CWGC Cemetery: KLEIN-VIERSTRAAT BRITISH CEMETERY

Visiting Information

Wheelchair access possible via main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Department on telephone number: 01628 634221

Local Information

Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery is located 6 km south west of Ieper town centre, on the Molenstraat, a road branching from the Kemmelseweg (joining Ieper to Kemmel N331). From Ieper town centre the Kemmelseweg is reached via the Rijselsestraat, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort), and straight on towards Armentieres (N365). 900 metres after the crossroads is the right hand turning onto the Kemmelseweg (made prominent by a railway level crossing). 5 km along the Kemmelseweg lies the right hand turning onto Poperingestraat. 1km along the Poperingestraat lies Kemmel No 1 French Cemetery. Immediately to the left of this cemetery is a road called Molenstraat. Klein Vierstraat British Cemetery is located 30 metres along the Molenstraat on the right hand side of the road.

Historical Information

The village of Kemmel and the adjoining hill, Mont Kemmel, were the scene of fierce fighting in the latter half of April 1918, in which both Commonwealth and French forces were engaged. The cemetery was begun in January 1917 and Plots I to III were made by field ambulances and fighting units before the middle of January 1918. Plot IV was begun in April 1918. After the Armistice, graves were brought into Plot I, Row H, and Plots IV to VII, from two smaller cemeteries (Ferme Henri Pattyn Vanlaeres, Poperinghe and Mont-Vidaigne Military Cemetery, Westoutre) and from the battlefields of Dikkebus, Loker and Kemmel. Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery now contains 804 First World War burials, 109 of them unidentified. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.