RIFLE HOUSE CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.73582. Longitude: 2.90057
© Geerhard Joos
Location Information
Rifle House Cemetery is located 12.5 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.
2 Kms after Mesen lies the left hand turning onto Rue St.Yvon. Immediately after passing Prowse Point Military Cemetery lies a right hand turning onto a small road track (unsuitable for vehicles). 1.5 Kms after this junction lies the cemetery, on the track leading into the wood.
Visiting Information
This cemetery is located in the wood at Ploegsteert and access is only possible via a track in the woods to which motor vehicles are not allowed - a post is in position preventing vehicle access.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Rifle House Cemetery was named from a strong point, of which no trace now exists. The earliest graves are those of the 1st Rifle Brigade in Plot IV, Rows E to J, beginning in November 1914. The latest are from June 1916. The cemetery was in German hands from 10 April to 29 September 1918.
Rifle House Cemetery contains 230 First World War burials.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 227, Canada 1. Total 228.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 2.
Rifle House Cemetery is located 12.5 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.
2 Kms after Mesen lies the left hand turning onto Rue St.Yvon. Immediately after passing Prowse Point Military Cemetery lies a right hand turning onto a small road track (unsuitable for vehicles). 1.5 Kms after this junction lies the cemetery, on the track leading into the wood.
Visiting Information
This cemetery is located in the wood at Ploegsteert and access is only possible via a track in the woods to which motor vehicles are not allowed - a post is in position preventing vehicle access.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Rifle House Cemetery was named from a strong point, of which no trace now exists. The earliest graves are those of the 1st Rifle Brigade in Plot IV, Rows E to J, beginning in November 1914. The latest are from June 1916. The cemetery was in German hands from 10 April to 29 September 1918.
Rifle House Cemetery contains 230 First World War burials.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 227, Canada 1. Total 228.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 2.
Panoramic view of smashed German fortress and trenches; edge of Ploegsteert Wood, 11th June 1917, destroyed during the Battle of Messines.
© IWM (Q 2321)
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
Second Lieutenant
Archibald Steuart Lindsay Daniell, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. Rifle Brigade
19th December 1914, aged 19.
Plot IV. G. 5.
Son of Marion Hamilton Field-Richards (formerly Daniell), of 35, Wellington Square, Chelsea, London, and the late Lindsey 1-A. Daniell.
Archibald Steuart Lindsay Daniell, Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. Rifle Brigade
19th December 1914, aged 19.
Plot IV. G. 5.
Son of Marion Hamilton Field-Richards (formerly Daniell), of 35, Wellington Square, Chelsea, London, and the late Lindsey 1-A. Daniell.
Captain
Ernest George Dashwood
1st/4th Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
12th May 1915, aged 35.
Plot III. F. 2.
Son of Sir George J. E. Dashwood, 6th Bart., and the Lady Mary Dashwood, of The Warren, Abingdon, Berks. His brothers 2nd Lt. L A Dashwood and Lt. W J Dashwood also fell.
Ernest George Dashwood
1st/4th Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
12th May 1915, aged 35.
Plot III. F. 2.
Son of Sir George J. E. Dashwood, 6th Bart., and the Lady Mary Dashwood, of The Warren, Abingdon, Berks. His brothers 2nd Lt. L A Dashwood and Lt. W J Dashwood also fell.
Lieutenant
John Kenelm Digby
1st/7th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
4th August 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. B. 1.
Inscription "And For A Helmet The Hope Of Salvation 1 Thess. V. 8."
Son of Algernon and Richenda Digby, of Fakenham, Norfolk.
John Kenelm Digby
1st/7th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
4th August 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. B. 1.
Inscription "And For A Helmet The Hope Of Salvation 1 Thess. V. 8."
Son of Algernon and Richenda Digby, of Fakenham, Norfolk.
2006 Lance Corporal
John William George Hughes
1st/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
18th June 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. G. .
Son of George and Betsy Maria Hughes, of 13, Paradise St., Rugby.
John William George Hughes
1st/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
18th June 1915, aged 24.
Plot II. G. .
Son of George and Betsy Maria Hughes, of 13, Paradise St., Rugby.
Lieutenant
Albert Nelson King
"C" Battery, 53rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
10th May 1916.
Plot I. D. 3.
Albert Nelson King
"C" Battery, 53rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
10th May 1916.
Plot I. D. 3.
1335 Private
Joseph Lamb
"C" Coy. 10th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
6th April 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 2.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Lamb, of 26, Dalrymple St., Greenock.
Joseph Lamb
"C" Coy. 10th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
6th April 1916, aged 21.
Plot I. B. 2.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Lamb, of 26, Dalrymple St., Greenock.
Captain
The Honourable Richard George Grenville Morgan-Grenville, Twice Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. Rifle Brigade
19th December 1914, aged 27.
Plot IV. F. 4.
Master of Kinloss. Son of Baroness Kinloss, of Moreton Lodge, Buckingham, and the late Maj. Luis Ferdinand Harry Courthope Morgan-Grenville.
The Honourable Richard George Grenville Morgan-Grenville, Twice Mentioned in Despatches
1st Bn. Rifle Brigade
19th December 1914, aged 27.
Plot IV. F. 4.
Master of Kinloss. Son of Baroness Kinloss, of Moreton Lodge, Buckingham, and the late Maj. Luis Ferdinand Harry Courthope Morgan-Grenville.
Canadian infantry in a front line breastwork in Ploegstreet Wood, 19th October 1915. © IWM (Q 29024)
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
A Stokes trench mortar in a front line post of the 18th Battalion, near Ploegsteert, photographed under wintry conditions. Identified, left to right: Lieutenant A Johnson; Captain W G Graham MC and an unidentified soldier.
Ploegsteert Wood, Belgium. 26 December 1917. Men of the 22nd Battalion, laying down wire entanglements, behind the line at Ploegsteert Wood. Hill 63 is seen in the background. The men were living in hutments at Kortepyp Camp where Christmas Day was spent. The Battalion was in reserve and fatigue parties were sent forward daily by the light railway to Ploegsteert where wiring was carried out and extensive salvaging operations undertaken under the supervision of Major J. S. Dooley MC. The area was very quiet at this time and received only desultory shelling.
View of an unfinished sandbagged dugout at 17th February 1918; Ulster Drive in the Ploegsteert sector in Belgium.
