Bethleem Farm East Cemetery
Location
Bethleem Farm East cemetery is located 10 Km south of Ieper town centre and 1 km south east of Mesen, on a road called the Rijselsestraat, which leads from Mesen market square. (Mesen itself is located 10 km from Ieper via the N365 connecting Ieper to Armentières).
The cemetery lies 1 Km beyond Mesen market place along the Rijselstraat, on the left hand side of the road.
Visitors to this site should note a 250 metre grassed access path which is unsuitable for vehicles.
On the other side of the farm, and just a few hundred metres from where you left the road, you will find Bethleem Farm West Cemetery
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.760839 | 2.911313 | Map |
Historical Information
Bethleem Farm East Cemetery was made by Australian units when the farm was captured by the 3rd Australian Division on 7th June 1917 in the Battle of Messines.
The majority of the burials are those of officers and men killed in action on 8th or 10th June, though the cemetery continued to be used until the following September.
There are 44 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. Eight of the burials are unidentified but a special memorial commemorates one casualty know to be buried among them.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith.
The easily identifiable shape of Mesen church in the distance
Private Francis Seymour 1672
42nd Bn AIF
Died on 9th June 1917 aged 19
Son of Henry and Mary Seymour
of Morningside, Brisbane, Queensland
Native of Beaudesert, Queensland
Grave: E 6
2nd Lieutenant Thomas Bartley
42nd Bn AIF
Died on 10th June 1917 aged 24
Son of William and Mary Bartley
Husband of Constance Bartley
of Derby St, Highgate Hill, Brisbane, Queensland
Native of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Grave: D 1