Ypres Town Cemetery (Menin Gate), West Flanders. The Town Cemetery is close to the Menin Gate, Ypres in which British forces began to bury their dead  from  October 1914 to February 1915 and again in 1918. Records 145 UK burials grouped in plots among the civil graves.  The earliest burial was that of Lieutenant Philip John Egerton, 1st Battalion Border Regiment on the 17th October 1914.  The last and only burial in 1918 was that of No. 46553 Private Ralph Kinsay 1/5 Yorks and Lancaster Regiment on the 6th June 1918.

Ypres Town Cemetery Extension (Menin Gate), West Flanders. On East side of Town Cemetery. Used from October 1914 to April 1915 again in 1918 and enlarged after the Armistice. Records 4622 UK., 15 Can., 13 Aust., 1 S.A., 91 Unknown burials and 16 special memorials.

Grave in Ypres Town Cemetery of his Highness Prince Maurice Victor Donald of Battenberg, KCVO, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Corps killed in action 27th October 1914 aged 23 years. This was in the 1st Battle of Ypres. On the 27th October 1914 the 1st British Corps commanded by Sir Douglas Haig was deployed in various defensive positions north and south of the Menin Road flexing itself to intervene and impede the advance of a mighty enemy force flooding in from due east (Menin) in a major bid to capture the town of Ypres and destroy the vastly outnumbered British Expeditionary Force in the process. With the British 7th Division already in position to withstand the onslaught abreast of the highway the 1st and 2nd Divisions had their units out in front to form a covering screen north and south of the Menin Road to assist in blunting the enemy attack. In an effort to forestall the enemy probes now beginning to spell danger the 6th Brigade to which the 1st KRRC belonged, struck out towards the east from the high ridge that ran from Broodseinde in the north to Becelaere in the south in the general direction of the Keilburg spur approximately a mile distant,where German infantry had been observed. Marching through Zonnebeke the riflemen crossed the highest section of the ridge at the Broodseinde crossroads and headed out into open and featureless country and now were in full view of the advancing enemy. As they proceeded across country in open order their progress took them down a shallow valley and across a minor stream which lay across their front. As soon as they put the “beke” behind them and began the slow tortuous ascent upwards towards the Spur and the little hamlet of Keiburg that gave its name to the general area – the enemy opened fire with small arms and light ordnance. Prince Maurice was hit by shrapnel from a shellburst very early on leading his men across the road atop the Broodseinde Ridge and was seen to fall to the ground. Although his platoon sergeant tried to administer assistance to the stricken Prince he was found to be beyond any practicable help and died before his men could get him back to to a temporary Advanced Dressing Station at Zonnebeke. The Battalion also lost 5 other officers and 167 other ranks on the 27th October. Son of Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg and Grandson of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India.

Grave in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension of Lieutenant Lord Charles Sackville Pelham Worsley Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) killed in action 30th October 1914 aged 27 years.  Baron Worsley son of Earl and Countess of Yarborough Brocklesby Park Lincolnshire husband of Lady Worsley 8 Great Cumberland Place London.

See Belgian Memorials - Zandvoorde.

A Group of graves in Ypres Town Cemetery, Ypres which is close to the Menin Gate.  In this group are the graves of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bernard Morland (plot 11) (see below) and  Captain Walter Hughes Ferrar (plot 14) both of the 2nd Battalion the Welch Regiment who died on the 31st October 1914.

Walter Ferrar was the son of A.M.Ferrar D.L. and Mrs. R.C. Ferrar of Torwood, Windsor, Belfast.

Grave in the group in Ypres Town Cemetery of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bernard Morland 2nd Battalion Welch Regiment mortally wounded on 31st October 1914.

