RATION FARM (LA PLUS DOUVE ANNEXE)
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.754, Longitude: 2.86352
© Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Ration Farm (La Plus Douve) Annexe is located 10.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate and on to Armentieres.
From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg.
The first right hand turning in the village of Messines leads onto the Mesenstraat. 2 Kms along the Mesenstraat on the left hand side lies the street Plus Douve. The cemetery is located 500 metres along the Plus Douve on the right hand side of the track.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note an 80 metre grassed access path leading to this site which is unsuitable for vehicles.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
In the valley of the river Douve, north of Ploegsteert Wood, were two farms. 'La Petite Douve' was the object of a successful raid by the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion in November 1915 and 'La Plus Douve', which was generally within the Allied lines, was used at times as a battalion headquarters. It was also known as Ration Farm because battalion transport could approach it at night with rations.
Ration Farm (La Plus Douve) Annexe was begun in January 1915 and used until January 1918. It contains 203 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith.
Total Burials: 203.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 178, Australia 12, New Zealand 4, Germany 1. Total 195.
Unidentified Casualties: 8.
Ration Farm (La Plus Douve) Annexe is located 10.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate and on to Armentieres.
From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg.
The first right hand turning in the village of Messines leads onto the Mesenstraat. 2 Kms along the Mesenstraat on the left hand side lies the street Plus Douve. The cemetery is located 500 metres along the Plus Douve on the right hand side of the track.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note an 80 metre grassed access path leading to this site which is unsuitable for vehicles.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
In the valley of the river Douve, north of Ploegsteert Wood, were two farms. 'La Petite Douve' was the object of a successful raid by the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion in November 1915 and 'La Plus Douve', which was generally within the Allied lines, was used at times as a battalion headquarters. It was also known as Ration Farm because battalion transport could approach it at night with rations.
Ration Farm (La Plus Douve) Annexe was begun in January 1915 and used until January 1918. It contains 203 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith.
Total Burials: 203.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 178, Australia 12, New Zealand 4, Germany 1. Total 195.
Unidentified Casualties: 8.
Ration Farm (La Plus Douve) Annexe Cemetery, early 1920's. Note the lady leaning against the wall.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
A British soldier looks out across the Douve Valley, as shells explode on the village of Messines, 8th June, 1917. © IWM Q 2295
704 Corporal
Stanley Joseph Barrow
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th July 1917, aged 23.
Plot III. A. 19.
Son of Kate K. and the late John Barrow. of 114, Pall Mall, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
From Narrabri, NSW (originally of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England). Cpl enlisted on 18 November 1915 and embarked on HMAT Marathon which sailed from Sydney on 4 May 1916. He was killed in action, aged 23, on 14 July 1917 at Messines Ridge. At age 16 he came to Australia intending to make his home here and to eventually bring his widowed mother out; his mother never got to Australia.
Stanley Joseph Barrow
33rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
14th July 1917, aged 23.
Plot III. A. 19.
Son of Kate K. and the late John Barrow. of 114, Pall Mall, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
From Narrabri, NSW (originally of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England). Cpl enlisted on 18 November 1915 and embarked on HMAT Marathon which sailed from Sydney on 4 May 1916. He was killed in action, aged 23, on 14 July 1917 at Messines Ridge. At age 16 he came to Australia intending to make his home here and to eventually bring his widowed mother out; his mother never got to Australia.
18672 Serjeant
Robert Ramsey
12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
23rd August 1916, aged 21.
Plot III. C. 2.
Son of Daniel and Ellen Ramsey, of Culmore, Rasharkin, Co. Antrim.
Robert Ramsey
12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
23rd August 1916, aged 21.
Plot III. C. 2.
Son of Daniel and Ellen Ramsey, of Culmore, Rasharkin, Co. Antrim.
11807 Private
Percy William Ratcliffe
8th Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
14th July 1916, aged 20.
Plot III. A. 4.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ratcliffe, of High St., Pembury, Tunbridge Wells.
Percy William Ratcliffe
8th Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
14th July 1916, aged 20.
Plot III. A. 4.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ratcliffe, of High St., Pembury, Tunbridge Wells.
20249 Rifleman
Arthur Shellam
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
27th April 1917, aged 21.
Plot III. A. 12.
Son of Alfred G. Shellam, of Napier, New Zealand.
Arthur Shellam
3rd Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
27th April 1917, aged 21.
Plot III. A. 12.
Son of Alfred G. Shellam, of Napier, New Zealand.
10/3998 Corporal
Lewis James Slater
1st Bn. Otago Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
4th May 1917, aged 20.
Plot III. A. 13.
Son of William and Charlotte Christina Slater.
Lewis James Slater
1st Bn. Otago Regiment, N. Z. E. F.
4th May 1917, aged 20.
Plot III. A. 13.
Son of William and Charlotte Christina Slater.
4392 Private
Frederick Edward Stanley
"B" Coy. 9th Bn. East Surrey Regiment
14th July 1916, aged 21.
Plot III. A. 6
Killed in action at Neuve-Eglise. Son of Frederick H. and Rhoda E. Stanley, of Leafield Cottage, Gibson's Hill, Upper Norwood, London.
Frederick Edward Stanley
"B" Coy. 9th Bn. East Surrey Regiment
14th July 1916, aged 21.
Plot III. A. 6
Killed in action at Neuve-Eglise. Son of Frederick H. and Rhoda E. Stanley, of Leafield Cottage, Gibson's Hill, Upper Norwood, London.
Plotting reference: 28M 21 22 27 28 Key feature: Mont Vidaigne, Mont Rouge, Locrestraat, Locre Chateau, Le Douve. © IWM (BOX 164-919-53B-28M-1918)
