La Clytte Military Cemetery

 

La Clytte Military Cemetery,20th August 2009

 

 

The first burial in the cemetery took place on the 1st November, 1914, and between that date and April, 1918, Plots I, II and III and part of Plot IV were filled. The hamlet of La Clytte was used as Brigade Headquarters, and the burials were carried out by Infantry, Artillery and Engineer units (out of 600, 250 are those of Artillery personnel and 66 are those of Engineers). After the Armistice Plot IV was completed, and Plots V and VI formed by the concentration of isolated graves and small graveyards from the area round Reninghelst, Dickebusch, Locre and Kemmel. There are now 1,082 casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 238 of the burials are unidentified and one of the graves, brought in from LEICESTER CAMP CEMETERY, is marked with the names of two men between whom the identification rests. Other special memorials commemorate casualties known to have been buried in the cemetery, but whose graves could not be located. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Pioneer JH Targett,7th Labour Battalion,Royal Engineers,KIA 20 October 1917

 

 

John Henry Targett,aged 52,La Clytte Military Cemetery

 

 

John Targett of  Rotherhithe was the 3rd generation of his family to work in Surrey Commercial Dock on the River Thames. But he had also been a member of the Royal Marine Light Infantry from the age of 20 and had served 12 years.

When war broke out in 1914 he volunteered to work on pontoon bridges and found that,despite being 52 years old,the Army were glad to utilise his experience and so he joined the 7th Labour Battalion.

After only 16 days training he left for France and was then sent to Ypres by December 1915. His unit,the Third Bridging Train,had suffered dreadfully to enemy shelling and had lost 800 men.So many,in fact that the survivors were merged into the 706th Labour Company.

By the 20th of October the hell that was the Third Battle of Ypres was fully raging and the whole area was a muddy swamp.This mud determined that guns could not be moved from their positions without a track being constructed to help them.John Targett had just finished such a job at two in the afternoon when he was caught in a shell explosion and killed.He was due to go on leave that night.

John Henry Targett is buried in La Clytte Military Cemetery.

Westoutre British Cemetery

Westoutre British Cemetery,22 Aug 09

The village of Westoutre (now Westouter) remained in Allied hands from the early months of the First World War to the Armistice, but in the summer of 1918, after the Battles of the Lys, it was within 2.4 Kms of the front line. Westoutre British Cemetery was begun in October 1917. It was used until the following April and again in August-October 1918, and 50 graves were brought into it from the battlefields of the Ypres salient, from BIXSCHOTE GERMAN CEMETERY and KEMMEL FRENCH CEMETERY after the Armistice. French units used the cemetery in April-August 1918, but these graves were later removed. The cemetery now contains 175 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 52 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to five casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The four Second World War burials all date from May 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk ahead of the German advance. There is also one French burial from this period. The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.

Major ES Dougall VC MC,A Battery 88th Brigade,Royal Field Artillery,KIA 14th April 1918

Eric Stuart Dougall VC MC,Westoutre British Cemetery,22 Aug 09

An extract from “The London Gazette,” dated 31st May, 1918, records the following:-”For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leadership in the field when in command of his battery. Capt. Dougall maintained his guns in action from early morning throughout a heavy concentration of gas and high-explosive shell. Finding that he could not clear the crest owing to the withdrawal of our line, Captain Dougall ran his guns on to the top of the ridge to fire over open sights. By this time our infantry had been pressed back in line with the guns. Captain Dougall at once assumed command of the situation, rallied and organised the infantry, supplied them with Lewis guns, and armed as many gunners as he could spare with rifles. With these he formed a line in front of his battery which during this period was harassing the advancing enemy with a rapid rate of fire. Although exposed to both rifle and machine gun fire this officer fearlessly walked about as though on parade, calmly giving orders and encouraging everybody. He inspired the infantry with his assurance that “So long as you stick to your trenches I will keep my guns here”. This line was maintained throughout the day, thereby delaying the enemy’s advance for over twelve hours. In the evening, having expended all ammunition, the battery received orders to withdraw. This was done by man-handling the guns over a distance of about 800 yards of shell-cratered country, an almost impossible feat considering the ground and the intense machine gun fire. Owing to Captain Dougall’s personality and skilful leadership throughout this trying day there is no doubt that a serious breach in our line was averted. This gallant officer was killed four days later whilst directing the fire of his battery.”

