RAMSCAPPELLE ROAD MILITARY CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 51.12871, Longitude: 2.76784
© Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery is located 2 Kms east of Nieuwpoort on the N367, which leads from Nieuwpoort to Sint Joris.
From Nieuwpoort town centre the Willem Deroolaan leads for 500 metres onto the N367 Brugsesteenweg. The cemetery lies 1 Km along the N367 on the junction with the N356 Ramskapellestraat.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this site is possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
From June to November 1917, Commonwealth Forces (XV Corps) held the front line in Belgium from St.Georges (now Sint Joris), near Ramskapelle, to the sea.
Most of Plot I of Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery was made in July and August 1917, but the cemetery was considerably enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and the following smaller burial grounds:-
BOITSHOUCKE CHURCHYARD, where three men of the R.G.A. were buried in July and August, 1917.
GHISTELLES GERMAN CEMETERY, on the road to Hagebrugge, where four airmen were buried by the enemy in 1917 and 1918 and two by their comrades in October, 1918.
MIDDELKERKE GERMAN CEMETERY, on the coast road to Ostende, where twelve Canadian and ten United Kingdom soldiers were buried in 1915-1917.
NIEUPORT MILITARY CEMETERY, on the South side of the town, a French cemetery in which 107 British soldiers and one sailor were buried. It was closed in July, 1917 as excessively dangerous.
NIEUPORT-BAINS MILITARY CEMETERIES No.1, No.2 and No.3, OOST-DUNKERKE, French cemeteries close together at the West end of Nieuport-Bains. No.1 contained one British grave of 1917, No.2 two of 1918, and No.3 91 (including two Australian) of 1916-17.
There are now 841 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 312 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials commemorate two casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Also within this number are 26 special memorials to casualties originally buried at Nieuport or Nieuport-Bains whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
There are an additional 2 unidentified Foreign National burials here.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith
Total Burials: 843.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 518, Australia 8, Canada 2, South Africa 1. Total 529.
Unidentified Casualties: 312.
Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery is located 2 Kms east of Nieuwpoort on the N367, which leads from Nieuwpoort to Sint Joris.
From Nieuwpoort town centre the Willem Deroolaan leads for 500 metres onto the N367 Brugsesteenweg. The cemetery lies 1 Km along the N367 on the junction with the N356 Ramskapellestraat.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this site is possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
From June to November 1917, Commonwealth Forces (XV Corps) held the front line in Belgium from St.Georges (now Sint Joris), near Ramskapelle, to the sea.
Most of Plot I of Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery was made in July and August 1917, but the cemetery was considerably enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and the following smaller burial grounds:-
BOITSHOUCKE CHURCHYARD, where three men of the R.G.A. were buried in July and August, 1917.
GHISTELLES GERMAN CEMETERY, on the road to Hagebrugge, where four airmen were buried by the enemy in 1917 and 1918 and two by their comrades in October, 1918.
MIDDELKERKE GERMAN CEMETERY, on the coast road to Ostende, where twelve Canadian and ten United Kingdom soldiers were buried in 1915-1917.
NIEUPORT MILITARY CEMETERY, on the South side of the town, a French cemetery in which 107 British soldiers and one sailor were buried. It was closed in July, 1917 as excessively dangerous.
NIEUPORT-BAINS MILITARY CEMETERIES No.1, No.2 and No.3, OOST-DUNKERKE, French cemeteries close together at the West end of Nieuport-Bains. No.1 contained one British grave of 1917, No.2 two of 1918, and No.3 91 (including two Australian) of 1916-17.
There are now 841 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 312 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials commemorate two casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Also within this number are 26 special memorials to casualties originally buried at Nieuport or Nieuport-Bains whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
There are an additional 2 unidentified Foreign National burials here.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith
Total Burials: 843.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 518, Australia 8, Canada 2, South Africa 1. Total 529.
Unidentified Casualties: 312.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
German trenches at Nieuport. © IWM Q 55181
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
240888 Serjeant
Jesse Banister
2nd/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
5th September 1917, aged 38.
