Bethleem Farm West Cemetery

Bethleem Farm West Cemetery is a small First World War burial ground located roughly a kilometre southeast of the centre of Mesen (Messines) in Belgium's West Flanders province, reached via the Rijselstraat, the road leading out from the town's market square towards a farmstead once known to soldiers as Nazareth or Schnitzel Farm. It holds the graves of men who fell during the fighting for Messines Ridge, one of the pivotal episodes of the 1917 Flanders campaign.

Where does the name come from and who created the cemetery?

The cemetery was started by units of the 3rd Australian Division after they captured the nearby Bethleem Farm on 7 June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. The Australians referred to it simply as the "3rd Division General Cemetery." Once the ground was secured, the site continued to be used by the 14th (Light) Division through to the end of 1917, which explains why burials here span several different units involved in the fighting along this stretch of the front.

Who is buried here?

The cemetery now contains 165 First World War servicemen buried or commemorated. Among the identified casualties, Australians make up the largest group with 113 graves, alongside 27 New Zealand and 24 United Kingdom servicemen. One casualty is commemorated by a special memorial, since his original grave within the cemetery was destroyed by shellfire during the war. The site also holds one unidentified Second World War burial — an unusual detail for a cemetery otherwise dating entirely from the Great War, and a reminder that this same ground saw military activity again a generation later.

What does the cemetery look like, and how do you get there?

Bethleem Farm West Cemetery is modest in scale, a quiet plot typical of the hundreds of similar burial grounds scattered across the former Western Front around Ypres. It was designed by G. H. Goldsmith, an architect who worked on several other Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemeteries in the region. Visitors should note that the final approach to the cemetery is along a short grassed footpath unsuitable for vehicles, so cars need to be left on the road and the last stretch covered on foot.

The site sits around 10 km south of the centre of Ypres (Ieper), the town that serves as the main base for exploring the Flanders battlefields. From the market square in Mesen, the Rijselstraat leads out towards the cemetery, reaching it after about a kilometre, passing the farmstead once known to soldiers as Nazareth Farm along the way.

Why is it worth a visit?

This is a site for travellers interested in the First World War and the traces left by the Battle of Messines in June 1917, one of the operations that set the stage for the Third Battle of Ypres later that year. Unlike the larger, better-known war cemeteries of the region, Bethleem Farm West Cemetery remains lightly visited, making it a place for quiet, reflective visits away from tour groups. For those following ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand) remembrance trails, it is one of the more significant if lesser-known stops in the area — Australian and New Zealand troops played a substantial part in capturing Messines Ridge, and this cemetery stands as direct testimony to that.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? About 1 km southeast of the market square in Mesen (Messines), along the Rijselstraat, and roughly 10 km south of central Ieper (Ypres).

How many people are buried here? 165 First World War servicemen, plus one unidentified Second World War burial.

Can you drive right up to the cemetery? No — the final stretch is a short grassed footpath, not accessible by vehicle.

Which nationalities are represented? Mostly Australian servicemen, along with New Zealand and United Kingdom troops.