Eric Stuart Dougall was promoted to Major and awarded the Victoria Cross.He is buried in Westoutre British Cemetery.

Reninghelst New Military Cemetery

Reninghelst New Military Cemetery,22 Aug 09

The village of Reninghelst (now Reningelst) was occupied by Commonwealth forces from the late autumn of 1914 to the end of the war and was sufficiently far from the front line to provide a suitable station for field ambulances. The earliest burials took place in the Churchyard, but in November 1915, the New Military Cemetery was opened. It remained in use until September 1918. There are now 798 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Corporal CG Clarke,1st Divisional Signals Company,Australian Imperial Force,KIA 8th November 1917

Clive Gordon Clarke,1st Divisional Signals Company,AIF

In November 1917 the 1st Div Signals of the AIF were situated in the ramparts at Ypres.Cpl Clive Gordon Clarke was a motorcycle despatch rider attached to the company.

On the 8th of November, as he was returning to Ypres after a despatch mission to Zonnebeke,a shell exploded,causing him multiple injuries.He died before arrival at the dressing station of the 2nd Field Ambulance,AIF.

Gordon Clarke was 23 and had already served at Egypt,Gallipolli,the Sinai Desrt and France.

He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery.

Clive Gordon Clarke,Reninghelst New Military Cemetery,22 Aug 09

Sergeant BT Wilmer,1st Field Artillery Brigade,Australian Imperial Force,KIA 21 July 1917

Basil Thomas Wilmer,Reninghelst Military Cemetery,22 Aug 09

Born in Tasmania in 1887,Basil Wilmer was the son of a clergyman.He worked as a clerk with the Bank of Australia and joined the regulars in September 1914 following a spell in the militia.

By July 1917 he had served in Gallipolli and France and was now at the rank of Sgt.

Moving into gunpits near Zillbeke on the night of 20/21 July 1917 the 1st and 2nd Field Artillery Brigades came under fire.The Medical Officer,Captain WR Aspinall MC was killed.At roughly 3 pm the next day as the Australians were registering their guns they again came under enemy shell-fire;7 men were killed including Sgt Basil Wilmer.

He now rests in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery.

Captain WR Pasteur MC,D Battery 102nd Brigade,Royal Field Artillery,KIA 10th July 1916

William Raymond Pasteur MC,Reninghelst New Military Cemetery,22 Aug 09

No matter the weather,the mud,the enemy fire or any other hardship the ammunition for the guns had to get through;and that it invariably did is testament to the efforts of the men in the ammunition wagons and columns.

On the night of 9/10 July 1916 the shelling was particularly heavy and upon reaching Shrapnel Corner several drivers and horses of D/102 Ammo Colummn had already been hit.

The commander of the column,Capt Pasteur was among thos wounded but urged his men on until he was hit a second time. Both his legs were shattered but, showing courage and fortitude to the last,he directed his wagons until he died by the roadside.

William Raymond Pasteur MC is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery

Captain CER Bridson,8th Bn The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment,KIA 4th April 1916

Charles Edward Ridgeway Bridson,Reninghelst New Military Cemetery

Captain Bridson and the Lancastrians attacked near St Eloi in an attempt to close the gap in their line caused by German occupation of the so called Crater No5.

Like the Royal Fusiliers before them the Lancastrians were confused by the ground and darkness and they occupied Crater No4 in error.Luckily though this helped them ouflank the German force of 5 officers and 77 men in Crater No5.This force surrendered the next day and following a period of consolidation the Lancs withdrew to Poperinghe.

Unfortunately Charles Edward Ridgway Bridson and 17 of his comrades did not return;they remained behind,killed near Crater No4 at the hell that was St Eloi.He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery.

Locre Churchyard

Locre Churchyard,22 Aug 09

Locre (now Loker) was in Allied hands during the greater part of the war, and field ambulances were stationed in the Convent of St. Antoine. The village changed hands several times between 25 and 30 April 1918, when it was recaptured by the French. The hospice, or convent, was the scene of severe fighting on 20 May, but was not retaken until first week in July. Loker Churchyard was used by field ambulances and fighting units from December 1914 to June 1917, and it contains two Commonwealth plots. One grave was brought in after the Armistice from LOCRE FRENCH CEMETERY No.4. The churchyard contains 215 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.