CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY
Langemark-Poelkapelle
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GENERAL DIRECTIONS: the cemetery is located to the north of Ieper off the N313. From the Markt at Langemarck, take Korte Ieperstraat at the end turn right into Boezingestraat, go past the first left hand turn and the cemetery is 100m on the left. Access and parking are easy.
The village of Langemark was in German hands from April 1915 to August 1917 and April to September 1918, it was attacked and defended in turn by Commonwealth, Belgian and French troops. "Cement House" was the name given to a fortified farm building which stood on the Langemark-Boesinghe road.
The original Cement House cemetery (now Plot I) which is an irregular group of 231 graves was begun and used by the 4th and 17th Division burial officers, field ambulances and line units until April 1918. The cemetery was enlarged after the armistice and most of Plots II-XV were added when Commonwealth graves were brought in from the battlefields and small burial grounds from the Langemark-Poelkapelle area, most of these burials date from the autumn of 1917. Plots XVI, XVII and XVIII which were made at the same time and consisted of almost 500 French graves, were removed in 1922 and the plots vacated have been filled in the intervening years by graves brought in from communal cemeteries and churchyards in the area, when it has been found difficult to maintain them.
The cemetery is still used for burials of remains which are still being found on the battlefields in the area and a number of plots have, as a result, been extended to accommodate these.
CASUALTY DETAILS: UK 3477; Canada 58; Australia 19; New Zealand 10; South Africa 1; France 1; Germany 1; Total Burials: 3567
Used with permission www.cwgc.org
|
30553 Private Frederick George Rogers 8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment 12/10/1917 Plot XIII. E. 11
|
|
30557 Private Albert Ernest Lovatt 8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment 12/10/1917, aged 29. Son of James and Emily Lovatt, of 11, Station Rd., Lawly Bank, Dawley; husband of Elsie Lovatt, of 13, Dawley Bank, Dawley, Salop.
Pictures and text courtesy of Dave Shaw |
Pte Rogers was born in Matlock, Somerset but was living in Moon Street, West Bromwich when he enlisted in August 1916.
According to a letter sent to Pte Lovatt's Widow by a member of their platoon the two of them were last seen helping each other back (One or both being Wounded) during an attack N.W of the Staden - Langemarck railway, They never made it to the dressing station.
Best Friends in Life and Death
REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR
35188 Private
John W. Mason
9th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
09/10/1917.
Plot XII. A. 6.
John was a father of five, he is pictured above left with his children and wife, He was also an amateur cartoonist, the centre picture above is his own work.
Pictures courtesy of Aileen Kincaid, granddaughter of this soldier
Second Lieutenant
David Ian Graham Clark
4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
20/09/1917, aged 21.
Only son of Capt. D. M. Clark (4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders) and Mrs. D. M. Clark, of Ianholme, Riverside, Aberdeen. Served in Lovat's Scouts as a Pte. at the Dardanelles.
Plot IV. D. 16.
Picture courtesy of Chris Howell
Latest additions to the site | Belgian Cemetery Index | French Cemetery Index
Other Cemeteries and Memorials around the world | British Cemeteries and Memorials | 1939-1945 Cemetery Index
Cemeteries with Victoria Cross burials | Cemeteries with "Shot at Dawn" burials | Regimental Badge Archive | Roll of Honour
Information on how to submit a photograph or image to the site | Book Reviews | About Us and our task | Links
Site Map | Miscellaneous articles