View detailed record of Charles Bernard Morland

A Group of graves in Ypres Town Cemetery of Major Arundell Neave died of wounds 21st February 1915, Lieutenant Rowland Aurio James Beech, Lieutenant Nathaniel Walter Ryder King and Captain Edward Radcliffe Nash all three killed in action 21st February 1915 all four being of 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers. At 0600 on the 21st February 1915 the first serious German attack against the British occurred when a 100 kilogram blast at Shrewsbury Forest left the 16th Lancers with 5 officers and 12 men killed, 29 wounded and 11 missing; a heavy and abrupt loss. The Germans exploded a mine which blew up a short length of the front trench of the 16th Lancers in Shrewsbury Forest north of Klein Zillebeke. The 2nd Cavalry Division at the time was holding 1,400 yards of the French IX Corps line. The reserve squadron at once counter-attacked, and only 40 yards of ground in depth and 100 yards long were lost. The German attempts to advance beyond this point were prevented only by the coolness and daring of the officers and men. In order to check the enemy’s onslaught a machine-gun detachment rushed forward into the open under terrific fire and brought their guns into action at point blank range almost on the brink of the crater caused by the explosion. A machine-gun was also directed on the enemy’s supports who were prevented from reinforcing the troops in front. The German infantry attempted to advance down the communication trenches which connected the fire trenches with those in the rear and also laterally along the fire trenches. At a turn in one of these narrow passages a Sergeant and a Private took their stand and held the trench alone and unaided against the oncoming Germans shooting or bayoneting them as they came round the corner. In addition to Lieutenant Rowland Beech, Lieutenant David Ronald Cross, Lieutenant Nathaniel Walter Ryder King, Captain Edward Ratcliffe Nash and Major Arundell Neave 16th Lancers were killed in action on the 21st February 1915. Lieutenant Cross has no known grave and is commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate). Lieutenants Beech, King and Nash and Major Neave are buried alongside one another in Ypres Town Cemetery. 12 other ranks were also killed in the same explosion or subsequent fighting and all have no known grave except one and are commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Grave in Ypres Town Cemetery of Lieutenant Rowland Aurio James Beech 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers killed in action 21st February 1915. Headstone bears inscription “Elder son of Colonel and Mrs Beech . Born August 1888, killed at Hooge”. Commemorated on the War Memorial at Brandon, Warwickshire.

Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, West Flanders. At Western Gate. Begun in October 1915 and used until the Armistice. Originally known as Ypres Prison Cemetery as it backed onto the prison. This was one of the strongest buildings in Ypres and because of this an ADS was established in late 1915. The name was changed after the war so that relatives did not think that men buried here had died in prison. Records 2,248 UK.,151 Can., 142 Aust., 28 N.Z., 12 S.A., 6 B.W.I., 4 Newfld., 2 Guernsey, 1 Ind., 7 unknown, 1 German and 12 special memorials.

Graves in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Lieutenant and Adjutant Richard Coore Blagrove and Major Carew Barnett 6th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry killed in action 12th August 1915. Major Barnett was 48 and son of the late Edward Barnett of Kenton Court Sunbury-on-Thames husband of Elsie Kathleen Barnett late of Covington Kimbolton Huntingdon. Educated at Summerfield and Charterhouse. Late of the Indian Army. Awarded Burma Medal (1889-92) and China Medal (1900). (See Entries below).

Graves in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of soldiers of 6th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry killed in action 12th August 1915.

