Zantvoorde British Cemetery
Location
Zantvoorde British Cemetery is located 8 Km south east of Ieper town centre, on the Kruisekestraat a road leading from the Meenseweg (N8), connecting Ieper to Menen.
From Ieper town centre the Meenseweg is located via Torhoutstraat and right onto Basculestraat. Basculestraat ends at a main crossroads, directly over which begins the Meenseweg. 7.5 Km along the Meenseweg in the village of Geluveld lies the right hand turning onto Zandvoordestraat.
At the end of the Zandvoordestraat is the left hand turning onto Kruisekestraat. The cemetery itself is located 100 metres along the Kruisekestraat on the left hand side of the road.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.813501 | 2.983582 | Map |
Historical Information
On 30th October 1914, the village of Zantvoorde (now Zandvoorde) was held by the 1st and 2nd Life Guards, numbering between 300 and 400 men. It was bombarded for over an hour with heavy guns and then taken by the 39th German Division and three attached battalions.
The whole front of the 3rd Cavalry Division was driven back to the Klein-Zillebeke ridge. The village could not be retaken and remained in German hands until 28th September 1918.
Zantvoorde British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields and nearby German cemeteries. Many were those of soldiers who died in the desperate fighting round Zantvoorde, Zillebeke and Gheluvelt in the latter part of October 1914.
There are now 1,583 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 1,135 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate 32 soldiers buried in two of the German cemeteries whose graves could not be found on concentration.
The cemetery also contains one Second World War burial.
The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.
72nd Battery, 38th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
Grave II H 3 is unusual in that it contains eleven members of the battery who were all killed in the same bombardment on the 11th October 1918.
- Warrant Officer Class II (BSM) James Allen, 735777
- Lance Bombardier William Dunlop 35222
- Gunner James Hamer 936056
- Gunner James Hughes W/5985
- Gunner Peter Moir 646898
- Driver Stanley Rogers W/4088
- Gunner Gilbert Scott 195522
- Gunner Horace Seymour L/23456
- Serjeant George Starmer 65394
- Gunner Howard Whitehouse 215220
- Gunner John Wilcox 266763
Captain James Brooke VC
2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders
Died on 29th October 1914 aged 30
Son of Sir Harry Brooke, KBE and Lady Brooke
of Fairley, Countesswells, Aberdeenshire
Grave: VI E 2
The London Gazette
16th February 1915
For conspicuous bravery and great ability near Gheluvelt on the 29th October, in leading two attacks on the German trenches under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, regaining a lost trench at a very critical moment. He was killed on that day.
By his marked coolness and promptitude on this occasion Lieutenant Brooke prevented the enemy from breaking through our line, at a time when a general counter-attack could not have been organised.
240693 Serjeant Louis McGuffie VC
1/5th Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Died on 4th October 1918 aged 24
Son of Mrs Catherine McGuffie
of 1 North Main St Wigtown, Wigtownshire
Grave: I D 12
The London Gazette
13th December 1918
For most conspicuous bravery and resourceful leadership under heavy fire near Wytschaete on 28th September, 1918. During the advance to Piccadilly Farm, he, single-handed, entered several enemy dugouts and took many prisoners, and during subsequent operations dealt similarly with dugout after dugout, forcing one officer and twenty-five other ranks to surrender.
During the consolidation of the first objective he pursued and brought back several of the enemy who were slipping away, and he was also instrumental in rescuing some British soldiers who were being led off as prisoners.
Later in the day, when in command of a platoon, he led it with the utmost dash and resource, capturing many prisoners. This very gallant soldier was subsequently killed by a shell.
Lieutenant Colonel Beauchamp Pell DSO
1st Bn The Queen’s
Royal West Surrey Regiment
Died on 4th November 1914 aged 48
Son of the Rev Beauchamp Pell and Julia Pell
Husband of Alice Pell
of The Rectory, Wilburton, Isle-of-Ely
Born at Ickenham, Middlesex
Grave: II F 1
Major (Brevet Lt Colonel)
Viscount Henry Crichton DSO, MVO
Royal Horse Guards
Died on 31st October 1914 aged 42
Son of the 4th Earl of Erne, of Crom Castle, Ireland.
Husband of Viscountess Crichton
Grave: V B 11
Sher Sing 3004
Followers Central Depot
34th Division
Died on 2nd October 1918
Grave: V C 14
It will be noted that his grave states that this Hindu soldier is: honoured here. Although their customs require that the remains are cremated Hindu soldiers still received a memorial headstone.
Private John Holder 8933
1st Bn South Staffordshire Regiment
Died on 24th October 1914 aged 33
Son of Thomas and Harriet Holder
of 15, Alma St, Darlaston, Wednesbury
Kruiseecke German Cemetery Memorial 14