Motor Car Corner Cemetery is located 17 Km south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate and on to 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. 2 Km after the village of Ploegsteert lies the left hand turning onto Chemin de la Blanche (Witteweg).
The cemetery lies 500 metres after the first right hand turning from the Witteweg on the right hand side of the road.
Coming from Armentières you cross the border at Le Bizet – just a large sign in the middle of the main street. Continue around the one way system and on the far side of the village you will see the CWGC panel for Motor Car cemetery.
GPS | N | E | OSM |
---|---|---|---|
Decimal | 50.70964 | 2.89299 | Map |
In this sector, Motor Car Corner marked the point beyond which military cars were not allowed to proceed towards the front.
The cemetery was begun in June 1917 at the outbreak of the Battle of Messines and continued in use until the end of March 1918. It was originally sheltered by an avenue of trees and used in conjunction with a trench railway.
The cemetery was in German hands between 10 April and 29 September 1918, during which period they extended it northwards. These German graves were later removed.
The cemetery now contains 131 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. One German war grave remains.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith.
The two brothers were in their billet near Pont-de-Nieppe (Just over the border in France) when it was struck by a shell, killing them and badly injuring their other brother William (30 years old). William would return to New Zealand following surgery in England in July 1917.
Private Arthur Taylor 30990
3rd Bn Auckland Regiment
Died on 13th June 1917
Grave: A 18
Private Patrick O’Shaughnessy 36882
3rd Bn Otago Regiment
Died on 16th August 1917
Son of Mr J O’shaughnessy, of Ballylin East, Cranghwell, Co Galway, Ireland
Grave: B 23