Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery
Location
Larch Wood Cemetery is located 4 km south-east of Ieper town centre, on the Komenseweg, connecting Ieper to Komen (N366). 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. 2.7 km along the Komenseweg lies the left hand turning onto Larch Wood Cemetery.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.82803 | 2.92325 | Map |
The cemetery itself is located 400 metres along a rough single tracked road which leads to an ungated railway crossing, immediately adjacent to the site.
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun in April 1915 at the North-end of a small plantation of larches. It was used by troops holding this sector, particularly the 46th (North Midland) Division and the 1st Dorsets, until April 1918.
It was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Ypres and from the following smaller cemeteries:
- America Cross Roads German Cemetery, Wervicq, (named from a cabaret between Wervicq and Kruiseecke) contained the graves of five soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in October, 1914.
- Bruges General Cemetery, St. Michel, contained the graves of 32 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and one Canadian merchant seaman.
- Cortemarck German Cemetery, No.1, a little North-West of the village, contained the grave of two RFC officers.
- Eerneghem German Cemetery, a little East of Eerneghem, that of one RAF Officer.
- Ghistelles Churchyard contained the graves of two British soldiers who fell in July, 1917. There was a German aerodrome at Ghistelles, and the Germans used a plot in the Churchyard for war burials.
- Groenenberg German Cemetery, Zantvoorde (on the South side of Shrewsbury Forest), contained the graves of four soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in February, 1915.
- Handzaeme German Cemetery (on the North side of the village) those of two Canadian soldiers who fell in May, 1915.
- Ichteghem German Cemetery (a little West of Ichteghem) those of two unknown RAF Officers.
- Leffinghe German Cemetery (on the North side of the village) contained the graves of one RFC officer who fell in July, 1917, and three unknown soldiers from the United Kingdom.
- Marckhove German Cemetery, Cortemarck, those of ten soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom who fell in 1918.
- Oudenburg Churchyard contained the graves of two soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in 1917.
- Tenbrielen Communal Cemetery German Extension those of six who fell in 1914.
- Thourout German Cemetery No.2 (on the road to Jabbeke, beyond the railway line), contained the graves of seven soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and one from Canada.
- Vladslo German Cemetery (near the Church) those of two RFC officers who fell in 1917.
- Warneton Sud-et-Bas German Cemetery those of two unknown British soldiers who fell in 1918.
- Wervicq Communal Cemetery and its Extensions (on the Belgian side of the Lys) contained the graves of 62 soldiers from the United Kingdom and six from Canada.
- Wijnendaele German Cemetery, Thourout, contained the graves of two flying officers from the United Kingdom and one from Canada.
- Zantvoorde German Cemetery (called also De Voorstraat No.49) those of eleven soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in 1914.
The cemetery contains 856 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 321 of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to 82 casualties known or believed to be buried in the cemetery. Other special memorials record the names of five casualties buried in German cemeteries whose graves could not be found on concentration.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Hill 60 can be seen quite easily
Lance Corporal Henry Chilton 12840
5th Bn Canadian Infantry
Saskatchewan Regiment
Died on 3rd June 1916 aged 34
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Chilton,
of 1212, Wolfe Avenue, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Native of Mount Forest, Ontario
Grave: V C 4
Enlisted August 12th, 1914
Moosomin, Sask. Can.
Private Alfred Leaversuch 202297
8th Bn Yorkshire Regiment
Died on 15th July 1917 aged 17
Son of Mr. and Mrs. A Leaversuch,
of 30, Queen St., Weedon, Northants
Special Memorial B 16
Private John Mearns S/15545
2nd Bn Cameron Highlanders
Died on 23rd April 1915 aged 17
Son of George and Louise Mearns,
of 352, Argyle Rd., Walkerville, Ontario, Canada.
Native of Aberdeen
Grave: II J 3
Private R Warren 7015
1st Bn Devonshire Regiment
Died on 26th April 1915 aged 17
Son of Ann Warren,
of 25, East St., Torre, Torquay,
and the late William H. B. Warren
Grave: I M 8
Corporal Percival Charlott 5659
20th Hussars
Died on 18th October 1914
Son of Thomas and Alice Charlott,
of Waddesdon, Aylesbury, England
Husband of Annie Charlott,
of 179, Chalmers Avenue, Winnipeg, Canada
Grave: IV D 3
Private W Coy 8742
1st Bn South Wales Borderers
Died on 4th November 1914 aged 34
Served as STUBBINS
Son of Helen Coy, of 49, Grove St.,
Derby, and the late Henry Coy
Grave: IV D 9