Woods Cemetery
Location
Woods Cemetery is located 4 km south east of Ieper town centre, on the Verbrandemolenstraat a road leading from the Komenseweg, connecting Ieper to Komen (N336).
From Ieper town centre the Komenseweg is located via the Rijselsestraat, through the Rijselpoort (Lille Gate) and crossing the Ieper ring road, towards Armentières and Lille. The road name then changes to Rijselseweg.
1 km along the Rijselseweg lies the left hand turning onto Komenseweg. 2.5 km along the Komenseweg lies the right hand turning onto the Vaartstraat. 900 metres along the Vaartstraat lies the left hand turning onto the Verbrandemolenstraat. 400 metres along the Verbrandemolenstraat a short distance from the road is the cemetery.
Visitors to this site should note the 100 metre grassed access path leading to the cemetery which is not accessible by vehicle.
In other words ! Coming out of Ieper follow the N336 until you turn left immediately before the railway line, following numerous CWGC Panels including Railway Dugouts which you will pass shortly on your right.
Just after this you will see Blauwepoort Farm Cemetery to your right and within a kilometre you will turn right following the CWGC panels for this group of cemeteries.
A short distance later as you turn left into the trees you keep going straight on at the next intersection and within a few hundred metres you will come to a small parking bay and panels guiding you to the three cemeteries in this locality.
The grass path splits within a hundred metres. Straight on will bring you to Woods Cemetery. Taking the path to your right will bring you to the 1st DCLI Cemetery. Continuing along the front of that cemetery (passing its gate) and then turning right will bring you to Hedge Row Trench Cemetery.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.82236 | 2.91557 | Map |
Historical Information
The commune of Zillebeke contains many British cemeteries; the front-line trenches ran through it during the greater part of the War.
The Woods Cemetery was begun by the 1st Dorsets and the 1st East Surreys in April 1915, and it was used until September 1917 by units holding this sector, and by the Field Ambulances of their Divisions.
The graves of the 2nd, 3rd and 10th Canadian Battalions and the London Regiment are particularly numerous.
There are now over 300, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 30 are unidentified.
The cemetery covers an area of 3,181 square metres and is enclosed by a low brick wall.
The Cloth Hall of Ieper is only a few kilometres away
Private F Fickus 3/7541
1st Bn Dorsetshire Regiment
Died on 16th April 1915
Husband of Mrs M Fickus,
of 19 Miller’s Close, The Grove, Dorchester
Grave: I B 24
Private G Gristey 10906
1st Bn East Surrey Regiment
Died on 23rd June 1915 aged 24
Son of Laura Rixen (formerly Gristey),
of 20 Cranbrook Rd, Bethnal Green, London
Grave: 1 A 22
Private Hubert Mills 406355
1st Bn CEF
Western Ontario Regiment
Died on 26th April 1916 aged 17
Son of John and Martha Mills, of Fort Erie, Hamilton, Ontario
Our Hubert peacefully sleeping
Resting at last
Parents
Grave: II E 7
Other cemeteries in the area
If you wish to visit the other two cemeteries in this area — retrace your way along the grass path to its branch, off to your left. Take that route and a short walk will bring you to the 1st DCLI Cemetery and from there you can proceed to Hedge Row Trench.