Wytschaete Military Cemetery

Description

The entire construction took place after the Armistice, when graves from the neighbourhood were concentrated at this location. For this reason, such cemeteries were also referred to as ‘concentration cemeteries’. The field with graves lies lower than the road and is accessible via a stair- way that leads downward from a forecourt on the road. On the road, the forecourt is marked by two groups of three posts with a chain. The links are alternately rectangular and oval and become larger as they approach the middle. The low natural stone wall along the road is a retaining wall on the cemetery side. A shelter and a storage space have been incorporated into the wall.

The field with graves is regular in its layout, with the graves oriented toward the east. The central path runs downhill from the entrance, from south to north, to a seat between two tall poplars that terminate the area. There are two breaks on the central path. Around a quarter of the way along the path there is the Cross of Sacrifice between four large yews. Three quarters of the way along, there is a plateau from the west to the east side with the War Stone on the east side. The plateau is partly embedded in the slope and partly elevated. The two steps to the plateau are no longer present. Besides the wall along the road, the cemetery is encompassed by a hedge. There are two weeping willows in opposite corners. (Geurst, 2010, p.444)

Bibliography

Geurst, J. (2010) Cemeteries of the Great War by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Rotterdam: 010 Publishers.

Also Cited In

Listing Grade

Coming soon

Listing Reference

Client

Imperial War Graves Commission