Voormezeele Enclosures Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries

Infobox Military Cemetery
name= Voormezeele Enclosures Cemeteries
body= Commonwealth War Graves Commission


use_dates= 1915-1918
established= 1915
designer= Sir Edwin Lutyens
coordinates= coord|50|49|8|N|02|52|24|E|
nearest_town= Voormezeele, West Flanders, Belgium
total= 597 (Enclosures 1 and 2); 1,612 (Enclosure 3)
unknowns= 40 (Enclosures 1 and 2); 609 (Enclosure 3)
by_country=Allied Powers: (1 & 2/3)
*United Kingdom 520/1,498
*Australia 17/11
*Canada 54/99
*New Zealand 2/2
*South Africa 0/1
Central Powers: (Grounds/Lawn)
*Germany: 4/1
by_war=
World War I: 2,209
source=WW1Cemeteries.com [http://ww1cemeteries.com/ww1cemeteries/voormezeeleenclosuresno12.htm] [http://ww1cemeteries.com/ww1cemeteries/voormezeeleenclosureno3.htm] ; CWGC figures differ noticably whilst being less specific.The Voormezeele Enclosures are Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial grounds 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. [ [http://www.webmatters.net/belgium/ww1_friedhof_vladslo.htm First World War] , accessed 19 August 2006]

Foundation

Originally founded as four enclosures, there are now three cemeteries in Voormezeele, formed by grouping (enclosing) separate regimental cemeteries. [http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=52600&mode=1 Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry for the third Enclosure] , accessed 29 December 2007] Additionally, there is one grave in Voormezeele's parish churchyard.

Of the four enclosures, Enclosure 1 and 2 are now considered a single cemetery; the 42 graves of Enclosure 4 were concentrated into Enclosure 2; [http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=10100&mode=1 Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry for the first and second Enclosures] , accessed 29 December 2007] whilst Enclosure 3 is separated from 1 and 2 by the modern main road.

The village and the cemeteries fell into German hands on 29 April 1918 during the Spring Offensive, falling back to the Allies in September 1918 during the Hundred Days Offensive that swept fighting away from the Salient.

The cemeteries were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Enclosures 1 and 2

Enclosures 1 and 2 were in use from March 1915 until April 1918, with some graves being added by German forces during the five months the area was in their hands, more Commonwealth dead being added in September and October 1918 and an isolated Commonwealth grave from the village being concentrated after the Armistice.

Enclosure 3

Enclosure 3 was founded in February 1915 by Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, expanded by later use by other units. The enclosure was expanded by concentration after the Armistice from nearby smaller sites. Also interred in Enclosure 3 are the dead of the Hampshire Regiment and others who reclaimed the area from German hands in September 1918.

Former Enclosure 4

Enclosure 4 was begun by the French in December 1914 and used by Commonwealth forces until November 1915. These graves were concentrated into the second plot of Enclosure 2.

Notable graves

Of the 2,209 men buried in these enclosures, some are especially notable. In Enclosure 3 lies a Canadian, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Douglas Farquhar, who earned a Distinguished Service Order medal. [http://www.wo1.be/eng/database/personen/persDetail.asp?PersoonID=141 wo1.be record for Lt Col Farquhar] , accessed 29 December 2007] He was the son of Sir Henry and the Hon Alice, and the husband of Lady Evelyn (née Hely-Hutchinson). [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=456525 Commonwealth War Graves Commission "Debt of Honour" entry for Lt Col Farquhar] , accessed 29 December 2007]

Londoner Private William Dulgarians Crombie is also in Enclosure 3. He was 16 when he was killed on 9 November 1916. [http://www.wo1.be/eng/database/personen/persDetail.asp?PersoonID=1901 wo1.be record for Private Crombie] , accessed 29 December 2007]

There is one burial outside of the enclosures, still maintained by the Commission. Lieutenant Edwin Winwood Robinson of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers was killed on 25 October 1914 [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2000147 Commonwealth War Graves Commission "Debt of Honour" registry entry for Lt EW Robinson] , accessed 29 December 2007] ] and is buried in the local churchyard. [http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=2000021&mode=1 Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry for the churchyard] (of which Lt Robinson is the sole Commonwealth burial), accessed 29 December 2007]

pecial memorials

The enclosures contain several "special memorials" - stone obelisks or specially notated standard gravestones. In Enclosures 1 and 2, there are special memorials to nineteen known burials whose original graves were destroyed in later fighting, and for two men buried in the former Enclosure 4 whose graves were also destroyed.

In Enclosure 3 there are special memorials to fifteen men who are known or believed to be buried on the site, plus other memorials recording five men who were known to be buried in another cemetery but who could not be found when that cemetery was concentrated to the Voormezeele Enclosures after the Armistice.

References

External links

* Enclosures 1 and 2: cwgc cemetery|10100
* Enclosure 3: cwgc cemetery|52600
* [http://ww1cemeteries.com/ww1cemeteries/voormezeeleenclosuresno12.htm WW1Cemeteries.com entry for Enclosures 1 & 2]
* [http://ww1cemeteries.com/ww1cemeteries/voormezeeleenclosureno3.htm WW1Cemeteries.com entry for Enclosure 3]