Poperinghe New Military Cemetery
Location
Poperinghe New Military Cemetery is located 10.5 Kms west of Ieper town centre, in the town of Poperinge itself. From Ieper, Poperinge is reached via the 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 Km along the N33 lies the right hand turning onto Deken De Bolan. The cemetery is located 100 metres from the ring road level with Onze Vrouwedreef on the right hand side of the road.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.84746 | 2.73303 | 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.
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 French Military Plot
The New Military Cemetery contains 677 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 271 French war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Poperinghe New Military Cemetery is noted for the number of executed soldiers amongst its burials. Unlike its numerical counterpart in France at Mazingarbe, the soldiers here were for the most part shot within the walls of the town hall. At Mazingarbe we used the abattoir.
Lt Colonel George Baker
5th Canadian Mounted Rifles
Québec Regiment
Died 2nd June 1916, aged 38
Son of the Hon. George Baker KC
(member of the Senate of Canada)
and Jane Baker
Lt Col George Baker was a member
of the House of Commons, Canada.
Grave: II G 1
Lt Colonel Herbert Smith DSO
1st Bn Leicestershire Regiment
Died 22 October 1915, aged 47
Son of the late Arthur and Mrs Smith
Husband of S Smith
of Burnbrae, Leckhampton, Cheltenham
Born Hampstead, London.
Grave: I E 23
Major Robert Mutrie
2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles
Died on 5th April 1916 aged 33
Son of Colonel John and Margaret Mutrie
Husband of Alice Mutrie
of 44, Bellevue Place, Guelph, Ontario
Born Eramosa Township, Ontario
Grave: I F 32
Rifleman Alfred Curry S/7467
7th Bn Rifle Brigade
Died on 17th October 1915 aged 17
Son of John and Elizabeth Curry
of Barking, Essex
Grave: I A 26
Rifleman Lawrence Foster S/9304
7th Bn Rifle Brigade
Died on 20th September 1915 aged 17
Son of Henry and Lily Foster
of Radstock, Somerset
Grave: I B 19
Rifleman Alfred Halford A/1387
8th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Died on 5th August 1915 aged 16
Son of Thomas and Emma Halford
of Warwick
Grave: I E 11
Private Albert Mander 39362
9th Field Ambulance
Royal Army Medical Corps
Died on 11th April 1916 aged 17
Son of William and Louisa Mander
of Birmingham
Grave: I G 35
Caporal Prudent Renvoize
102e Régiment d’Infanterie
Died on 30th May 1918 aged 32
Killed at the Scherpenberg
During the fighting around Mont Kemmel
Grave: D 12