Brandhoek New Military Cemetery
- Country Belgium
- Total identified casualties 558 Find these casualties
- Region West-Vlaanderen
- Identified casualties from First World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.85273, Longitude: 2.78781
Location information
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery is located 6.5 km west of Ieper town centre, on the Zevekotestraat, a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. 6 km along the N308, after passing the village of Vlamertinge and just beyond the church in the hamlet of Brandhoek lies the left hand turning onto the Grote Branderstraat. After crossing the N38 Westhoekweg, the first right hand turning leads onto the Zevekotestraat. The cemetery is located 300 metres along the Zevekotestraat on the right hand side of the road, beyond the N38 dual carriageway, which it is necessary to cross.
Visiting information
ARRIVAL
The cemetery is on the edge of agricultural land, behind a residential area.
The cemetery is signposted.
PARKING
Parking for the cemetery is at the side of the road on a residential street close to the grass pathway leading to the cemetery, on Zevekotestraat. There is a layby in front of Brandhoek Military Cemetery No. 3, approximately 30 metres from the pathway, with space for multiple vehicles.
The grass pathway is marked with a CWGC Sign on the side of the road. The pathway is approximately 50 metres long, and 1.5 metres wide.
ACCESS LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE
The cemetery is rectangular shaped and is parallel to a line of residential properties and surrounded by a low stone wall.
Access into the cemetery is through a stone memorial entrance building. Access is through a one metre wide, waist height black metal double-sided gate. The right-side section is opened by a sliding latch handle. The left section is opened by lifting a latch at the bottom of the gate section. Both sections open inwards into the cemetery. The inside of the entrance building is level stone paving, flush with the grass pathway and the interior of the cemetery.
The Cross of Sacrifice is in the centre of the cemetery.
The Stone of Remembrance is located at the far end of the cemetery in line with the Cross of Sacrifice.
There is a visitor information panel near the Cross of Sacrifice on a low concrete plinth
There are stone benches inside the main entrance building.
The Register Box is located inside main entrance building, above a stone bench.
All the internal cemetery paths are grass, the ground is flat and firm.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS
There is no alternative access into the cemetery.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The cemetery is permanently open.
History information
During the First World War, Brandhoek was within the area comparatively safe from shell fire, which extended beyond Vlamertinghe Church. Field ambulances were posted there continuously.
Until July 1917 burials had been made in the Military Cemetery, but the arrival of the 32nd, 3rd Australian and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations in preparation for the new Allied offensive launched that month made it necessary to open the New Military Cemetery, followed in August by the New Military Cemetery No 3.
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery contains 530 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 28 German war graves. The burials are of July and August 1917 and among them is the grave of Captain Noel Chavasse, VC and Bar, MC, one of only three men who have won the Victoria Cross twice.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.