Essex Farm Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

Essex Farm Cemetery
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Used for those deceased 1915–1917
Established 1915
Location 50°52′15″N 02°52′23″E / 50.87083°N 2.87306°E
near Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium
Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Total burials 1100
Unknown burials 104

Essex Farm Cemetery is a World War I, Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground near Ypres, Belgium.[1] There are 1,204 dead commemorated, of which 104 are unidentified. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and has an area of 6,032 square metres (64,930 sq ft).

Location

The cemetery is located halfway between the center of Ypres and the center of Boezinge, about 2.5 km from each. The cemetery is located at Site John McCrae, between Diksmuidseweg (N369) and the Ieperlee, half a kilometer north of Duhallow ADS Cemetery and half a kilometer south of Bard Cottage Cemetery, also near the Diksmuidseweg and channel. In the northwest corner of the site is the Cross of Sacrifice, on the east side of the Stone of Remembrance.

Notable burials

The cemetery holds the remains of Private Thomas Barratt (1895–1917) who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1917 while on scout patrol.[2] He showed conspicuous bravery, stalking and killing enemy snipers under fire.

The cemetery also holds the remains of Valentine Strudwick (1900–1916), who died at the age of 15.[3] His local paper wrote, 'Pte Valentine Joe Strudwick of the 8th Rifle Brigade, joined up twelve months ago, and at the time of his death...had not reached his sixteenth birthday... a fine example to those of maturer years who have not yet joined up...'

In Flanders Fields

The graveyard is also the site where John McCrae (1872–1918) wrote his famous poem In Flanders Fields. A cenotaph for McCrae is in the cemetery.[4]

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

References

  1. ↑ Reading Room Manchester. "Cemetery Details". CWGC. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  2. ↑ Thomas Barratt at Find a Grave
  3. ↑ Rifleman Valentine Joe Strudwick at Find a Grave
  4. ↑ John McCrae at Find a Grave

External links