ARTILLERY WOOD

CEMETERY

Ieper

West-Vlaanderen

Belgium

Before the Battle of Pilckem Ridge in July 1917, the village of Boezinge was directly facing the German front lines over the Yser canal. By the end of that month the German lines had been pushed back and Artillery Wood, which lay just east of the canal, had been captured by the Guards Division. It was they who started this cemetery in an area just north of the wood after the battle; it continued to serve as a front line cemetery until March 1918. There were 141 graves here at the time of the armistice, but the cemetery was enlarged when burials were moved here from the battlefield clearances and other small cemeteries in the area.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: Take N369 toward Diksmuide, right into Brugstraat, go to the end of Brugstraat over the bridge and straight on along Molenstraat, the cemetery is located on Poezelstraat which is the second turning on the right after the bridge, the cemetery can be seen on the right hand side of the road, approx 200m from the junction with Molenstraat.

Casualty Details: UK 1255,  Canada 40,  Australia 5,  New Zealand 2,  South Africa 1,  Unidentified 4, Total Burials; 1307

200255 Lance Corporal

Thomas Cowen

1st/5th Bn. Posted to 16th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers.

21/02/1918, aged 21.

Son of Thomas and Alice Cowen, of 24, Back Manchester St., Heywood, Lancashire.

Plot V. C. 16.

Picture courtesy of Mike Ward

10988 Private

John (Jack) Lynam

1st Bn. Irish Guards

03/08/1917, aged 21.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Lynam, of Meelick, Rosenallis, Queen's Co.

Plot X. C. 18.

Jack first joined The Leinster Regiment in Portlaoise Barracks, though he was badly treated there. He met some friends who told him Irish Guards were looking for tall men. He deserted from Portlaoise, went home and buried his uniform. He went with three friends to the Barracks in Mullingar and joined the Irish Guards. He joined with his cousin John Redmond, and he was close by, crossing "no mans land" when great uncle Jack was killed by a German shell. John Redmond was the only survivor.

Picture courtesy of Noel J. Coonan, great nephew of this soldier

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