| Cemetery: |
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinge,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium |
Grave Reference/
Panel Number: |
XXVIII. F. 9.
|
| Location: |
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery is located
11.5 kilometres west of Ieper town centre, on the Boescheepseweg, a road
leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge. From Ieper town
centre the Poperingseweg (N308) is reached via Elverdingsestraat, then
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 Poperinge, the N308 joins the left
hand turning onto the R33, Poperinge ring road. The R33 ring continues
to the left hand junction with the N38 Frans- Vlaanderenweg. 800 metres
along the N38 lies the left hand turning onto Lenestraat. The next
immediate right hand turning leads onto Boescheepseweg. The cemetery
itself is located 1.5 kilometres along Boescheepseweg on the right hand
side of the road. From Calais, take the motorway A16 signposted
Dunkerque/Lille. At Dunkerque take the motorway signposted Lille/Ypres,
the A25. Leave the motorway at Junction 13, the village of Steenvoorde.
Follow the D948/N38 signposted Ieper/Poperinge. After approximately 8-10
kilometres Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery will be signposted off to the
right. Please Note: Ypres/ Ieper are the same place: Ypres (French
spelling), Ieper (Flemish spelling) Commission signposts are green and
white
|
| Historical Information: |
The Hazebrouck-Poperinghe railway line and
the Poperinghe-Ypres road formed the main communication between the
bases and the Flemish battlefields, and Lijssenthoek, lying close behind
the extreme range of enemy shell-fire, was a natural position for
clearing hospitals. It was first used by the French 15th Hopital
D'Evacuation. In June, 1915, it began to be used by British Casualty
Clearing Stations; and between that month and the Armistice it became
the second greatest British War Cemetery. From April to August, 1918,
the Casualty Clearing Stations fell back before the German advance, and
Field Ambulances (including a French Ambulance) took their places; and
the French graves in Plots XXVI, XXVII, and XXXI recalled the French
regiments that were sent to Flanders at that time. Twenty-four British
graves in Plot XXXI were brought from isolated positions near Poperinghe
after the Armistice. There are now nearly 10,000, 1914-18 war casualties
commemorated in this site. |