Plot II. C. 30.
Husband of Martha Ellen Banister, of 12, Roebuck St., Burnley.
Killed in the same incident as Private Albert Husband (details further down page) - a shell exploded, killing both men instantly.
Jesse Banister
2nd/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
5th September 1917, aged 38.
Plot II. C. 30.
Husband of Martha Ellen Banister, of 12, Roebuck St., Burnley.
Killed in the same incident as Private Albert Husband (details further down page) - a shell exploded, killing both men instantly.
40594 Private
T. Gallacher
15th Bn. Highland Light Infantry
15th July 1917.
Plot VI. A. 11.
T. Gallacher
15th Bn. Highland Light Infantry
15th July 1917.
Plot VI. A. 11.
3788 Bombardier
William James Guy
12th A.F.A. Bde. Australian Field Artillery
25th August 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 17.
Click on image to enlarge
Son of William James and Martha H. Guy, of Talbotville, Victoria, Australia.
A labourer of Talbotville, North Gippsland, Victoria, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 12th Reinforcements on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 23 November 1915. He was killed in action on 25 August 1917.
William James Guy
12th A.F.A. Bde. Australian Field Artillery
25th August 1917, aged 21.
Plot I. A. 17.
Click on image to enlarge
Son of William James and Martha H. Guy, of Talbotville, Victoria, Australia.
A labourer of Talbotville, North Gippsland, Victoria, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 12th Reinforcements on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 23 November 1915. He was killed in action on 25 August 1917.
241089 Private
Albert Husband
5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
5th September 1917, aged 37.
Plot I. BA. 15.
Lived at 10 Lorne Street, Burnley.
It would appear that Albert and his wife had more than their fair share of tragedy, their daughter, Eveline, died aged 17, after a "fainting fit" where she fell against the fender which pierced her skull, they also had a son, aged 11 who drowned in the River Calder at Padiham. Albert was killed when a shell exploded, killing him and another Burnley soldier, Jesse Banister (his details can be seen further up the page) instantly. He enlisted on October 13th, 1914 and prior to this had worked as a cardroom hand at Messrs. Haslam's Yatefield Mill, Gannow, Burnley. He left his widow and three children aged 9, 8 and 2 years of age.
Albert Husband
5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
5th September 1917, aged 37.
Plot I. BA. 15.
Lived at 10 Lorne Street, Burnley.
It would appear that Albert and his wife had more than their fair share of tragedy, their daughter, Eveline, died aged 17, after a "fainting fit" where she fell against the fender which pierced her skull, they also had a son, aged 11 who drowned in the River Calder at Padiham. Albert was killed when a shell exploded, killing him and another Burnley soldier, Jesse Banister (his details can be seen further up the page) instantly. He enlisted on October 13th, 1914 and prior to this had worked as a cardroom hand at Messrs. Haslam's Yatefield Mill, Gannow, Burnley. He left his widow and three children aged 9, 8 and 2 years of age.
Baroness Elsie de T'Serclaes (aka Elsie Knocker) and her friend, Mairi Chisholm in a Belgian reserve trench near Nieuport. © IWM Q 3959
Some of the Individual Headstones
Pictures © Werner van Caneghem
38789 Private
Frederick William Relph
2nd/7th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
11th August 1917, aged 19.
Plot II. B. 4.
Son of William and Sarah J. Relph, of Hilltop, Askham, Penrith, Cumberland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Christ Shall Clasp The Broken Chain Closer When We Meet Again"
Image and text below provided by Andrea Ripley (Great Niece)
I believe the story was that Frederick ran away to join up before he was old enough. My Great Grandparents didn't stand in his way when they became aware as they thought he would only sign up the minute he was 18 anyway. So many sad stories from this generation.
Frederick William Relph
2nd/7th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
11th August 1917, aged 19.
Plot II. B. 4.
