SPOILBANK
CEMETERY

Ieper

West-Vlaanderen

Belgium

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: Leave Ieper via the Lille Gate, cross the Ieper ring road in the direction of Armentieres and Lille. The road then changes name to Rijselseweg, after 1km turn left into Komenseweg, continue for 2.3km before going right into Vaartstraat. The cemetery is a further 1.6km on the right.

The village and commune of Zillebeke were in British hands for the greater part of the war, although the number of cemeteries in the area is testimony to the severe fighting that took place here.

The Ypres-Comines canal (now disused) ran south-east from Ypres between Zillebeke and Voormezeele; and about 2km south-west of Zillebeke village, where it approaches the old front line, the canal bed lies between banks of spoil thrown up when it was constructed. On the North side of the canal is "Chester Farm", and nearby are Chester Farm and Spoilbank cemeteries.

Spoilbank cemetery was at times known as Chester Farm Lower Cemetery or Gordon Terrace Cemetery; it was started in February 1915, and used by troops holding this part of the line until March 1918. Particulary associated with this cemetery are the 2^nd Suffolks, who suffered heavy casualties on "The Bluff" in early 1916. The cemetery was enlarged after the armistice by the concentration of burials from the surrounding battlefields.

CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 436; Canada 16; Australia 68; Total Burials: 520

G/11271 Private

Thomas Charles Sturton Simmonds

"D" Coy. 11th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment

killed in action near the "Spoilbank" 11/12/1916, aged 26.

Son of William James and Catherine Simmonds; husband of Florence Mabel Parnell (formerly Simmonds), of Sandridge Garage, Ascot, Berks. Native of Waterford.

Plot: I. B. 2.