First DCLI Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, The Bluff
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| First DCLI Cemetery, The Bluff | |
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| Commonwealth War Graves Commission | |
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| Used for those deceased 1915 | |
| Established | 1915 |
| Location | near Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium |
| Designed by | J R Truelove |
| Total burials | 76 |
| Burials by nation | |
Allies of World War I:
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| Burials by war | |
| World War I: 76 | |
| Statistics source: WO1.be | |
First DCLI Cemetery, The Bluff is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for the dead of World War I located near Ypres (now Ieper) in Belgium on the Western Front.
The cemetery grounds were assigned to the United Kingdom in perpetuity by King Albert I of Belgium in recognition of the sacrifices made by the British Empire in the defence and liberation of Belgium during the war.[1]
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[edit] Immediate area
The area where the cemetery stands, known by soldiers as "The Bluff", is an artificial ridge in the landscape created by spoil from failed attempts to dig a canal.[2] With the additional height in an otherwise relatively flat landscape, The Bluff was an important military objective.[3] German forces took The Bluff in February 1916, and it was recaptured by the 14th (Light) Division on 2 March.[4] In July 1916, the Germans detonated a mine under the ridge, but did not capture it.[5] The Germans took The Bluff during the Spring Offensive of 1918, and it finally returned to Allied hands on 28 September after a push by the 14th (Light) Division.[4] The area is now a provincial nature reserve and picnic area called "Provinciaal Domein Palingbeek".[6]
[edit] Foundation
The cemetery here was founded by the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) before the fighting of 1916.[4] At the time of the armistice it contained burials only from the DCLI but the cemetery was expanded by concentration of graves from the former battlefields.[7]
The cemetery was designed by J R Truelove.[4]
[edit] Other cemeteries on "The Bluff"
- Woods Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
- Hedge Row Trench Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
[edit] References
- ^ First World War, accessed 19 August 2006
- ^ Karel, Roose (2003-02-03). Cycling Belgium's Waterways: Comines-Ieper. www.gamber.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
- ^ Baker, Chris. Fighting at the Bluff. www.1914-1918.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
- ^ a b c d CWGC :: Cemetery Details. www.cwgc.org. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
- ^ Wereldoorlog I in de Westhoek. www.wo1.be. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
- ^ Palingbeek (Flemish). www.west-vlaanderen.be. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
- ^ 1st D.C.L.I. CEMETERY. ww1cemeteries.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
[edit] External links
- CWGC cemetery register: Details • Reports • Plans • Photographs
