Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery

History Information (Source: CWGC) 

Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery was started by French troops in 1914 and was taken over by Commonwealth forces in April 1915. It was used by fighting units and field ambulances until June 1917, when the land adjoining the cemetery was claimed for a military railway preventing further extension. The cemetery is remarkable for the care with which men of the same unit were buried side by side if they died at about the same time. There is also a very high proportion of graves of Territorial units, in particular Lancashire Territorials, who have nearly 250 graves in plots IV, V and VI. During the early months of 1917, whenever it was possible, the 55th Division brought their dead from the front for burial here.

The cemetery now contains 1,175 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The French graves were removed after the war, but three German war graves remain.

 

There are also four Second World War burials dating from the Allied retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. The wrought iron gates were presented by the family of the late Lord Redesdale, whose son, Major Mitford, is buried in the Cemetery.

 

Served with

  • United Kingdom (1100)
  • Canadian (54)
  • Australian (4)
  • German (3)
  • Indian (3)
  • South African (2)

Served in

  • Army (1161)
  • Air Force (5)
Vlamertinghe
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VICTORIA CROSS

Captain Francis Octavius GRENFELL - 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers

Died 24 May 1915 Age 35

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Awards: Victoria Cross

Grenfell London Gazette
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Citation

An extract taken from the London Gazette dated 16th November, 1914 records the following:- "For gallantry in action against un-broken Infantry at Andregnies, Belgium, on 24th August, 1914, and for gallant conduct in  assisting to save the guns of 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, near Doubon the same day."

Grave Reference: II. B. 14.

(Source: Wikipedia)