The Bluff, Zillebeke
Photo Courtesy of Philip J. Lanc
The Bluff was the Eastern point of "a narrow ridge, 30
to 40 feet high, covered with trees - probably the heap formed by excavation when the
canal was dug - which forms a feature of the flat wooded country at the Southern bend of
the Ypres salient". (Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch of the 19th May, 1916). The trenches
of the 14th (Light) Division on it were captured by the Germans in February, 1916, and
retaken by the 3rd Division on the 2nd March. In the following July the enemy blew a mine
under it, but failed to capture the ground. It was given up in the spring of 1918, but
regained by the 14th Division on the 28th September.
The 1/D.C.L.I. Cemetery is about 1 kilometer North of the
Bluff, and it dates from a period earlier than the fighting of 1916. It contains the
graves of 51 officers and men of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (one of whom had
just obtained a commission in another Regiment) and 25 other soldiers from the United
Kingdom, all of whom fell in April-July, 1915. Row D, which contains the graves of 23 men,
was added after the Armistice by concentrations from the battlefield. The unnamed graves
are 15 in number.
The cemetery covers an area of 474 square meters. It is
enclosed by a low brick wall. It stands on high ground, in the middle of farm lands.
The Register records particulars of 76 War Dead buried or
commemorated in this cemetery.
From the CWGC:
| Location: |
1st DCLI Cemetery is located 4 km south east of
Ieper town centre, on the Verbrandemolenstraat a road leading from the
Komenseweg, connecting Ieper to Komen (N336). From Ieper town centre the
Komenseweg is located via the Rijselsestraat, through the Rijselpoort (Lille
Gate) and crossing the Ieper ring road, towards Armentieres and Lille. The
road name then changes to Rijselseweg. 1 km along the Rijselseweg lies the
left hand turning onto Komenseweg. 2.5 km along the Komenseweg lies the
right hand turning onto the Vaartstraat. 900 metres along the Vaartstraat
lies the left hand turning onto the Verbrandemolenstraat. 400 metres along
the Verbrandemolenstraat a short distance from the road is the cemetery.
Visitors to this site should note the 100 metre grassed access path
leading to the cemetery which is not accessible by vehicle. |
| Historical Information: |
The Bluff was the Eastern point of "a
narrow ridge covered with trees-probably the heap formed by excavation
when the canal was dug-which forms a feature of the flat wooded country at
the Southern bend of the Ypres salient".* The trenches of the 14th
(Light) Division on it were captured by the Germans in February, 1916, and
retaken by the 3rd Division on the 2nd March. In the following July the
enemy blew a mine under it, but failed to capture the ground. It was given
up in the spring of 1918, but regained by the 14th Division on the 28th
September. The First D.C.L.I. Cemetery dates from a period earlier than
the fighting of 1916. It contains the graves of officers and men of the
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (one of whom had just obtained a
commission in another Regiment) and other soldiers from the United
Kingdom, all of whom fell in April-July, 1915. Row D, was added after the
Armistice by concentrations from the bafflefield. There are now over 50,
1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 15 are
unidentified. The cemetery covers an area of 472 square metres and is
enclosed by a low brick wall. * Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch of the 19th
May, 1916. |
THE REGISTER OF THE WAR DEAD
Philip Lanc has given me photographs that list the names of the
War Dead. The details from these photographs are listed below. In some cases a best guess
had to be made as to spelling or numbers. I apologize for any errors.
Allen, Pte. P. A., 3/3998 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 18th May,
1915. B. 6.
Banks, Pte. F., 18611, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 18th June, 1915.
B. 14.
Bartlett, Pte. G., 7716, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I. 24th May, 1915.
B. 11.
Betty, Pte. John Uppington, 17418, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I.
Killed in action 10th June, 1915. Age. 35. Husband of Adeline Bona Betty. Archenfield
Cottages, Ross, Herefordshire. A. 10.
Butler, Pte. Arthur James, 5323, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., Killed
in action 5th May, 1915. Age 18. Son of William and Florence Butler, of 11, Rising Sun
Cottages, Cranford Lane, Hexton, Middx. C. 10.
Cannon, Pte. Frederick, 17587, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., Killed
in action 27th may, 1915. Age 21. Son of Mrs. Annie Cannon, of 1, Tapley St., Poplar,
London. A. 4.
Carpenter, Pte. H. J., 18224, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 14th
July, 1915. C. 17.
