Cemetery: |
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinge,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium |
Grave Reference/ Panel Number:
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XXVIII. F. 9.
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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
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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. |