The town of Poperinghe (now Poperinge) was of great importance during the First World War because, although occasionally bombed or bombarded at long range, it was the nearest place to Ypres (now Ieper) which was both considerable in size and reasonably safe. It was at first a centre for Casualty Clearing Stations, but by 1916 it became necessary to move these units further back and Field Ambulances took their places.
The earliest Commonwealth graves in the town are in the Communal Cemetery, which was used by the British, French, and Belgian armies from October 1914 to March 1915.
The British graves in the Communal Cemetery are in two Plots, one is against the wall next to the road with the other Plot located in the eastern part of the cemetery.
Cemetery Location
Poperinghe Communal Cemetery is located 10.5 Kms west of Ieper town centre, in the town of Poperinge itself. From Ieper, Poperinge is reached via N308. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the J.Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J.Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. On reaching the town of Poperinge the left hand turning from the N308 leads onto the R33 Poperinge ring road. 1 Km along the N33 lies the right hand turning onto Deken De Bolan.
Earliest Burial in the Salient
Corporal Herbert Barrett ‘A’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, is believed to be the earliest burial in the Ypres Salient. He was killed on 21 October 1914, age 26. He is buried in the Plot located in the eastern part of the cemetery.
Burials
The majority of the burials are those of officers who were wounded during First Ypres and subsequently died at the Casualty Clearing Stations. There are eleven graves from October 1914, one from November, nine from December 1914, and two from March 1915. There are also the graves of five Imperial War Graves commission workers who died between 1922 and 1951, one was subsequently moved to Ypres Reservoir Cemetery. One of the five IWGC gardeners buried here, Major Arthur J Knowles, who died on 12 December 1921, age 59, has a Queen’s Westminster Rifles cap-badge on his headstone.
Town Major
The War Diary of the Town Major records various visits to the cemetery to inspect the British graves in 1915.
There are buried here:
UK – 23
IWGC – 5
KUG - 1
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