Graves in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of No 18951 Alfred Albert Lever, (born Lambeth, London; enlisted Cockspur Street London, resident Lambeth) No 10551 Private David John,(born Llangeinor, Glamorgan, enlisted Pontycymmer, Glamorgan, resident Blaengarw, Glamorgan) No 19349 Private William Kay,(born Bethnal Green, London, enlisted Stratford, Essex, resident Stepney, London) No 17183 Private Thomas Collins,(born Gwennap, Cornwall, enlisted Redruth, Cornwall, resident Gwennap) No 10403 Private Thomas Crowle Arthur D.C.M.,(born St Stephens, Cornwall, enlisted Bodmin, Cornwall, resident Lanivet, Bodmin) No 11847 Lance Corporal Herbert Edward May,(born Ratcliffe, Middlesex, enlisted London, resident Forest Gate Essex) No 10468 Private Daniel Rowe, (born St Austell, Cornwall, enlisted Devonport Devon, resident St Austell) No 10537 Lance Corporal William Jones,(born Cheltenham, enlisted Tonypandy, Glamorgan, resident Cheltenham) No 12091 Private John Chadwick,(born Harborne Birmingham, enlisted Birmingham, resident Harborne) No 11514 Private Frederick Arthur Andrews, (born Paddington, enlisted St Pancras London, resident Queens Park London) No 19643 Lane Corporal Bernard Jeffery, (born Tintagel Cornwall, enlisted St Paul’s Churchyard London, resident Blackfriars London) No 14966 Private Gilbert James Murray, (born Holborn London, enlisted St Paul’s Churchyard London, resident Watford Herts) No 12250 Private Henry James Eades,(born Mile End London, enlisted Poplar London, resident Limehouse London) No 18634 Silas Bailey, (born Hackney London, enlisted Shoredieth London, resident Homerton London) No 12077 Lance Corporal Howard Taylor, (born Rowley Staffs, enlisted Birmingham, Warwick, resident Rowley) and No 11850 Lance Corporal Albert Henry Armerborn Carnforth, Lancs., enlisted London resident Carnforth) all of the 6th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry killed in action 12th August 1915. St Martin’s Cathedral in the centre of Ypres was often used by troops billeted in or passing through Ypres. On the 10th August 1915 the Battalion had come up from Vlamertinghe on its way to the front line and in common with other battalions had made use of the many cellars in Ypres for billeting purposes. It was discovered that the cloisters of the Cathedral were still in good condition and untouched by shell-fire and C and D Companies were detailed to rest there. At 0615 the Germans began to shell the cloisters and Place, the men in the cloisters thinking they were safe did not move. The enemy guns after a few shots got the range of the cloisters, the first direct hit brought down most of the west end of cloister ceiling and buried several men. The enemy continued to fire for five hours putting in 17 inch shells at first every 15 minutes and then every 30 minutes with smaller shells and shrapnel. Many of the men who went to rescue their comrades were themselves buried and when the warning was conveyed to Battalion HQ Major Barnett and the adjutant Lieutenant Blagrove ran over to the cloisters to endeavour to get the men out but were instantly killed by the explosion of a very large shell which fell in the open square north of the cloisters. The gun which had shelled the cathedral was firing from Houthoulst Forest over ten miles away and had been directed by the pilot of a German aeroplane who had spotted an observation post in the Cathedral tower. Rescue attempts were partially successful but these are the graves of the 16 soldiers killed in this incident and buried together. Four other soldiers from this Battalion are also buried in this Cemetery killed in the same incident, Private Ansell, Lance Corporal Dubbins, Lance Corporal Lee and Private Smith.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Major James Leadbitter Knott, DSO, 10th Battalion Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) killed in action 1st July 1916 aged 33 years. Headstone bears inscription “Devoted in life, In death not divided.” Killed at Fricourt and originally buried in Fricourt New Military Cemetery on the Somme but his body was brought to this cemetery after the War at the express wishes of his parents Sir James Knott and Lady Knott of Close House, Wylam-on-Tyne. Fricourt New Military Cemetery is about half a kilometre from the German front line on the 1st July 1916 and was then in No Mans Land and it was from this area that the 10th West Yorkshire Regiment advanced. The first wave managed to get into German positions around Konig Trench the Germans at the northern end of Fricourt not emerging from their deep dug-outs quickly enough to stop them. Mines had been exploded at a strongpoint known as The Tambour but the Germans brought up out of the dug-outs which had not been blown in by the mine explosions, machine-guns which opened a murderous fire on No Mans Land and the following waves of the Battalion were annihilated. The CO Lieutenant Colonel A Dickson, the Adjutant Captain J W Shann and Major Knott were killed and the Battalion sustained 710 casualties in the fighting that day, the highest casualties in any single battalion for the 1st July 1916.