SANCTUARY WOOD
CEMETERY
Ieper
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GENERAL DIRECTIONS: From Ieper take the N8 Menen Road, at the roundabout (Hellfire Corner) continue straight over, after 2km turn right onto Canadalaan and drive for a further 1.5km, the cemetery is on the right, access and parking are easy.
A further 100m beyond the cemetery is the Hill 62 Canadian Memorial.
Sanctuary Wood is one of the larger woods in the commune of Zillebeke. It was given its name in 1914 when it was used to screen troops behind the front line. The wood was the scene of fierce fighting in September 1915 and was at the centre of the Battle of Mount Sorrel, in June 1916.
There were originally three Commonwealth cemeteries at Sanctuary Wood before June 1916, all of which were started in May-August 1915. The first two were on the western edge of the wood and the third in a clearing further east. All of these cemeteries were practically obliterated during the Battle of Mount Sorrel, but traces of one of them were found, and this became the nucleus of the present Sanctuary Wood Cemetery.
At the armistice, there were 137 burials here, but from 1927-1932 Plots 2-5 were added, and the cemetery was also extended as far as ‘Maple Avenue’, when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields. These burials came mostly from local areas, although some were brought in from as far away as Nieuwpoort.
Further Information: This cemetery contains the grave of Lieutenant G. W. L. Talbot, in whose memory Talbot House at Poperinge was founded by his brother N. S. Talbot. This Officer can be found in Plot 1.
CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 1735; Canada 145; Australia 88; New Zealand 18; South Africa 3; Germany 1; Total Burials: 1990
432404 Corporal
Rees Lloyd Roberts
49th Bn. Canadian Infantry
(Alberta Regiment)
02/05/1916, aged 30.
Son of Mrs. Ellen Roberts, of Bryntirion, Llanfairfechan, Caernarvonshire.
Commemorated on a Special memorial within the cemetery
This Soldiers death is recorded in " A City Goes to war"
Rees Lloyd Roberts was born Saturday January 10th, 1885 in Bryn Rhedyn, Llanfairfechan a small coastal village in North Wales. One of seven children (2 girls & 5 boys) to Richard (1856-1901) and Ellen (1856-1932). He was Baptised Sunday the 8th February at Horeb Chapel. Rees attended the National school in the village, after leaving, he like his family before him went to work in the local quarries.
Rees Married Catherine Parry (1884-1911) of Tregarth a small village near Bangor, North Wales, on Friday February 22nd 1907. They lived at 2 Bryn Tirion Llanfairfechan. They were married for four years when Catherine suffering from Tuberculosis passed away on Sunday July 16th 1911, Rees was at her bedside. They never had children. Rees decided with a friend from the village (Robert Roberts) to emigrate to Canada, which they did in c:1913, Rees Lloyd found work as a miner. On Wednesday 6th of January 1915 just four days to his 30th birthday Rees Lloyd enlisted into the 49th Bn Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regt.) in Edmonton.
Private Roberts 432404 set sail from Montreal on SS Metagarma to England on Wednesday May the 5th 1915. Whilst in England Rees was promoted to L/Cpl. The Thursday before Easter 1915 Rees Lloyd went back for a short leave to see his mother and family, it would be the last time they were to see him again. Saturday 9th of October 1915 Rees and the battalion set sail for France and then moved to Belgium and Sanctuary Wood, Rees was promoted to Cpl in the field on Monday the 3rd of April 1916. Twenty nine days later on Tuesday May 2nd 1916 Rees was killed in action. He is commemorated at Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Belgium.
Rees Lloyd still as a large family living in Llanfairfechan . Commemorated on Page 155 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
Image courtesy Ian Davies of Llanfairfechan, North Wales, Ian would be delighted to here from any one who has any additional information of his relatives time in Canada so he can pass on the information he has gathered, please contact us by email and we will pass on details.
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