LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY
CEMETERY

Poperinge

West-Vlaanderen

Belgium

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery is located 12 Kms west of Ieper town centre, on the Boescheepseweg, a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308) is reached via Elverdingsestraat, then over two small roundabouts in the J. Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J. Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. On reaching Poperinge, the N308 joins the left hand turning onto the R33, Poperinge ring road. The R33 ring continues to the left hand junction with the N38 Frans-Vlaanderenweg. 800 metres along the N38 lies the left hand turning onto Lenestraat. The next immediate right hand turning leads onto Boescheepseweg. The cemetery itself is located 2 Kms along Boescheepseweg on the right hand side of the road.

During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15th Hopital D'Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces. From April to August 1918, the casualty clearing stations fell back before the German advance and field ambulances (including a French ambulance) took their places. The cemetery contains 9,901 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 883 war graves of other nationalities, mostly French and German. The only concentration burials are 24 added to Plot XXXI in 1920 from isolated positions near Poperinghe and 17 added to Plot XXXII from St. DENIJS CHURCHYARD in 1981. It is the second largest Commonwealth cemetery in Belgium. There are 8 Special Memorial headstones to men known to be buried in this cemetery, these are located together alongside Plot 32 near the Stone of Remembrance. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Victoria Cross: Major Frederick Harold Tubb VC, 7^th Bn. Australian Infantry, died of wounds 20^th September 1917, Plot XIX. C. 5. Son of Harry and Emma E. Tubb, of St. Helena, Longwood East, Victoria, Australia. Of Longwood.

Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29328 dated 15th Oct., 1915, records the following:-For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on 9th August, 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing, but Lieutenant Tubb led his men back, repulsed the enemy, and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion Lieutenant Tubb, although wounded in the head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness and rebuilt it, and finally succeeded in maintaining his position under very heavy bomb fire.

Shot at Dawn: Private William Baker, 26th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, executed for desertion 14/08/1918, plot 25. B. 22.

CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 7386; Canada 1058; Australia 1131; New Zealand 291; South Africa 29; India 3; Entirely Unidentified 3; Non war casualty 1; USA 3; German 223; France 658; Total Burials: 10,786

