Ypres Reservoir Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

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Ypres Reservoir
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ypres Reservoir Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery
Used for those deceased 1915-1918
Established 1915
Location 50°51′12.1″N, 02°52′39.1″E near Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium
Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Total burials 2702
Unknown
burials		 7
Burials by nation
Allied Powers:

Central Powers:
Burials by war
World War I: 2702
Statistics source: Battlefields 14-18

Ypres Reservoir Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial ground for the dead of World War I located in the Ypres Salient 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.

Contents

[edit] Foundation

The cemetery was founded by Commonwealth troops in October 1915 and remained in use until after the Armistice in November 1918.[1]

It was originally one of three cemeteries in the immediate area. At the end of the war, the Ypres Reservoir South Cemetery (formerly known as "Broadley's Cemetery" and "Prison Cemetery No 1") and the Ypres Reservoir Middle Cemetery (formerly "Middle Prison Cemetery" and "Prison Cemetery No 2") were concentrated into the North cemetery. The cemetery at the Infantry Barracks was also concentrated into the North cemetery, with additional scattered graves from nearby areas added later.[2]

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield who was also responsible for the nearby Menin Gate memorial.[3]

[edit] Notable graves

Ypres Reservoir Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery entrance.
Ypres Reservoir Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery entrance.

The cemetery contains the graves of some 2702 soldiers. Amongst these are the graves of three men executed by the Commonwealth military authorities - Privates Moles, Lawrence and McColl.[4] It is now felt by many that these "shot at dawn" men were unfairly tried and executed as they may have been suffering from combat stress reaction rather than acting in cowardice.[5]

Also buried at this cemetery is Brigadier General Francis Aylmer Maxwell, a holder of the Victoria Cross who was killed in Ieper by a sniper in 1917.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ www.wo1.be accessed 23 May 2006
  2. ^ Battlefields 14-18 accessed 23 May 2006
  3. ^ Commonwealth War Graves Commission, accessed 22 May 2006
  4. ^ Ypres and the Great War by Simon Farr, accessed 23 May 2006
  5. ^ The Shot at Dawn Campaign website, accessed 23 May 2006
  6. ^ Silent Cities, accessed 23 May 2006

[edit] External links