CWGC Cemetery: ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE

Visiting Information

Wheelchair access to the site is possible, but may be by alternative entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on 01628 507200.

Local Information

Laventie is a village about 11 kilometres south-west of Armentieres and the Graveyard is 3 kilometres south-east of the village on a minor road from Fleurbaix to Couture.

Historical Information

Laventie is a village and commune in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais. The Rue-du-Bacquerot runs South-East of the village, towards Fleurbaix; and the position of the road behind the British front line, during the greater part of the war, made it the natural line of a number of small British cemeteries. One of these was begun in November, 1914, and used, at first, particularly by the 1st Royal Irish Rifles. The Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, was carried on by fighting units until July, 1916; and these original burials are now in Plots I and II. It was increased after the Armistice by the concentration of graves (chiefly of 1914-15 and 1918) from other cemeteries and from the battlefields East of Estaires and Bethune. There are now over 800, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 350 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to three soldiers from the United Kingdom known to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of two soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in Laventie South German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found. The Graveyard covers an area of 2,872 square metres. The following are short particulars of the burial grounds from which British graves were brought to the Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard:- LAVENTIE SOUTH GERMAN CEMETERY, on the road to La Flinque: 3 U.K., April, 1918. RUE-DU-BACQUEROT (WANGERIE POST) NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, LAVENTIE, at the hamlet of Wangerie: 22 U.K., 1915. SAILLY-SUR-LA-LYS GERMAN CEMETERY, near the road to Bac-St. Maur: 8 U.K., April, 1918. WINCHESTER ROAD CEMETERY, LAVENTIE, a little West of Chapigny Farm: 18 U.K. (R.S.F. and Conn. Rangers), 1914-15.