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Warneton near Comines-Warneton in Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium — Northwestern Europe
 

Prowes Point

 
 
Prowes Point Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 13, 2024
1. Prowes Point Marker
Inscription.
[français]
Prowse Point évoque un spectaculaire fait d'armes instruit par le Major Prowse. Les Allemands viennent de s'emparer de tranchées longeant un chemin creux, proche du cimetière actuel. Le Major Prowse, 1st Somerset Light Infantry, décide de riposter et mène promptement la contre-attaque, Il ne sollicite même pas le support de l'artillerie et ses hommes reprennent la position sans la moindre effusion de sang dans leurs rangs ! Pour cet exploit, le Major Prowse reçoit la DSO et est promu Lieutenant-Colonel.
Prowse Point Military Cemetery
Les 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers et les 1st Royal Warwicks créent ce cimetière en novembre 1914. Maintenu en service jusqu'en avril 1918, il compte initialement 214 tombes (158 Britanniques, 42 Néo-Zélandais, 13 Australiens et 1 Canadien). Douze prisonniers allemands y seront également enterrés En octobre 2001, le Royal Regiment of Fusiliers rend les honneurs militaires au soldat Wilkinson. Une nouvelle stèle se dresse dans le cimetière. Elle porte le nom du soldat Harry Wilkinson, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, tué au nord du Birdcage, le 10 novembre 1914. Exhumé en janvier 2000 et
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identifié grâce à sa plaque matricule, le soldat Wilkinson repose désormais dans le Prowse Point Military Cemetery.

Prowse Point was named after Major C. B. Prowse, 1st Somerset Light Infantry following an action on 31 October 1914. The enemy captured a section of British trenches in a sunken road just near where the cemetery is today. Major Prowse led an attack, without artillery support and his men armed only with small arms. They quickly overran the enemy, incurred no casualties and won a 'Bloodless Victory. For his initiative and leadership, he was promoted to Lieut.-Col. and awarded the DSO.
Prowse Point Military Cemetery
Started by the 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the 1st Royal Warwicks, it was used from November 1914 to April 1918, originally housing 214 graves, 158 from the UK, 42 from New Zealand, 13 from Australia, one from Canada and 12 Germans who died as prisoners of war. These figures are now inaccurate as in recent years it has been an 'open cemetery with the remains of those found in the area being buried here. On 3 January 2000 those of Private Harry Wilkinson, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, were found just north of
Prowes Point Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 13, 2024
2. Prowes Point Marker
what used to be The Birdcage. He had been killed in action on 10 November 1914 and was identified by his metal dog tag. He was buried here with full military honours by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in October 2001.

[Nederland]
Prowse Point is genoemd naar de heldendaad van majoor C.B. Prowse van de 1e Somerset Light Infantry. Op 31 oktober 1914 nemen de Duitsers een stuk loopgraaf in dat op een verlaagd stuk weg lag, niet ver van de huidige begraafplaats. Majoor Prowse leidt een tegenaanval zonder ondersteuning van de artillerietropen en met manschappen die enkel lichte wapens dragen. Zij overwonnen de vijand snel en er vielen aan hun kant geen gewonden. Deze overwinning zonder bloedvergieten en zijn bewezen leiderschap bezorgden hem een benoeming tot luitenant-kolonel en de Britse DSO-onderscheiding.
Prowse Point Military Cemetery
Prowse point werd opgericht door de 1e Royal Warwicks en was in gebruik van november 1914 tot april 1918. Oorspronkelijk telde deze begraafplaats 214 graven: 158 Britse, 42 Nieuw-Zeelandse, 13 Australische en 1 Canadees. Later werden hier nog 12 Duitse krijgsgevangenen begraven. Deze aantallen kloppen
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nu niet meer omdat deze begraafplaats recent een "open" begraafplaats is geworden voor de stoffelijke overschotten die hier nu nog in de sector worden gevonden. Zo werd op 3 januari 2000 soldaat Harry Wilkinson gevonden ten noorden van de "Birdcage", waar hij op 10 november 1914 tijdens gevechten gedood werd. Hij kon worden geïdentificeerd dankzij zijn metalen naamplaatje en werd hier in oktober 2001 door de Royal Regiment of Fusiliers met alle militaire eer begraven. -

[Photo Captions:]
Major C. B. Prowse, 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
Private Harry Wilkinson, 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers

 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial SitesWar, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is January 3, 2000.
 
Location. 50° 44.655′ N, 2° 53.949′ E. Marker is near Comines-Warneton, Région Wallonne (Wallonia), in Hainaut. It is in Warneton. It is on Chemin du Mont de la Hutte 0.8 kilometers east of Rue de Messines (National Route 366), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Comines-Warneton, Région Wallonne 7784, 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 walking distance of this marker: Christmas Truce 1914 / Trêve de Noël 1914 (here, next to this marker); Monument UEFA (within shouting distance of this marker); Mud Lane at the Crossroads at Hyde Park Corner (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Les Catacombes près de Hyde Park Corner (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery (approx. 1.4 kilometers away); Le Memorial (approx. 1.4 kilometers away); Le Last Post (approx. 1.4 kilometers away); New Zealand and Australian Memorial (approx. 1.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Comines-Warneton.
 
Also see . . .  Charles Bertie Prowse (Wikipedia). "Prowse fought in many of the early actions of the First World War and commanded his battalion in action at Ploegsteert Wood, where a farm was named Prowse Point in his honour. He was mentioned in despatches by General John French on 8 October 1914 and four days later promoted to lieutenant-colonel. He briefly commanded the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) before being promoted to brigadier-general in April 1915 and given command of the 11th Infantry Brigade. Prowse led his brigade in an attack on the first day on the Somme, where he was killed by machine-gun fire." - Wikipedia (accessed Feb. 2025) (Submitted on February 1, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.) 
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on January 31, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.
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Jul. 19, 2026