Passendale in Zonnebeke in West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium — Northwestern Europe
Tyne Cot Cemetery & Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves
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Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 12, 2024
1. Tyne Cot Cemetery & Memorial Marker
This is the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemetery in the world. It is the final resting place of nearly 12,000 First World War servicemen, more than 8,300 of whom remain unidentified. They died in the fighting around Ypres (leper) from 1914 to 1918, but most fell during the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, in 1917.
Around the eastern boundary of the cemetery stands the Tyne Cot Memorial. It bears the names of 35,000 servicemen of United Kingdom and New Zealand forces, nearly all of whom died between August 1917 and November 1918, and have no known grave.
Of 205,000 British Empire servicemen of the First World War commemorated in Belgium by the CWGC, almost half have no known grave - their bodies were never found, or they could not be identified. Many lie beneath a headstone bearing the inscription "Known Unto God".
[Photo:] Tyne Cot Cemetery, July 1920
Sergeant Lewis McGee VC
Lewis McGee served with the Australian Infantry. During the Third Battle of Ypres, on 4th October 1917, his battalion captured the area where Tyne Cot Cemetery now stands and Lewis singlehandedly
this page online
Design
The cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and John Truelove. The memorial takes the form of a flint wall with ornate shelter buildings, topped with angels while the cemetery is in the style of an English country churchyard. Three German blockhouses that were fought over during the war were incorporated into the design, with the Cross of Sacrifice sited on top of the central blockhouse, [Photo:] During a visit to Tyne Cot, King George V examines the designs for the cemetery, 11 May 1922
CWGC
We honour and care for the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Funded by six Member Governments, our work began with building and now maintaining, cemeteries at 23,000 locations all over the world.
Today, over a century after we first began,
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 12, 2024
2. Tyne Cot Cemetery & Memorial
Erected by Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the The Cross of Sacrifice, and the Victoria Cross and George Cross Recipients series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 11, 1922.
Location. 50° 53.223′ N, 2° 59.865′ E. Marker is in Zonnebeke, Vlaanderen (Flanders), in West-Vlaanderen. It is in Passendale. It is on Tynecotstraat north of Vijfsegestraat, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Tynecotstraat 35, Zonnebeke, Vlaanderen 8980, 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: A different marker also named Tyne Cot Cemetery & Memorial (here, next to this marker); Tyne Cot Cemetery (a few steps from this marker); Flandern I-stellung (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Tyne Cot Blockhouse (about 120 meters away); New Zealand Memorial (about 210 meters away); Sherwood Forresters (about 210 meters away); In Memory of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (about 210 meters away); Bedfordshire Regiment (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Zonnebeke.
More about this marker. The timeline was not transcribed.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 138 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 1, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.