Son of William and Sarah J. Relph, of Hilltop, Askham, Penrith, Cumberland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Christ Shall Clasp The Broken Chain Closer When We Meet Again"
Image and text below provided by Andrea Ripley (Great Niece)
I believe the story was that Frederick ran away to join up before he was old enough. My Great Grandparents didn't stand in his way when they became aware as they thought he would only sign up the minute he was 18 anyway. So many sad stories from this generation.
5622 Sapper
George Thomas Smith
2nd Coy. Australian Tunnelling Coy.
27th June 1917, aged 40.
Nieuport-Bains Cem. Mem. 6.
Son of Michael and Eliza Smith; husband of Katherine M. Smith, of High St., Oatlands, Tasmania.
A tanner of Oatlands, Tas, Smith enlisted on 18 April 1916 and embarked with the October reinforcements of the Australian Tunnelling Corps from Melbourne, Vic, aboard HMAT Ulysses (A38) on 25 October 1916. In May 1917 he was admitted to hospital suffering from mumps. He was killed in action on 27 June 1917 at Nieuport, Belgium aged 40.
George Thomas Smith
2nd Coy. Australian Tunnelling Coy.
27th June 1917, aged 40.
Nieuport-Bains Cem. Mem. 6.
Son of Michael and Eliza Smith; husband of Katherine M. Smith, of High St., Oatlands, Tasmania.
A tanner of Oatlands, Tas, Smith enlisted on 18 April 1916 and embarked with the October reinforcements of the Australian Tunnelling Corps from Melbourne, Vic, aboard HMAT Ulysses (A38) on 25 October 1916. In May 1917 he was admitted to hospital suffering from mumps. He was killed in action on 27 June 1917 at Nieuport, Belgium aged 40.
438432 Serjeant
Wilfrid Shirley Smith
430th Field Coy. Royal Engineers
5th July 1917, aged 28.
Plot V. C. 18.
Son of John Smith.
Wilfrid Shirley Smith
430th Field Coy. Royal Engineers
5th July 1917, aged 28.
Plot V. C. 18.
Son of John Smith.
Flight Sub-Lieutenant
Ford Stuart Strathy
6th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service
17th August 1917, aged 19.
Plot VI. 6. 1.
Inscription "His Servants They Shall See His Face" Rev. 22 Audax Justum Perficere
Son of Stuart Strathy, of 54, Clarendon Avenue, Toronto, Canada, and the late Elizabeth Strathy.
Ford Stuart Strathy
6th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service
17th August 1917, aged 19.
Plot VI. 6. 1.
Inscription "His Servants They Shall See His Face" Rev. 22 Audax Justum Perficere
Son of Stuart Strathy, of 54, Clarendon Avenue, Toronto, Canada, and the late Elizabeth Strathy.
2836 Gunner
Ernest Edwin Wheeler
3rd A.F.A. Bde. Australian Field Artillery
24th August 1917.
Plot I. A. 12.
From Mernda, Vic. Pte Wheeler enlisted on 19 July 1915 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ulysses on 17 October 1915. He was killed in action on 24 August 1917 in Belgium.
Ernest Edwin Wheeler
3rd A.F.A. Bde. Australian Field Artillery
24th August 1917.
Plot I. A. 12.
From Mernda, Vic. Pte Wheeler enlisted on 19 July 1915 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ulysses on 17 October 1915. He was killed in action on 24 August 1917 in Belgium.
266643 Rifleman
William Ernest Young
1st/7th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
29th July 1917.
Plot I. A. 3.
William Ernest Young
1st/7th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
29th July 1917.
Plot I. A. 3.
A soldier of the 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment sitting on a barrel at Nieuport Bains, 2nd September 1917. © IWM Q 2875
British soldier sitting in the hole made by a shell in a gasometer at Nieuport, 30th July 1917. © IWM Q 2642
A communication trench and dug-outs in the dunes of the Nieuport Sector. Graves in the foreground. © IWM Q 41762
A soldier of the 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment in the trenches at Nieuport Bains, 8th September 1917. He is using a trench periscope to view the German line. © IWM Q 2877
