Maple Leaf Cemetery
Location
Maple Leaf Cemetery is located 14 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg, N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen, Ploegsteert 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. On reaching the village of Ploegsteert, turn right at the church onto rue du Romarin. At the end of this road lies the left hand turning onto Niepkerkestraat (for only 50 metres), then immediately right onto Zakstraat. The cemetery is located 50 metres beyond the right hand turning onto Zakstraat.
Coming from France. Join the D 933 running between Bailleul and Armentières. At the Pont d’Achelles there is a minor road leading into Belgium with a CWGC sign for the Pont D’Achelles Military Cemetery. This is the Rue de Sac (Zakstraat). Continue past the cemetery entering into Belgium and Maple Leaf Cemetery is at the end of the road on the left.
The Belgian frontier runs along the northern side of the D 933 so national signs and road numbers can change with confusing frequency. To add additional confusion this is also the border between Flanders and Wallonia within Belgium which is why some of their roads are named in French and some in Flemish.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.72051 | 2.83898 | Map |
Historical Information
Maple Leaf Cemetery was begun in December 1914 by fighting units and field ambulances, but from July 1915 to April 1916, the village was occupied by the Advanced Dressing Station of the 3rd Canadian Field Ambulance and the cemetery thus acquired its present name.
The last Commonwealth burial was made in December 1917, but German graves were added in April 1918 when the cemetery was in German hands.
The cemetery contains 167 Commonwealth and nine German burials of the First World War.
The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith.
Private Albert Parry 42467
2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regiment
Prince of Wales’s Own
Died on 30th August 1917
Husband of Alice Parry
of 11, Empringham Terrace, Dalby Street, Hull
Grave: K 4
Shot at Dawn for Desertion
Gunner C Godfrey 119576
288th Siege Battery
Royal Garrison Artillery
Died on 20th June 1917 aged 32
Husband of Edith Godfrey
of 6, Empire Terrace, College Rd., Margate
Grave: K 7
To an inheritance
Incorruptible
Private Fred Brown 27740
15th Bn Canadian Infantry
48th Highlanders of Canada
Died on 19th November 1915 aged 21
Son of Mrs. J. Brown
of 264, George St., Aberdeen, Scotland
Grave: E 8
Sergeant Robert Gilpin 27896
15th Bn Canadian Infantry
48th Highlanders of Canada
Died on 4th November 1915 aged 25
Grave: E 6
Leutnant Alf Bolleyer
Bayer 9 Pioneer Korps
Died on 26th April 1918
K Bodensteiner
Bayer 4 MWK
Died on 25th April 1918