Caudwell, Pte. E., 10199, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 5th May,
1915. C. 3.
Childs, Lce. Cpl. H., 6237, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 7th July,
1915. C. 16.
Chipperfield, Pte. S. W., 6098, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 26th
May, 1915. A. 5.
Clarke, Pte. Albert, 7994, 2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's
Regt., 18th April, 1915. Age 29. Son of Richard and Betsy Clarke, of Birmingham; husband
of Lily Clarke, of 39, Heaton St., Hockley, Birmingham. D. 4.
Cole, Pte. G., 4620, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 20th July, 1915.
B. 17.
Cook, Pte. Edward, 11329, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 21st May,
1915. Age 19. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Cook, of London. C. 12.
Cooke, C.S.M. Albert Edward, 8455, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 4th
June, 1915. Age 24. Son of Alfred E. and Elizabeth Cooke, of 5, Whitfield St., Gloucester.
A. 1.
Dallamore, Lce. Cpl. F., 7565, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 5th May,
1915. B. 2.
Davis, Lce. Cpl. F., 16258, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 6th May,
1915. B. 4.
Devonshire, Pte. S., 20415, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 27th may,
1915. A. 1.
Donovan, Pte. J., 3993, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 5th may, 1915.
G. 4.
Douglas, Pte. H., 7441, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I. 5th may, 1915.
B. 1.
Elliott, Pte. William, 7315, 2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's
Regt., 18th April, 1915. Age 30. Son of John and Jane Elliott; husband of Alice Elliott,
of 18, Chassum St., Manningham, Bradford, Yorks., D. 8.
Furness, Rfn. W., R/8025, 7th Bn. King's Royal Rifle
Corps, 1stJne, 1915. A. 6.
Garstin, Serjt. C., 7338, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 20th June,
1915. A. 16.
Glassman, Pte. Donald, 5026, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 15th June,
1915. Age 19. Son of Lazarus and Deborah Glassman, of 121, Brady St. Buildings,
Whitechapel, London. C. 14.
Goss, Serjt. A., 6446, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., Killed in action
18th May, 1915. Age 32. Son of Mrs. Mary Goss of Clifton, Bristol; husband of Mary Agnes
Goss, Stafford Dairy, Cross St., Barnes, London. C. 13.
Groves, Pte. John Julian, 18381, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 27th
June, 1915. C. 15.
Hale, Rfn. Frederick Thomas, 2466. "G" Coy. 1st
Bn. Queen Victoria's Rifles, 21st April, 1915. Age 22. Son of Thomas Gardiner Hale, and
Beatrice Mary Hale, of 26, Woodriffe Rd., Leytonstone, London. D. 20.
Hamilton, Pte. Andrew, 7470, 2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish
Borderers, 18th April, 1915. D. 12.
Harris, Pte. Frank Stanley, 17638, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I.
Killed in action 19th June, 1915. Age 27. Son of Robert Alfred and Sarah Jane Harris, of
131, Station Rd., Forest Gate, London. A. 11.
Hawke, Pte. William, 17393, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 9th June,
1915. Age 30. A. 8.
Hinchcliffe, Lce. Cpl. W., 3/8878, 2nd Bn. King's Own
Yorkshire Light Inf., 18th April, 1915. D. 1.
Hobbs, Pte. Albert Victor, 11890, 6th Bn. D.C.L.I., 8th
June, 1915. A. 7.
Hunter, Pte. William Howell, 11485, 6th Bn. D.C.L.I.,
11th June, 1915. Age 35. Son of William and Catherine Hunter of York. A. 12.
Inch, Pte. W. J., 3/5355, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 25th May,
1915. Age 25. Son of Thomas and Mary Inch, of 28, Mary St., Coburg, Victoria, Australia.
Native of Cornwall. A. 2.
Keeling, Pte. George Frederick, 12779, "C" Coy.
1st Bn. D.C.L.I., Killed in action 10th July, 1915. Age 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Keeling,
of 94, Southern Rd., Plaistow, London. B. 16.
Long, Pte. R., 17462, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 1st July, 1915.
Age 26. Husband of Frances Moorhouse (formerly Long), of 5 back, 113 Villa St., Lozells,
Birmingham. B. 15.
Lynes, 2nd Lt. A. C. D'A., 1st Bn. Royal Berkshire Regt.,
10th July, 1915. Age 27. Son of the Rev. John and Mary Lynes, of Chalbury Rectory, Hinton
Martel, Wimborne, Dorset. A. 18.
