Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery ( West-Vlaanderen) Belgium

The old chateau grounds at Potijze are the site of three Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries containing over 850 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. Potijze Chateau Grounds, Potijze Chateau Lawn, and Potijze Chateau Wood cemeteries were all formed in the spring of 1915 and used for the burial of Commonwealth soldiers until 1918. The architectural features of the cemeteries were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield in the 1920s. [establish whether the drawings indicate whether there was a junior architect].

For almost the entire period of the First World War the village of Potijze was held by the Commonwealth forces but stood directly behind the Allied trenches and was well within range of German guns. It was here that soldiers entered the communication and support trenches that led to the front-line. Although subject to constant shell fire Potijze Chateau, a country house dating from the nineteenth century, remained intact throughout the war and was occupied and used by Commonwealth troops. In the spring of 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres, it was headquarters of the 27th Division, then under the command of Major-General Thomas D’Oyly Snow. The ground floor was later used as an Advanced Dressing Station while the first floor, which commanded views of the German lines, served as an observation post. For much of the war the Chateau was surrounded by a cluster of dug-outs and trenches and a large shed on the grounds, known to soldiers as ‘Lancer Farm’, housed ammunition and trench stores. Working parties would pause here to collect tools, coils of barbed wire, duckboards, bombs and other supplies before moving up the line.

There are now 367 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery.

Amongst the graves in Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery are three for soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

We are very grateful to Dave Elcoate (<drdavesongs@hotmail.co.uk>) who has provided photos of the cemetery and the Yorkshire Regiment headstones.

Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery
Photo : Dave Elcoate (<drdavesongs@hotmail.co.uk>)

Select the above image for a larger version which opens in a new window.

Private James William Smith. 200440. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 23 December 1917. Born Northallerton, Enlisted Northallerton.

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