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion
31st December 1917, aged 24.
Row B. 6.
Son of Pukemaire Patara, of Rangitukia.
Nehe Patara
New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion
31st December 1917, aged 24.
Row B. 6.
Son of Pukemaire Patara, of Rangitukia.
19753 Private
Waata Taukamo
New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion
31st December 1917, aged 26.
Row B. 4.
Son of Wi and Iritana Taukamo, of Kahukura, Waiapu, Gisborne, New Zealand.
Waata Taukamo
New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion
31st December 1917, aged 26.
Row B. 4.
Son of Wi and Iritana Taukamo, of Kahukura, Waiapu, Gisborne, New Zealand.
8th October 1917 - A view of the moat surrounding Ypres, showing the stricken trees on the ramparts and the shell pitted wall. The bridge in the foreground was constructed by Australian engineers to lessen the pressure of traffic on the main roads leading out from Ypres. The man standing on the bridge is Captain Frank Hurley and the photographer is probably Captain Hubert Wilkins. Hurley had been awarded the Polar Medal for service on the Shackleton expedition to the Antarctic and Wilkins the same for Arctic exploration. He is wearing the distinctive white ribbon of the award worn on his left pocket.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
An aerial view of the ruins of Ypres, taken after the fighting in April 1915.
October 1917; The Cloth Hall and Cathedral in ruins.
The Brick Arches, Cloth Hall, Ypres, November 1914.
Near the Lille Gate, November 1914. © IWM Q 57318