McCormick, Pte. O. T. H., 3/5892, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 6th
may, 1915. B. 3.
Matthews, Pte. W., 3/5366, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 17th May,
1915. C. 7.
Millar, Pte. G. H., 1/6063, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., Killed in
action, 5th May, 1915. Age 4. Husband of Agnes Millar, of 25, Guinness Buildings,
Kensington, Park Rd., London. C. 11.
Mitchell, Pte. C. W., 10345, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 20th May,
1915. B. 5.
Mitchell, Pte. W. G., 10158, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 17t June,
1915. B. 13.
Moffat, Pte. Robert James, 14978, "B" Coy. 8th
Bn. D.C.L.I., 14th June, 1915. Age 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Moffat, 0f 516, Kingston
Rd., Raynes Park, London. A. 14.
Morris, Pte. Ernest Arthur, 17893, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I.,
Killed in action 18th June, 1915. Age 38. Son of George and Elizabeth Morris, of Truro;
husband of Amelia Morris, of 39, Pydar St., Truro, Cornwall. A. 15.
Mottram, Pte. Charles Henry, 14935, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I.,
30th April, 1915. Age 19. Son of Charles and Eliza Mottram, of Mount Pleasant, Puckeridge,
Ware, Herts. Native of Mile End, London. C. 8.
Noble, Pte. R. G., 18598. 1st Bn. D.C.L.I. 4th July,
1915. A. 17.
O'Keefe, Pte. M., 6810. 1st Bn. D.C.L.I. 20th May, 1915.
B. 10.
Parkes, Pte. W. H., 6949, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I. 20th May,
1915. B. 9.
Penrose, Serjt. John Charles Henry, 9486. 1st Bn.
D.C.L.I. Killed in action 19th May, 1915. Age 23. Son of Mrs. Martha Jane Penrose, of 29,
Castle St., Truro, Cornwall. C. 9.
Pepperell, Pte. T., 3/6156. 1st Bn. D.C.L.I. 16th May,
1915. B. 5.
Ring, Pte. W., 7967, 1st Bn. D.C.L.I. 19th May, 1915. B.
7.
Skinner, Pte. James Edward, "B" Coy. 1st Bn.
D.C.L.I. Killed in action 17th May, 1915. Age 21. Son of Mrs. Alice Skinner, of 23, Tadema
Rd., Chelsea, London. Native of Fulham. C. 6.
Spear, Pte. James Henry, 18346. 1st Bn. D.C.L.I. 5th May,
1915 - Age 21. Son of John and Caroline Spear, of Fore St., Tregoory, Crampound Rd.,
Cornwall C. 3.
Stebbings, Pte. Edgar, 16937. 1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regt.
19th April, 1915. Age 21. Only son of James Edgar and Ann Stebbings, of Alexandra Rd.,
King's Langley, Herts. D. 17.
Sullivan, Pte. P., 15119. 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 9th June,
1915. A. 9.
Symns, Pte. W. T., 9835. 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., Killed in
action 11th June, 1915. Age 23. Son of Mrs. Susan Symns, of 5, Gifford St., Caledonian
Rd., King's Cross, London. A. 13.
Teague, Pte. H., 10453. 6th Bn. D.C.L.I., 14th June 1915.
B. 12.
Tickell, Pte. J. U., 14083. 1st Bn. Devonshire Regt. 22nd
April, 1915. Age 18. Son of Mr. and the late Mrs. Tickell, of 3, heron Cottages, Ashcombe,
Dawtish, Devon. D. 16.
Tilney, Pte. Edward Charles, 9924. 1st Bn. Devenoshire
Regt. Killed in action 22nd April, 1915. Age 21. Son of Henry Charles and Mary Tilney, of
53, Livingstone Rd., High St., Stratford, London. D. 14.
West, Pte. Edward Charles, 7851 1st Bn.D.C.L.I. Killed in
action 30th April, 1915. Age 30. Husband of Sarah West, of 1, Coronation Villa, St. Owen
St., Hereford. C. 2.
Whitehorn, Pte. James Wilfred, 14684 1st Bn. Bedfordshire
Regt. Killed in action at Hill 60, 20th April, 1915. Age 19. Son of Albert and Mary Jane
Whitehorn, of 27, Meeting Alley, Watford, Herts. D. 22.
Woodham, Capt. C. B., D.S.O. 1st Bn. D.C.L.I., 15th June,
1915. C. 1.
There are fifteen unidentified soldiers from the United
Kingdom buried in the Cemetery.
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