Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery
Location
Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery is located 8 Km south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate and onto Armentières.
From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg. On reaching the village of Wijtschate the first right hand turning is the Hospicestraat leading onto the village square.
The Wijtschatestraat leads from the village square, 1.5 Km beyond which lies the Scheerstraat on the left hand side.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.77838 | 2.86702 | Map |
As you turn onto Scheerstraat notice Peckham Farm Crater in the field
In the distance on the right you can see the tower of Mesen Church
The cemetery itself lies 500 metres along the Scheerstraat on the left hand side of the road. Visitors to this site should note the 200 metre grassed access path which is unsuitable for vehicles.
Wijtschate village on the ridge behind the cemetery
Historical Information
The cemetery is named after a windmill (Molen in Flemish) which stood nearby and contains the graves of men killed in action on the first (or, in three cases the second) day of the Battle of Messines in 1917.
The cemetery was destroyed in subsequent operations but found again after the Armistice.
There are 58 casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. Special memorials commemorate six servicemen who were known to have been buried in the cemetery but whose graves were later destroyed.
The cemetery was designed by J R Truelove.
As you walk out of the cemetery the Spanbroekmolen Crater
is on the hill in front of you
Serjeant Harold Austen 14/40155
14th Bn Royal Irish Rifles
Died on 7th June 1917 aged 22
Son of Charles and Emma Austen
of 5, The Crescent, Havelock Road, Tonbridge, Kent
Native of Tonbridge, Kent
Grave: D 12
Rifleman Frederick McKee 18/1542
14th Bn Royal Irish Rifles
Died on 7th June 1917 aged 29
Son of Mrs M McKee
of 77, Greenwell St., Newtownards, Co. Down
Grave: D 8