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Captain Henry Basil Knott 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers killed in action 7th September 1915 aged 24 years. Headstone bears inscription “Devoted in life, In death not divided.” Brother of Major James Leadbitter Knott (See Entry above). Son of Sir James Knott and Lady Knott of Close House Wylam-on-Tyne.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of No 11/81 Private Charles F McColl 1/4th East Yorkshire Regiment executed 28th December 1917 for desertion. Private McColl had enlisted into the 11th East Yorkshire Regiment in 1914 and at the end of 1915 sailed to Egypt before the battalion was recalled to the Western Front. In September 1916 his unit had been holding the line near Neuve Chapelle when he was wounded by a shell and invalided home with heart failure. Upon his return to France he was posted to the 4th East Yorkshire Regiment but soon went absent receiving a sentence of 10 years imprisonment. On the 28th October 1`917 Private McColl absconded from his platoon in brigade support near Houlthult Forest in the Ypres sector leaving behind his rifle and equipment. Four days later he was arrested in Calais after enquiring abut a rest camp and stating he was on his way to England. At his court-martial he was not represented and detailed his nervous condition and inability to control himself when in the trenches. No medical examination was ordered and he was sentenced to death. He was held in a military prison at Brandhoek then on the eve of his execution brought to the prison at Ypres when he was told of confirmation of the sentence of death. As dawn approached he was manacled and blindfolded with a reverse gas mask and taken out and strapped to a chair and shot. Until recently two soldiers with personal knowledge of Private McColl described him as unstable and slow and that there was something wrong with him.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Brigadier-General Francis Aylmer Maxwell V.C., C.S.I., D.S.O. G.O.C. 27th Brigade 9th Division killed in action 21 September 1917. The VC was awarded in the South African War when he served as ADC to Lord Kitchener. An exract from the London Gazette of 8 March 1901 described the incident “Lieutenant Maxwell was one of three officers not belonging to “Q” Battery Royal Horse Artillery specially mentioned by Lord Roberts as having shown the greatest gallantry and disregard of danger in carrying out the self-imposed duty of saving the guns of that battery during the affair at the Korn Spruit on 31st March 1900. This officer went out on five different occasions and assisted to bring in two guns and three limbers, one of which he, Captain Humphreys and some gunners, dragged in by hand. He also went out with Captain Humphreys and Lieutenant Stirling to get the last gun in and remained there until the attempt was abandoned. During a previous campaign (the Chitral Expedition of 1885) Lieutenant Maxwell displayed gallantry in the removal of the body of Lieutenant-Colonel FD Battye Corps of Guides under fire for which though recommended he received no reward.” He commanded the 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment from June to October 1916 and in October 1916 he was appointed to command the 27th Infantry Brigade being awarded a bar to his DSO. On 20th September 1917 the 9th Division attacked at 0540 with the 27th and South African Brigades. The front line was east of the village of Frezenburg and along the line of the Frezenburg Ridge and the attack was in the direction of Zonnebeke 2400 yards away, although the final objective that day included the capture of Zonnebeke and Bremen Redoubts some 800 yards from the start line. Hanebeek Wood was quickly taken and the 27th Brigades’ final objective the Zonnebeke Redoubt the enemy made no show of strength and 40 prisoners were taken. Brigadier General Maxwell reached the final line soon after its capture and selected the line to be consolidated and this was done by improving shell-holes and forming short lengths of trench by connecting them up. On the 21st September 1917 Brigadier General Maxwell whilst superintending consolidation was killed by a sniper at 40 yards’ range. A born leader, he had always been regardless of personal safety and was at the time sitting on the front of the parapet watching wiring. Headstone bears inscription “An ideal soldier and a very perfect gentleman, beloved by all his men.”

