Bleuet Farm Cemetery

Bleuet Farm Cemetery is a British war cemetery located north-west of Ypres (Ieper), on the N8 road towards Veurne, near the village of Elverdinge, roughly 3 kilometres from the town centre. The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and is one of many such sites scattered around the Ypres Salient, bearing witness to the intensity of fighting on this front during both world wars.

Where does the name come from and what is the site's history?

The cemetery takes its name from the nearby Bleuet Farm, which served as a dressing station during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Wounded soldiers evacuated directly from the front line were brought here before being moved further back for treatment. The cemetery was begun in a corner of the farm and was used from June to December 1917, although some burials date from later. After the Armistice, two additional graves were brought in from isolated positions nearby, where soldiers had originally been buried where they fell.

How many people are buried here?

Bleuet Farm Cemetery now contains 442 First World War burials and nine from the Second World War. The latter date from May 1940, connected to the Allied retreat towards Dunkirk during the Battle of France. The presence of graves from both conflicts means the cemetery documents two separate wartime episodes, more than two decades apart, that unfolded on the same patch of ground in West Flanders.

Who designed the cemetery?

The cemetery was designed by Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, M.C. Like most CWGC cemeteries in the region, Bleuet Farm Cemetery follows an orderly layout of white headstones arranged in rows, set within carefully maintained lawns and planting, creating the quiet, contemplative atmosphere typical of war cemeteries designed after the First World War to honour the fallen with dignity.

Is the cemetery open to visitors?

Yes, the cemetery is open to the public, and wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance. Like the vast majority of CWGC sites, it is accessible year-round, free of charge, and does not require advance booking.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Bleuet Farm Cemetery located? North-west of Ieper, on the N8 road towards Veurne, near the village of Elverdinge, about 3 km from the centre of Ieper.

From which period do the burials date? Most graves date from June to December 1917 (First World War), with an additional nine graves connected to the retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940.

How many graves does the cemetery contain? A total of 451 graves — 442 from the First World War and 9 from the Second World War.

Who maintains the cemetery? The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the organisation responsible for maintaining British and Commonwealth war cemeteries around the world.