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Perth (China Wall) Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Perth Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission
burial ground for the dead of the First World War
located near Ypres
(now Ieper) in Belgium
on the Western Front
.
The cemetery grounds were assigned to the United Kingdom
in perpetuity by King Albert I of Belgium
in recognition of the sacrifices made by the British Empire
in the defence and liberation of Belgium
during the war.
_cwgc_2450870622_war_cross.jpg)
The cemetery was begun in 1914 by French troops and adopted by the 2nd Scottish Rifles in June 1917. A front line
cemetery, it was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery and was in use until October 1917. At the time of the armistice
, it was a small cemetery of some 130 graves. It was expanded dramatically by concentration of graves from smaller cemeteries. The French element was also expanded, although these 158 graves have since been removed entirely.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens
.
winners namely
The cemetery also contains the burial places of seven soldiers executed by their own side for cowardice or desertion:
On 7 November 2006, the British government reversed its previous decision and announced a pardon
for all soldiers executed in the Great War.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
burial ground for the dead of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
located near Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
(now Ieper) in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
.
The cemetery grounds were assigned to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in perpetuity by King Albert I of Belgium
Albert I of Belgium
Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
in recognition of the sacrifices made by the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in the defence and liberation of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
during the war.
Foundation
Front line
A front line is the farthest-most forward position of an armed force's personnel and equipment - generally in respect of maritime or land forces. Forward Line of Own Troops , or Forward Edge of Battle Area are technical terms used by all branches of the armed services...
cemetery, it was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery and was in use until October 1917. At the time of the armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
, it was a small cemetery of some 130 graves. It was expanded dramatically by concentration of graves from smaller cemeteries. The French element was also expanded, although these 158 graves have since been removed entirely.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens
Edwin Lutyens
Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA was a British architect who is known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era...
.
Notable graves
This cemetery contains the burial places of two Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
winners namely
- Frederick BirksFrederick BirksFrederick Birks VC, MM was a Welsh-born Australian First World War veteran and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth forces...
, 2nd Lt, 6th Battalion, Australian Imperial ForceFirst Australian Imperial ForceThe First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
, died 21st September 1917
- William Henry JohnstonWilliam Henry JohnstonWilliam Henry Johnston VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Major, Royal Engineers, died 8th June 1915
The cemetery also contains the burial places of seven soldiers executed by their own side for cowardice or desertion:
- Private George Ernest Roe, of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, from SheffieldSheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
. He was executed for desertion in June 1915, aged 19.
- Private Thomas Harris, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). He was executed for desertion in June 1915, aged 21.
- Private Thomas Docherty, King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was executed for desertion in July 1915.
- Corporal Frederick Ives, Worcestershire Regiment. He was executed for desertion in July 1915, aged 30.
- Private Ernest Fellows, Worcestershire Regiment, from Birmingham. He was executed for desertion in July 1915, aged 29, leaving a wife, Annie, and his parents James and Emma.
- Private Louis Phillips, Somerset Light Infantry. He was executed for desertion in August 1915, aged 23.
- Private Evan Fraser, Royal Scots. He was executed for desertion in August 1915, aged 19. He is commemorated on a special memorial, his original grave having been lost. Fraser absconded from his regiment at 4pm on 24 May 1915. He was arrested the next day at a local railway station in possession of a forged pass and handed back to the British. Whilst in British custody he escaped, but again was caught after little more than 24 hours. Two weeks later, he escaped custody for a second time and again was arrested within a day. On 13 July he was charged with having deserted on three occasions and of conduct to the prejudice of good order (having a forged pass). He was undefended at his trial. He pleaded guilty to the forgery, but not guilty to the counts of desertion. His battalion adjutant gave evidence, saying that Fraser was "a continual source of annoyance", a shirker and a continual deserter. He was shot at 4am on 2 August 1915.
On 7 November 2006, the British government reversed its previous decision and announced a pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
for all soldiers executed in the Great War.
Concentrated cemeteries
The following cemeteries were concentrated into Perth (China Wall):- Becelaere German No 1 (2 soldiers)
- Belgian Chateau, Vlamertinghe (12 UK, 11 Canadian)
- Broodseinde German, ZonnebekeZonnebekeZonnebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Beselare, Geluveld, Passendale, Zandvoorde and Zonnebeke proper. On January 1, 2006 Zonnebeke had a total population of 11,758...
(12) - Durham, ZillebekeZillebekeZillebeke is a village in the Flemish province of West-Vlaanderen in Belgium. The former municipality is now part of Ypres.-History:On March 3, 1914 the then municipality was granted the arms are those of the last Lords of Zillebeke, the Canton family, Viscounts of Winnezeele, which had in 1740...
(52) - Garter Point, Zonnebeke (19 Australian, 8 UK, 3 unknown)
- Gordon House No 2, Zillebeke (30)
- Hans Kirchner German, Poelcapelle (4)
- Houthulst German (1)
- Keerselaere West German, Langemark (29)
- Keerselaerhoek German, PassendalePassendalePassendale or Passchendaele is a rural Belgian village in the Zonnebeke municipality of West Flanders province...
(12 UK, 2 Canadian) - Langemarck German No 7 (Totenwaldchen), Langemark (4)
- Langemarch German No 8, Langemark (27)
- L'Ebbe Farm, PoperingePoperingePoperinge is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to mediaeval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.-The town:Poperinge is situated...
(21) - Manneken Farm German No 3, Zarren (13)
- Nachtigall (also known as Rossignol or Vieux-Chien) German, Gheluvelt (69)
- Poelcapelle German No 2 (96)
- Poelcapelle German No 3 (23 UK, 19 Canadian)
- Ration Dump Burial Ground, Zillebeke (28 UK, 1 Canadian)
- Reutel German, Becelaere (125 UK, 2 Canadian, 1 New Zealand)
- St Joseph German, HoogledeHoogledeHooglede is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Gits and Hooglede proper. On January 1, 2006 Hooglede had a total population of 9,831...
(4) - St Julien Communal, Langemark (6 Canadian)
- St Julien East German, (65 UK, 31 Canadian)
- Schreiboom German, Langemark (34)
- Transport Farm Annexe, Zillebeke (27)
- Trench Railway, Zillebeke (21)
- Treurniet German, Poelcapelle (1 Canadian)
- Wallemolen German, Passendale (20 UK, 15 Canadian)
- Weidendreft German, Langemark (98)
- Westroosebeke German No 2 (1)