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Second Lieutenant Hugh Valentine Cholmeley, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards killed in action 7th April 1916. Following a period of rest the Battalion returned to trenches east of Potijze, east of Ypres. On the 7th April 1916 Second Lieutenant Cholmeley attached to 3rd Guards Brigade, Machine-gun Company was killed outright being struck in the chest by a large piece of shrapnel. Headstone bears inscriptions “Also in Memory of Lieutenant Harry Lenin Cholmeley 3rd Battalion Border Regiment killed in action 1st July 1916.” On this the first day of the opening of the Battle of the Somme the Battalion advanced S of Beaumont Hamel its objective being the Behucourt Redoubt. The 2nd South Wales Borderers whose objective was the first two Geman lines were wiped out by machine-gun fire in the British wire. The 1st Battalion the Border Regiment then advanced from the support line and through and over the British first line but the passage over the front trench having been ranged by the German machine-gunners the day previously the Battalion met with heavy losses while crossing this trench and passing through the gaps in the wire. The men formed up outside the wire according to orders then advanced at a slow walk into No Mans Land. The advance was continued until only small groups of some half dozen men were left here and there and seeing no reinforcements in sight took cover in shell holes wherever they found them. By 0800 the advance had come to a standstill and it was realised that only a defensive line could be held and the next day the remnants of the Battalion moved to trenches N of the River Ancre. 20 officers and 619 NCOs and men were killed wounded or missing. Second Lieutenant Cholmeley was wounded and missing and subsequently of course acknowledged to have been killed. Inscription on headstone continues “ Dearly loved sons of Lewis and Maud Cholmeley. RIP.” Harry Lenin Cholmeley has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme.

