- Dickebusch New Military Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery and Extension
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Dickebusch New Military Cemetery and Extension Commonwealth War Graves Commission Used for those deceased 1915-1918 Established 1915 Location 50°49′4.9″N 02°49′54.3″E / 50.818028°N 2.83175°E near Dikkebus, West Flanders, Belgium Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens Total burials 1,171 Unknown
burials13 Burials by nation Allied Powers: (Cemetery/Extension) - United Kingdom 529/520
- Canada: 84/2
- Australia: 11/24
- South Africa: 0/1
Burials by war World War I: 624/547 Statistics source: WW1Cemeteries.com [1][2] and CWGC [3][4] Dickebusch New Military Cemetery and Extension are Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial grounds for the dead of the First World War located in the Ypres Salient on the Western Front.
The cemetery grounds were assigned to the United Kingdom in perpetuity by King Albert I of Belgium in recognition of the sacrifices made by the British Empire in the defence and liberation of Belgium during the war.[1]
Contents
Foundation
The main cemetery was founded in February 1915 by field ambulances and troops in the area[2] after the closure of the Old Military Cemetery a short distance away.[3]
The Extension - across the road from the cemetery - was established in May 1917,[2] again for use by ambulance units and troops.[3]
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Notable graves
Amongst the dead in the main cemetery is Lance Corporal Joseph Stanley Victor Fox of the Wiltshire Regiment, attached to the 3rd Division Cyclists' Company.[4]
L/Cpl Fox was executed by his own side for desertion on 20 April 1915.[5] He was 20 years old. He had been fired on while on patrol, his company swimming a canal to regroup. They were sent back to retrieve their abandoned bicycles, but Fox did not return - his bicycle was unusable and he was unable to find his unit. He was found in February 1915 but gave false details, fearful of being shot for desertion despite having no control over his original disappearance. The court martial took this into account, but senior officers overruled them.[6]
On 7 November 2006, the British government reversed its previous decision and announced a pardon for all soldiers executed in the Great War.[7]
See also
References
- ^ First World War, accessed 19 August 2006
- ^ a b Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry on the cemetery, accessed 29 December 2007
- ^ a b WW1Cemeteries.com, accessed 29 December 2007
- ^ WW1Cemeteries.com, accessed 29 December 2007
- ^ Shot at Dawn Campaign website list of executed soldiers, accessed 29 December 2007
- ^ Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, 24 August 2006 Honour restored to shot soldier's family, accessed 29 December 2007
- ^ Shot at Dawn Campaign website, accessed 1 October 2007
External links
- Cemetery register: Details • Reports • Plans • Photographs. CWGC.
Artillery Wood • Bedford House • Blauwepoort Farm • Brandhoek Military · New · No 3 • Buffs Road • Chester Farm • Dickebusch New · Old • Divisional Collecting Post • Divisional • Duhallow ADS • Elzenwalle Brasserie • First DCLI, The Bluff • Hedge Row Trench • Hooge Crater • La Belle Alliance • La Brique • Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) • Menin Road South • New Irish Farm • Oxford Road • Perth (China Wall) • Potijze Burial Ground · Château Lawn and Grounds · Château Wood • RE Grave Railway Wood • Railway Chateau • Ramparts (Lille Gate) • Ridge Wood • Spoilbank • Track "X" • Tuileries • Voormezeele Enclosures • White House • Wieltje Farm • Woods • Ypres Reservoir • Ypres Town • Zillebeke ChurchyardCategories:- 1915 establishments in Belgium
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Belgium
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