GROOTEBEEK BRITISH CEMETERY
Poperinge
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GENERAL DIRECTIONS: The cemetery is 8km west of Ieper, take the N308 toward Poperinge, continue along this road to the village of Vlamertinghe, then take a left turn onto the Bellestraat (N315), after crossing the N38 Ieper-Poperinge road the cemetery is to be found 5km along Bellestraat which changes name to Vlamertingseweg, the cemetery is on the right in the hamlet of Ouderdom.
This cemetery was started by Field Ambulances and fighting units in April 1918 during the Battle of the Lys, the cemetery, situated by the side of the Poperinghe-Wytschaete road was originally called Ouderdom Military Cemetery, it was later renamed Grootebeek after the stream which runs beside it, the cemetery was then used spasmodically until the end of September and it also absorbed a small Indian cemetery which had been made here back in 1915. There were once the graves of three French soldiers here, but they have now been removed. This is a very pretty cemetery and contains a bridge over the "Grootebeek", which must be crossed to gain access to the cemetery.
Victoria Cross: There is a special memorial here to Private John Lynn VC, DCM, 2nd Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers who died from the effects of gas poisoning, he died on 2nd May 1915 and was buried in Vlamertinghe Churchyard, although his grave was later destroyed.
CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 100; New Zealand 1; South Africa 1; India 7; Total Burials: 109
Latest additions to the site | Belgian Cemetery Index | French Cemetery Index
Other Cemeteries and Memorials around the world | British Cemeteries and Memorials | 1939-1945 Cemetery Index
Cemeteries with Victoria Cross burials | Cemeteries with "Shot at Dawn" burials | Regimental Badge Archive | Roll of Honour
Information on how to submit a photograph or image to the site | Book Reviews | About Us and our task | Links
Contact Us (We always reply) | Site Map | Miscellaneous articles