Ieper in West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium — Northwestern Europe
Kanaaldijk - Site John McCrae
Gedenkteken 49ste (West Riding) Divisie & Essex Farm Cemetery
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 12, 2024
1. Kanaaldijk - Site John McCrae Marker
West Riding Memorial
De hardstenen obelisk boven op de kanaaldijk is opgericht als nagedachtenis van de doden van de 49th (West Riding) Division, een territoriale divisie waarvan nagenoeg alle eenheden afkomstig waren uit Yorkshire. De infanteriebataljons werden gerekruteerd in York (1/5th West Yorkshires), Bradford (1/6th W.Yorks), Leeds (1/7th & 1/8th W.Yorks), Halifax (1/4th Duke of Wellington's West Riding), Huddersfield (1/5th W. R.), Skipton-in-Graven (1/6th W. R.), Milnsbridge (1/7th W. R.), Wakefield (1/4th K.O.Y.L.I.), Doncaster (1/5th K.O.Y.L.I., 1/4th York & Lancaster) en Rotherham (1/5th York & Lancs). Maar ook de eenheden artillerie, cavalerie, genie en medische dienst waren West Riding.
Aan het einde van de oorlog betreurde de 49ste Divisie meer dan 9500 doden, waarvan er ruim 1000 vielen tijdens hun eerste periode bij leper, tussen 7 juli en 31 december 1915. 67 onder hen liggen begraven op Essex Farm Cemetery.
Alle plaatsen waar de 49ste divisie dienst deed staan chronologisch vermeld op het gedenkteken: 1915: Aubers - Ypres. 1916: The Somme - Thiepval - Schwaben Redoubt. 1917: Nieuport - Poelcapelle
this page online
Op obelisk werd op 22 juni 1924 onthuld door Sir Edward M. Perceval, de generaal die de divisie had aar gevoerd van juli 1915 tot oktober 1917.
Essex Farm Cemetery
Op dat ogenblik was de begraafplaats nog niet afgewerkt. Charles Holden, architect van de War Graves Commision, had al een plan klaar op 23 juli 1920, De hulparchitecten Cowlishaw en Rew waren aangeduid om de uitvoering van de werken op te volgen. De keuze om het West Riding Memorial vlakbij de begraafplaats op de Kanaaldijk te plaatsen, zorgde wellicht voor de aanzienlijke vertraging. Architect Reginald Blomfield bereikte in maart 1923 een akkoord om de obelisk pal op de as van de Stone of Remembrance te plaatsen. De begraafplaats werd pas in 1925 afgewerkt.
Op Essex Farm Cemetery liggen 1185 militairen begraven. De eerste graven dateren van tijdens de Tweede Slag bij leper, maar daarvan zijn nu slechts 7 Canadese graven over. Naast die van de West Riding liggen er veel graven van de 38th (Welsh) Division (179, uit 1916 en 1917), de Guards Division (105 uit 1916) en de 14th
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 12, 2024
2. Kanaaldijk - Site John McCrae Marker
Mémorial de la 49eme (West Riding) Division et du cimetière Essex Farm Cemetery
L'obélisque en pierre de taille au sommet de la digue du candi est érigé en mémoire aux morts de la 490eme (West Riding) Division une division territoriale dont pratiquement toutes les unités étaient originaires du Yorkshire, aussi bion les unités d'infanterie que d'artillerie, de cavalerie, de génie et du service médical.
A la fin de la guerre, la 49ème Division était endiguée de 9500 morts, dont plus de 1000 sont tombés lors de leur première période à Ypres, entre le 7 juillet et le 31 décembre 1915. 67 d'entre eux sont enterrés dans le cimetière Essex Farm Cometery L'obélisque a été dévoilé le 22 juin 1924 par Sir Edward M Perceval, le général qui avait commandé la division de juillet 1916 à octobre 1917.
A ce moment-là, le cimetière n'était pas encore achevé. Charles Holden, architecte do la War Gravos Commission, avait déjà conçu un plan dès le 23 juillet 1920. Le choix de placer le West Riding Memorial tout près du cimetière sur la digue du Canal est peut-être la cause de l'important retard. L'architecte Reginald Blomifield est parvenu en mars 1923 à un accord visant à placer l'obélisque juste sur l'axe de la Stone of Remembrance: Le cimetière a été achevé en 1925.
