Ferme Olivier British Cemetery
Ferme-Olivier Cemetery is located 7 kilometres north west of Ieper town centre on the Steentjesmolenstraat, N333, a road leading from the N8 Veurnseweg connecting Ieper to Elverdinge and on to Veurne.From Ieper town centre the Veurnseweg (N8) is reached via Elverdingsestraat, then turning right onto Haiglaan. Veurnseweg is a continuation of Haiglaan.On reaching the village of Elverdinge the Steentjesmolenstraat, N333, is the second left hand turning. The cemetery lies 1.3 kilometres along the Steentjesmolenstraat on the left hand side of the road.
The cemetery was used continuously between 9 June 1915 and 5 August 1917, with the 62nd, 16th, 9th, 11th, 129th and 130th Field Ambulances successively having dressing stations close by. Throughout this period, the village was just within range of the German artillery and a collective grave in Plot 2, Row E, contains the remains of 37 men of the 3rd Bn Monmouthshire Regiment killed on parade on 29 December 1915 by a single shell fired from a naval gun in Houthulst Forest. The graves in Plot 3 run in order of date of death and show the successive occupations of Elverdinghe Chateau by the 38th (Welsh) Division, the Guards Division and units of the Royal Artillery.
The cemetery contains 408 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 6 of which are unidentified, and three German war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.*
22675 Private Walter Harry Montague Dimmock
1st Battn. Hampshire Regiment
9th August 1916 Age 21
R/10358 Rifleman Sidney Pearce
8th Battn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps
10th April 1916 Age 40
Born in the Transvaal in 1895.
In the 1911 census he is recorded as living with his father,Walter Harry,a joiner,mother Kate and 2 sisters at
298 Priory Road,St Denys,Southampton.
He was employed as an apprentice joiner.
He died from his wounds caused by a gas attack on 9-8-1916.
Born in Salisbury in 1876.
in the 1881 census,he is recorded as living with his father Henry,a farm labourer,his mother Mary along his 2 brothers and sister at 3 Milford Bridge Road,Salisbury.
In the 1901 cenus,he is recorded living as a lodger at 5 Belgrave Gardens ,St Marlebone,London. He was employed a horse groom.
He enlisted in Shepherds Bush,Middlesex and his dis-emabrkation into France ws on 30-6-1915.
He was killed in action on 10-4-1916.
Lieutentant Douglas Blatspiel Stamp
1st Battn. East Yorkshire Regiment
10th April 1916
Born in 1891 in Uddingston,Lanark.
In the 1901 census he is recorded as living with his father,Ernest ,Blatspiel,mother Frances and sister at "Novalia" Bayham Road ,Sevenoaks,Kent.
His dis-embarkation into France was on 31-3-1915 and he died of his wounds at Elverdinghe on 10-4-1916.
In his will,his estate ,which he left to his father was worth £566 5s 6d,which today would be worth £52,009.98.**
2296 Lance Corporal David Pollard
1/4th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
4th August 1915
Born on 31 May 1872 in Thornhills,Dewsbury.
His father was Thomas Pollard and his mother was Hannah(nee Dyson).
He was baptisted on 21 July 1872 in Thornhills.
IN the 1911 census he is recorded as being married to Helena and living at 1 Back Webster Street,Dewsbury.
He was employed as a labourer in a woolen cloth factory and his wife was a weaver there.
He enlisted in Wakefield and his dis-embarkation into France was on 13-4-1915.
He died of his wounds on 4-8-1915.
4261 Private George Jackson Whitworth
2nd Battn. Lancashire Fusiliers
7th July 1915
Born in Bacup ,Lancashire in 1874.
His father was James, a cotton weaver and his mother Esther(nee Woolner).They married in 1874,but sadly Esther died the following year aged just 18.
In the 1891 census George is recorded living along with his widowed father at his grandfathers house in Bacup ,Lancashire.
At some point after 1901 he drops George from his name and becomes Jackson Whitworth.
He joins the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1905 and serves for 4 years.
On 12 October 1909 he joins the Royal Army Medical Corps Reserve.
His medical records describe him as being 5ft 3.5 inches tall,weight 125 lbs, having grey eyes and brown hair.
On 23-9-1910 he is released from the service for being absent from training on 13-9-1910.
In the 1911 census he is recorded working as a cotton weaver and boarding with Samuel & Sarah Greenwood at 77 Hutton Top,Bacup ,Backside Lane.
He re-enlists with the Lancashire Fusiliers and his dis-embarkation into France was on 15-5-1915.
He died of his wounds on 7-7-1915.
Second Lieutentant Francis Michael Myers M.C.
Royal Flying Corps
14th February 1917
Born on 16-9-1896 in Durban,South Africa.
He was made a temporary 2nd Lieutentant with the 10th Reserve Suffolk Regiment.
For actions performed on 12 October 1916, he was awarded the Military Cross. The London Gazatter recorded the reason why he was awarded it.
"For conspicuous gallantry in action,he carried out a daring raid with great courage and skill.Previously he did some valuable patrol work."
He joined 20 Squadron,11 Wing of the Roayl Flying Corps as an observer.
He was killed on 14-2-1917. He flew from Bosdingham at 2.48pm with his pilot,Lieutentant FJ Taylor in a FE A15. They encountered enemy aircraft,Taylor was wounded and forced to land.They hit high wires and Myers was killed. ***
38280 Private Thomas Bilsborough
19th Battn. Cheshire Regiment
8th June 1917 Age 30
Born in Bury in 1887.
In the 1901 census he is recorded living with his widowed father James,a gardener,alond with his 3 sisters and brother at 2 Harridge Mill Cottages,Healey,Rochdale.
He was employed as a stone masons apprentice.
He enlisted in Rochdale into (34292) The labour Corps before being transferred (38280) to the 19th Battn. Cheshire Regiment.
He was killed on 8-6-1917.
In his will he left his estate to his brother John which was worth £145 15s 3d. Its value today would be £11,326.29.
13533 Guardsman George William Burton
Coldstream Guards
19th June 1917
Born in Walsall Wood,staffordshire in 1898.
In the 1901 census he is recorded as living with his widowed mother Emily,3 sisters and also 3 brothers at High Street,Brownhills Near Walsall.
His service number indicates that he enlisted around 5-10-1914.He enlisted in Walsall.
His dis-embarkation into France was on 15-8-1915 and he was killed in action on 19-6-1917.
Second Lieutentant Henry Arthur King M.C.
Royal Field Artillery
1st July 1917 Age 20
Born in Streatham in1896.
In the 1911 census he is recorded as living with his father,Henry George,a retired tea planter in Ceylon;his mother Marion Fremantle and sister at 58 Baldry Gardens,Streatham.
His dis-embarkation into France was on 16-1-1916.
He was killed in action on 1-7-1917.
If you would like to know more about the life and death of Henry Arthur King, then click on the photo above and it will take you to the Amazon site, where you will be able to purchase the book by Keith Brain.
