Cabin Hill Cemetery

Cabin Hill Cemetery is a small First World War military cemetery located near the village of Wijtschate (formerly Wytschaete) in the municipality of Heuvelland, West Flanders. It sits roughly 8.5 km south of the centre of Ypres, just off the road running from Rijselseweg (N365) towards Wijtschate and on to Armentières.

How did the cemetery come about?

The cemetery was started by the 11th Division in June 1917, shortly after Commonwealth forces recaptured the surrounding ground during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. It continued to be used as a front-line burial ground until March 1918, when fighting in the area intensified again. The cemetery was designed by architect N. A. Rew.

What happened in this area during the war?

Wytschaete (today's Wijtschate) was one of the flashpoints of the Western Front. German forces took the village in early November 1914. It took nearly three years before Commonwealth troops recovered the ground, during the Battle of Messines in June 1917. That control did not last: on 16 April 1918 the Germans retook the village, and it was only finally recovered by Allied forces at the end of September that year. This repeated changing of hands explains why the surrounding countryside is dotted with many small front-line cemeteries, Cabin Hill among them.

How many burials are there?

The cemetery contains 67 First World War burials. Among the identified casualties, 42 came from the United Kingdom and 25 from Australia. Its scale is modest compared with the larger cemeteries around Ypres, giving the site a quieter, more intimate character.

How do you get there?

Passing through the village of Wijtschate, take a left turn onto a street called Langebunderstraat, which leads towards Torreken Farm Cemetery. After about 1.5 km you reach a crossroads; Cabin Hill Cemetery lies roughly 100 metres further on, after turning left. The final stretch is a narrow grassed access path unsuitable for vehicles, so the last part of the approach has to be made on foot.

Why is it worth a visit?

Like dozens of other small war cemeteries scattered across the countryside around Ypres and Messines, Cabin Hill Cemetery helps convey the scale and local character of First World War fighting — not a single vast cemetery, but a network of small burial grounds established close to the front line, often by individual divisions. For visitors exploring the Flanders Fields battlefield region, it offers a lesser-known but authentic stop along the trail of the Great War, just a few kilometres from the better-known memorial sites in Ypres and Messines.

Frequently asked questions

How many graves are at Cabin Hill Cemetery? The cemetery holds 67 First World War graves, mainly of soldiers from the United Kingdom and Australia.

Who established the cemetery? It was established by the 11th Division in June 1917, after the surrounding ground was recaptured during the Battle of Messines.

Can you drive directly up to the cemetery? No — the final stretch is a narrow grassed access path unsuitable for vehicles, so visitors need to walk the last part of the way.

How far is it from Ypres? The cemetery is located about 8.5 km south of the centre of Ypres.