French plot

German plot

58104 Private Robert Wilson 20th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) Died of wounds 05/04/1916. Aged 35. Son of Samuel Wilson and Eliza Kennedy Wilson, of Main St., Cullybackey, Co. Antrim, Ireland. Plot V. C. 39. Picture Courtesy of Joe O' Raw and William Kilgour	2340 Private Ernest Pheasey 5th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). 17/08/1915, aged 30. Plot III. C. 15A Picture courtesy of Tony Seymour
216472 Gunner Arthur Thomas (Tommy) Saye "D" Battery, 157th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 05/10/1918, aged 20. Born 28/04/1898, the son of Walter and Sarah Saye, of Great Wigborough, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex. Brother of Ernest Saye, who is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, follow link for an image of Ernest Saye. Plot XXX. A. 5. Picture courtesy of Heather Johnson, great-niece of this soldier	75702 Driver Walter Hogg "B" Battery, 124th Bde. Royal Field Artillery 25/10/1917, aged 23. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hogg, of 5, Russell St., Wigan, Lancashire. Plot XXII. A. 18A Picture courtesy of Barry Wignall, great nephew of this soldier
10055 Corporal Robert Morrison 8th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders 23/08/1917 Plot XVIII. A. 3A. Picture courtesy of Charlie Morrison grandson of this soldier	447088 Private Charles Hudson 14th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) 11/06/1916 Plot VII. C. 24A. Charles emigrated from the UK to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1907 with his wife Kate Amelia (nee Allen) and four of their children, a further son was born in Calgary. He has descendants now living in the Toronto area of Canada. Charles worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad and because of his expertise in transportation it is thought he was assigned the dangerous work of moving military equipment around. On searching the War Diaries, no trace could be found of a battle on the day he died. *Picture courtesy of great nephew Jeffrey Essex*
85246 Pioneer Samuel James Fiske 254th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers 28/09/1917, aged 41. Husband of Emily J. Fiske, 70 Nicholas Street, Norwich. Plot XXIV. D. 19. Picture courtesy of Eric Cork, his wife is the granddaughter of this soldier	Second Lieutenant John (Jack) White Armstrong 20th Bn. Durham Light Infantry 21/10/1918 Plot XXXII. A. 18. Son of William and Elizabeth Armstrong of South Shields, Co Durham; husband of Alice Armstrong (nee Christie) or 54 Blagdon Avenue, South Shields. Picture courtesy of Val Brown, Jack Armstrong's wife Alice, was her great aunt. This picture was taken on Jack's Wedding day.
843 Lance Corporal Edward (Teddy) Davidson 12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles 14/04/1918, aged 19. Plot XXVI. F. 9. Teddy was the son of my Gt. Uncle Edward Davidson. He was born Annalong, County Down, Northern Ireland, in 1899. His parents were Edward and Matilda Annie Davidson (Dear) He enlisted with the 12^th Batallion Royal Irish Rifles, at the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. He was subsequently found to be under age and dismissed. When he reached the legal age he re-enlisted, was sent to France, and was ‘Killed in Action’ within days of his arrival. He died in Flanders on Sunday 14^th April 1918. Teddy is buried in Belgium at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Picture courtesy of Peter Jackson	788226 Private Albert Emmerson 3rd Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) 8/11/1917, aged 24. Plot XXII. G. 1 Picture courtesy of Eddy Emmerson, great nephew of this soldier
	1920 Private Frederick Parker Furness 6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's Regiment 20/12/1915, aged 18. Son of John and Frances Mary Furness, of 28, Brougham St., Skipton, Yorks. Plot II. B. 12. Picture courtesy of great nephew, John Antony Whitehead
3378 Private William Robert Knox 6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 22/09/1917, aged 32. Plot XXIV. F. 3. Born: Dookie, Victoria August 20th, 1885 Son of Robert and Mary Jane Knox. Enlisted July 13 1915. Embarked 11 October 1915 at Adelaide on HMAT Nestor. 6th Battalion AIF No. 3378. Died : September 22 1917 from wounds received on September 20 1917. His Company was in action at Glencorse Wood during the early stages of the Battle for Polygon Wood.	27378 Private Charles Fry 1st Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 09/11/1917, aged 30. Son of Edwin and Emma Fry, of Bramshaw, Lyndhurst, Hants. Plot XXII. CC. 24. See more information on Charles Fry at this link: http://www.seyoung.co.uk/CharlesFry.html Picture courtesy of great niece, Sheila Young
23324 Serjeant Edgar Runyeard, MM 3rd Signal Company, Royal Engineers 20/03/1916, aged 26. Son of Frederick John and Flora Runyeard, of 2, Rowden's Cottages, Sherfield English, Romsey, Hants. Plot V. D. 9. Picture courtesy of great nephew, Tony Moody	11557 Private John Thomas Sargent 6th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 24/07/1915, aged 21. Son of Alfred and Emma Sargent, of 9, Stratford Square, Northgate, Wakefield, Yorks. Born Astley, near Leeds. Plot III. A. 17A. John had just spent a short break at home and grandmother wanted to have a photograph of her three boys, John, Albert and Harry. Harry was my father and he is standing to the left of John but on the right as you look at the picture. The smaller uniforms were made by my grandmother. Sadly on his return John was killed. Picture courtesy of great niece, Barbara Shulver
265329 Private Alfred Ball 6th Bn. Cheshire Regiment 11/02/1917. aged 19. Plot XI. A. 13. Killed by a shell whilst in the front line at Wieltje Picture courtesy of great niece, Lesley McGee	Lieutenant Ellis Hubert Gardiner 7th Bn. Cheshire Regiment 07/10/1918 Born 1887, Mount Farm, Bollington, Cheshire. Son of John and Mary Gardiner Plot XXX. C. 7. Picture courtesy of Eddie Gardiner
266 Rifleman Hugh Kelly 13th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles 16/08/1917, aged 28. Husband of Sarah Kelly, of Bridge St., Comber, Co. Down. XVII. AA. 14. In memory of Hugh Kelly who went to war never to return, leaving behind his wife and children. This photo belonged to his daughter Mary Foster Courtesy of Martin Neal	5548 Private Samuel Trim 68th Coy. Machine Gun Corps. (Infantry) 24/12/1916, aged 33. Husband of Ethel Trim, of Upton Noble, Bruton, Somerset. Plot X. C. 40A. On 22 December the Company was relieved and began to move out of the trenches for rest at Erie Camp, west of Ypres. As it moved through the ruins of Zillebeke around 6pm. Heavy shellfire fell and it is assumed this is where Samuel was wounded. He was evacuated to the CCS at Remy Farm in the hamlet of Lijssenthoek. There Samuel succumbed to his wounds on 24 December 1916. Picture courtesy of Great grandson, Shane Russell
2355 Private Fred Thornton 1st/6th Bn. Duke of Wellington's Regiment 24/08/1915, aged 23. Son of Thomas and Margaret Thornton of Skipton, Yorkshire. Plot III. C. 26A His epitaph reads: ‘Greater love hath no man than his’ The following information must be credited to Mr Steven Howarth who has researched former Ermysted’s Grammar School (Skipton) pupils for his book: 'A Grammar School at War - the Story of Ermysted's Grammar School during the Great War'. http://www.ermysteds.n-yorks.sch.uk/oldboys/atwar/advert.htm Private Thornton’s battalion was posted to the Ypres area of Belgium in July 1915, where they would perform routine trench duty. On 15th August 1915 the different companies of the battalion were sent out to a series of farms in Brigade reserve. Private Thornton’s ‘A’ Company was sent to Modder Farm, which was 1000 yards to the West of the Yser Canal. Here they spent a very quiet day before proceeding to the more dangerous Canal Bank ‘support’ trenches in the evening. It was 1.00 pm on the 17th August when shrapnel from a shell explosion injured Fred in his left arm. Having been taken to a dug-out to be bandaged-up, a second shell exploded wounding him in the abdomen. In the words of Captain M Wright: “Thornton’s case was the hardest bit of luck I have ever known. To be hit once with every chance of getting better, and then a second time – mortally, is terrible”. Private Thornton’s platoon commander and former Master at school, Lieutenant Supple, wrote to his family immediately reassuring them that “everything possible is being done for him”. He was taken to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station at Lijssenthoek, West of Ypres, on the main route to Poperinge. A week later, on the 24th August, he died. He had served just 133 days with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. Picture courtesy of Jill Clayton French, great niece	122723 Private Andrew Boa 226th Coy. Machine Gun Corps. (Infantry) 01/02/1918, aged 32. Son of Andrew and Margaret Boa, husband of Lillian née Stangroom and father of Mary and Andrew, born at Great Thurlow, Suffolk on 24/02/1885, educated at Framlingham College, arrived in France on Christmas Day 1917 and was wounded on 05/01/1918. Bravely born to the last. Plot XXVII. F. 18. Picture courtesy of Roger Boa, nephew of this soldier.