Oxford Road Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

Oxford Road Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
Oxford Road
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Entrance marker
Used for those deceased 1917-1918
Established August 1917
Location 50°52′08″N 02°55′00″E / 50.86889°N 2.9166667°E / 50.86889; 2.9166667 near Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium
Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
Total burials 853
Burials by nation
Allies of World War I:

Central Powers:
Burials by war
World War I: 853
Statistics source: WO1.be

Oxford Road Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for the dead of the First World War located near Ypres (now Ieper) in Belgium 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

Stone of Remembrance

The cemetery, named after the nickname of a nearby road behind the trenches, was established as two cemeteries.[2] The first was laid down in August 1917. The second, nearby, was begun in 1917. After the armistice, battlefield graves were consolidated between the two, creating one enlarged cemetery.[3]

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.[2]

Notable graves

South African-born Captain Clement Robertson VC is buried in this cemetery.[4] He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for valour on 4 October 1917 at Zonnebeke.

Sergeant Colin Blythe of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, an exceptional spin bowler who had played for Kent and England and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1904.[5]

References

  1. ^ First World War, accessed 19 August 2006
  2. ^ a b "CWGC :: Cemetery Details". www.cwgc.org. http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=50700&mode=1. Retrieved 2008-05-04. 
  3. ^ "Wereldoorlog I in de Westhoek - Oxford Road". www.wo1.be. http://www.wo1.be/eng/database/dbDetail.asp?TypeID=6&SubTypeID=19&ItemID=5628. Retrieved 2008-05-04. 
  4. ^ "OXFORD ROAD CEMETERY". ww1cemeteries.com. http://ww1cemeteries.com/ww1cemeteries/oxfordroadcemetery.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-04. 
  5. ^ "Combat cricketers". National Army Museum. http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/exhibitions/cricket/page3.shtml. Retrieved 2009-05-23. 

External links

v · Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Ieper municipality, Belgium
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 Churchyard


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