Poperinge Communal Cemetery
Location
Poperinge Communal Cemetery is located 10.5 kilometres west of Ieper town centre, in the town of Poperinge itself. From Ieper, Poperinge is reached via N308. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the J.Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J.Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. On reaching the town of Poperinge the left hand turning from the N308 leads onto the R33 Poperinge ring road. 1 kilometre along the N33 lies the right hand turning onto Deken De Bolaan. The cemetery is located 800 metres along the Deken De Bolaan on the corner with Rekhof.
The Commission headstones are located against the cemetery wall on the far right hand side of the site and in the middle of the cemetery.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.85214 | 2.72677 | Map |
Historical Information
The town of Poperinge was of great importance during the First World War because, although occasionally bombed or bombarded at long range, it was the nearest place to Ieper which was both considerable in size and reasonably safe.
It was at first a centre for casualty clearing stations, but by 1916 it became necessary to move these units further back and field ambulances took their places.
The earliest Commonwealth graves in the town are in the communal cemetery, which was used from October 1914 to March 1915.
The Old Military Cemetery was made in the course of the First Battle of Ypres and was closed, so far as Commonwealth burials are concerned, at the beginning of May 1915.
The New Military Cemetery was established in June 1915.
The communal cemetery contains 22 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
The French Military Plot
Private J Lane 9728
1st Bn South Wales Borderers
Died on 22nd October 1914
Grave: II A 2
Lance Corporal W Hines 6639
3rd Bn Coldstream Guards
Died on 22nd October 1914 aged 24
Son of Mary Martin
of Mill Terrace, Joy’s Green, Harleston, Norfolk
Grave: II A 1
Private Frederick Barnes 10289
2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died on 24th October 1914 aged 21
Son of Mrs A Barnes
of 7, Keble St., Garratt Lane,
Lower Tooting, London
Grave: II A 1
Corporal Herbert Barrett 8231
2nd Bn Worcestershire Regiment
Died on 21st October 1914 aged 26
Son of Edgar and Agnes Barrett
of Manchester
Grave: II A 2
Some corner
Of a foreign field
That is forever England