War Memorial of the 49th (West Riding) Division & Essex Farm Cemetery
The hardstone obelisk on top of the canal bank was erected in memory of the dead from the 49th (West Riding) Division, This was a territorial division whose units were almost all originally from Yorkshire (England), including artillery, infantry, cavalry, royal engineers and medical services.
At the end of the war, the 49th Division mourned losses of over 9500. At least 1,000 of these had fallen during their first period in Ypres between 7 July and 31 December 1915. 67 of these have been buried in Essex Farm Cemetery.
The obelisk was unveiled on 22 June 1924 by Sir Edward M. Perceval, general of the division from July 1495 to October 1917 At the time, the cemetery was not yet finished. Charles Holden, architect from the War Graves Commission had already drawn up plans by 25 July, 1920. The decision to position the West Riding Monument and cemetery on the canal bank was probably the cause for considerable delay. Architect Herald Blomfield reached an agreement in March 1923 to position the obelisk right on the axis of the Stone of Remembrance. The cemetery was completed in 1925.
Denkmal 49. (West Riding) Division & Essex Farm Cemetery
Der Obelisk aus belgischem Kalkstein oben am Kanaldeich wurde als Andenken an die Toten der 49. (West Riding) Division errichtet, einer territorialen Division, wobei nahezu alle Einheiten aus Yorkshire stammten, Auch die Einheiten Artillerie, Kavallerie. Pioniere und Sanitäter waren West Riding. Am Ende des Krieges betrauerte die 49, Division mehr als 9500 Tote, wovon rund 1000 während ihrer ersten Periode bei Ypern fielen, zwischen 7. Jul und 31. Dezember 1915, 67 von ihnen sind am Essex Farm Cemetery begraben. Der Obelisk wurde am 22. Juni 1924 von Sir Edward M, Perceval dem General, der die Division von Juli 1915 bis Oktober 1917 angeführt hatte, enthüllt Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war der Friedhof noch nicht fertig. Charles Holder, Architekt der War Graves Commision, hatte am 23. Juli 1920 bereits einen Plan. Die Entscheidung, das West Riding Memonal in der Nähe des Friedhofs am Kanaldeich zu errichten sorgte möglicherweise für die erhebliche Verzögerung. Architekt Reginald Biomfield erreichte im März 1923 das Einverständnis den Obelisk direkt auf der Achse des Stone zu Remembrance zu platzieren. Der Friedhof wurde 1925 fertiggesteilt.
[Photo Captions, English only:]
1. View from the Canal Bank on Essex Farm Cemetery and the road leper-Boezinge, ca 1920
2. The entrance of Essex Farm Cemetery from the road leper-Boezinge, ca. 1920
3. The obelisk of the 49th (West Riding) Division on the inauguration, 22 June 1924
4. Sketch from the canal bank and Essex Fram Cemetery by Lt -Col. Edward Morrison, commanding officer of the 1st Canadian Artillery Brigade, April-May 1915
5. The youngest soldier buried on Essex Farm Cemetery: Valentine Joe Strudwick, 14 January 1916, age 15.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is December 31, 1915.
Location. 50° 52.281′ N, 2° 52.403′ E. Marker is in Ieper, Vlaanderen (Flanders), in West-Vlaanderen. It can be reached from the intersection of Diksmuidseweg (National Route 369) and Noorderring. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Diksmuidseweg 144, Ieper, Vlaanderen 8900, Belgium. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: McCrae Site, the Canal Bank 1914-1918 / Site McCrae de Canadijk 1914-1918 (a few steps from this marker); 49th (West Riding) Division Memorial / Gedenkteken 49ste (West Riding) Divisie (a few steps from this marker); In Flanders Fields (within shouting distance of this marker); Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae (within shouting distance of this marker); 49th West Riding Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Medische hulppost John McCrae / Medical Aid Post John McCrae (within shouting distance of this marker); Essex Farm Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); St. George’s Memorial Church (approx. 2.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ieper.
Regarding Kanaaldijk - Site John McCrae. This is an older monumentthat repeats a nearby monument.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 27, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.
