THE HUTS CEMETERY
Dickebusch
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates - Latitude: 50.82333, Longitude: 2.81984
Roll of Honour
Listed by Surname
© Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
The Huts Cemetery is located 6 Kms south-west of Ieper town centre.
From Ieper town centre the Dikkebusseweg (N375) is reached via Elverdingsestraat, straight over a roundabout onto J. Capronstraat (for 30 metres), then left along M. Fochlaan. Immediately after the train station the first right hand turning is the Dikkebusseweg.
On reaching Dikkebus village the cemetery is reached by taking a right hand turning onto the Melkerijstraat. This road continues for 1 Km, over a crossroads and bending sharply to the right, then meeting a junction with the Steenakkerstraat. The cemetery is located 200 metres after this junction on the Steenakkerstraat.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
This cemetery takes its name from a line of huts strung along the road from Dickebusch (now Dikkebus) to Brandhoek, which were used by field ambulances during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Plots I to X and XII to XIV were filled between July and November 1917. Plots XV and XI followed. Nearly two-thirds of the burials are of gunners as many artillery positions existed nearby.
The cemetery was closed in April 1918 when the German advance (the Battle of the Lys) brought the front line very close. The advance was finally halted on the eastern side of the village, following fierce fighting at Dickebusch Lake, on 8 May.
There are now 1,094 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery.
Total Burials: 1,100.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 820, Australia 243, New Zealand 19, Germany 6, Canada 5, South Africa 4, India 1. Total 1,098.
Cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith
The Huts Cemetery is located 6 Kms south-west of Ieper town centre.
From Ieper town centre the Dikkebusseweg (N375) is reached via Elverdingsestraat, straight over a roundabout onto J. Capronstraat (for 30 metres), then left along M. Fochlaan. Immediately after the train station the first right hand turning is the Dikkebusseweg.
On reaching Dikkebus village the cemetery is reached by taking a right hand turning onto the Melkerijstraat. This road continues for 1 Km, over a crossroads and bending sharply to the right, then meeting a junction with the Steenakkerstraat. The cemetery is located 200 metres after this junction on the Steenakkerstraat.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible via the main entrance.
Historical Information
This cemetery takes its name from a line of huts strung along the road from Dickebusch (now Dikkebus) to Brandhoek, which were used by field ambulances during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Plots I to X and XII to XIV were filled between July and November 1917. Plots XV and XI followed. Nearly two-thirds of the burials are of gunners as many artillery positions existed nearby.
The cemetery was closed in April 1918 when the German advance (the Battle of the Lys) brought the front line very close. The advance was finally halted on the eastern side of the village, following fierce fighting at Dickebusch Lake, on 8 May.
There are now 1,094 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery.
Total Burials: 1,100.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 820, Australia 243, New Zealand 19, Germany 6, Canada 5, South Africa 4, India 1. Total 1,098.
Cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith
Original Grave Markers in The Huts Cemetery
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Shot at Dawn
242904 Private Henry Hughes, 1st/5th Bn. Yorks and Lancs Regiment, executed for desertion, 10th April 1918, aged 27. Plot 15. D. 15. Son of John Charles and Ellen Hughes, of 513, Gilpin St., Sheffield. He was already subject to a sentence of death (presumably suspended) when he deserted. (Putkowski, p. 241)
8/2733 Private Victor Manson Spencer, 1st Bn. (Otago) New Zealand Regiment, executed for desertion, 24th February 1918, aged 23. Plot 15. B. 10.He served briefly in the Dardanelles; & when on the Western Front, missed a Defaulters’ roll-call for which Field Punishment was imposed. A month later he was in hospital for shell-shock & went missing on the day of his discharge. His absence of 2 weeks resulted in a sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment; & after early release, he was returned to his battalion from which he again went absent. More than 4 months later, he was caught in bed in a house in a rear area where French civilians seemed to have been harbouring him. (Putkowski, pp. 236-237)
242904 Private Henry Hughes, 1st/5th Bn. Yorks and Lancs Regiment, executed for desertion, 10th April 1918, aged 27. Plot 15. D. 15. Son of John Charles and Ellen Hughes, of 513, Gilpin St., Sheffield. He was already subject to a sentence of death (presumably suspended) when he deserted. (Putkowski, p. 241)
8/2733 Private Victor Manson Spencer, 1st Bn. (Otago) New Zealand Regiment, executed for desertion, 24th February 1918, aged 23. Plot 15. B. 10.He served briefly in the Dardanelles; & when on the Western Front, missed a Defaulters’ roll-call for which Field Punishment was imposed. A month later he was in hospital for shell-shock & went missing on the day of his discharge. His absence of 2 weeks resulted in a sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment; & after early release, he was returned to his battalion from which he again went absent. More than 4 months later, he was caught in bed in a house in a rear area where French civilians seemed to have been harbouring him. (Putkowski, pp. 236-237)
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
4. 7-inch gun (with caterpillar wheels) in position at Dickebusch, spring 1915. © IWM (Q 53131)
Gunner of the 89th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery writing his wishes to the enemy on a 12 inch howitzer shell; near Dickebusch, 14th June 1916. He has written "With Best Wishes" on one of the shells. All shells are transit-plugged. © IWM (Q 707)
12 inch howitzer on railway mounting of the 89th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery being prepared for action; near Dickebusch, 14th June 1916. © IWM (Q 713)
12 inch howitzer (Mark I) on railway mounting of the 89th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery in action; near Dickebusch, 14th June 1916. © IWM (Q 714)