Graves in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Captain Albert Alfred Parker, Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, Headstone bears inscription “Make them to be numbered with thy saints.” Husband of Emily M Parker of 78 Stephens Road Tunbridge Wells: Major Fred Davenport DSO, MC, Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, “A” Battery, 295th Brigade, Headstone bears inscription “Where the light of the life of him is on all past things, death only dies.”. Son of Henry Davenport of Woodcroft Leek Staffs., husband of Alice Lee Davenport of Stansted House Stansted Essex: Lieutenant Herbert Percival Jackson Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, “A” Battery, 296th Brigade, Son of the late Mr and Mrs Matthew Jackson of Louth Lincoln, educated at King Edward VI Grammar School Louth and Bradfield College: and No 805721 Battery Sergeant Major Frederick Richard Heath,Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, “A” Battery, 296th Brigade. Headstone bears inscription “Until the day dawns.” Son of George and Frances Heath, husband of Jane Heath of 271 Leek Road Hanley Stoke-on-Trent. All killed in action 25th September 1917 at Wieltje when an 8 inch shell scored a direct hit on their battery mess. Brought back to Ypres by their men for burial.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of No 443288 Private Thomas Moles 54th Canadian Expeditionary Force executed 22nd October 1917 for desertion. Headstone bears inscription “Grant us peace, Lord.” Thomas Moles was a native of Somerset and during his residence in England had served in the Somerset Light Infantry. He then emigrated to Canada and enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in August 1915 and by the Autumn of that year he was on the Western Front. The exact circumstances of his offence are not known, but he was tried for desertion on the 4th October 1917 and sentenced to death the sentence being confirmed and carried out on the 22nd October 1917.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of No 3/20279 Private Ernest Lawrence 2nd Battalion the Devonshire Regiment executed 22nd November 1917 for desertion. Headstone bears inscription “In loving memory of my dear son, gone but not forgotten.” On the 5th May 1917 he had been sent back from the support line to fetch rations from a dump but instead made his way to Rouen where he reported himself and told a false story: he was returned to his unit and on the 8th May was detailed to work in the front line but again absconded to Rouen where he was arrested. In his possession he had a false paybook and movement order. He escaped from his escort and took up employment in the Royal Flying Corps repair workshops in Rouen until his arrest in August 1917.At his Court Martial he was not surprisingly sentenced to death and the execution took place on the 22nd November 1917.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Major Hugh Elliott DSO 11th Battalion King’s (Liverpool Regiment) killed in action 26th July 1915 aged 51 years. Headstone bears inscription “Nec Aspera Terrent, peace shall follow battle, night shall end in day.” Son of Frederick Eden Alliott and Marcia Cordelia Ouseley, his wife; husband of Alicia Lucy Elliot of “The Howff” Ashburton Devon. Born at Gorakhpur, India. Served with 2nd Battalion 1884-1904. Adjutant 1st Volunteer Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment at Liverpool 1897-1902. Commanding Regimental Depot, Warrington 1902-1904. Also served in Burmese Campaign 1885-6. The 11th (Sevice) Battalion was formed at Liverpool in August 1914 and as Army troops to the 14th Division. Converted to Pioneer Battalion 14th Division on 11th January 1915 and went to France on the 30th May 1915.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Colonel Augustus David Geddes The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) killed in action 28th April 1915 aged 48 years. On the 22nd April 1915 the Germans released two clouds of gas on the north eastern flank of the Salient a prelude to the German advance and the first phase of the Second Battle of Ypres. The gas most affected the French Algerian Division and the 3rd Canadian Brigade was deployed to assist this battered Division. That evening Colonel Geddes CO the 2nd Buffs had begun to move from 28th Division reserve to support the Canadians when he was requested to assist and was assigned 4 battalions, 2nd Buffs, 3rd Middlesex, 5th Kings Own and 1st York and Lancaster to establish a makeshift brigade. Geddes Detachment as it became known was formed by the 23rd April 1915. Overnight Allied reinforcements had been rushed in from the west and the 1st Canadian Division holding the line south of the French reformed. They began a series of holding actions and counter-attacks in conjunction with the Northumbrian Division and in which the Geddes detachment participated. On the 24th April the Germans again released gas and attacked but they were met with rapid rifle fire from the Canadian trenches and suffered heavily. However the weight of the attack was such with the Germans being able to shell the Canadians causing terrible damage that a retirement was inevitable. By the 25th April it was clear that although a line had been held, it was very thinly held by groups of tired soldiers without any unified command. Geddes detachment by the 26th April defending the bridges across the Yser Canal was relieved. On the 27th April the command of the various units in the St Julian area was amended and the battalions in the Geddes Detachment returned to their respective Brigades. Colonel Geddes had spent the night at 13 Brigade Headquarters at Saint Jean and was about to leave for Potijze to rejoin his regiment when he realised he had lost his map. He asked Brigadier General O’Gowan for another and whilst the General was out of the room to find a map for him a shell landed in the room, Colonel Geddes was killed and his two staff officers Major H CM Makgill and Lieutenant J Nicholls were seriously wounded. Colonel Geddes was the son of Colonel John Geddes of 4 Suffolk Square Cheltenham, husband of Vera Colville Goff (formerly Geddes) of 16 Lincoln House Basil Street Chelsea London.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres , West Flanders of No 19057 Lance-Sergeant Richard Edmund Phipps 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, killed in action 4th April 1916 aged 20 years. Born Begbrooke, Oxon, son of Ralph and Rose Ann Phipps og Gravel Pits, Yarnton, Oxford. Enlisted Rugby. Commemorated on the War Memorial at Brinklow, Warwickshire.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of No 16495 Private Ernest Edwin Dann 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards killed in action 4th April 1916. Born Camberwell, enlisted London.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of No 1368 Charles Over 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment died of wounds 20th October 1914. Born Brinklow, Warwickshire, enlisted Coventry. Commemorated on the War Memorial at Brinklow, Warwickshire.

Grave in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery of Brigadier General Arthur Cecil Lowe, C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Horse and Field Artillery killed in action at 0800 24th November 1917 near Ypres, Commanding Royal Artillery, the 66th Division.