Irish House Cemetery

Irish House Cemetery is a small First World War military cemetery in Heuvelland, roughly 7.5 km south of Ieper town centre, on the Savaardlindestraat road linking Ieper to Wijtschate and on toward Armentières. It sits within the wider Ypres Salient landscape, an area dotted with Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemeteries marking some of the deadliest fighting of the Western Front.

Where does the name come from?

The cemetery takes its name from a small farmhouse about 90 metres to the west, which soldiers nicknamed "Irish House". The name stuck among the troops and was later applied to the burial ground established nearby.

When was the cemetery created?

It was begun in June 1917 by the 16th (Irish) Division, which was active in this sector of the front at the time. Burials continued at intervals until September 1918, meaning the cemetery bears witness to more than a year of fighting around Wijtschate and the approaches to Ieper.

How many burials does it hold?

The cemetery contains 117 Commonwealth burials and commemorations from the First World War. Of these, 40 are unidentified, their headstones bearing only the words "Known unto God". A special memorial also commemorates one casualty known to be buried among the unidentified graves, though his exact resting place could not be pinpointed.

Who is buried here?

Row A is particularly notable: it holds the graves of 33 officers and men of the 1st Gordon Highlanders, killed in December 1914 during the 3rd Division's attack on Wytschaete. Their remains were exhumed and reburied here in June 1917 by the 11th Royal Irish Rifles — which explains why graves dating from 1914 appear in a cemetery only founded three years later.

What happened to the site during the war?

The ground fell into German hands in April 1918, during the German spring offensive, and remained under occupation until the end of August that year, when the sector was retaken.

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

The cemetery was designed by architect William Cowlishaw and has been maintained ever since by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, kept in the quiet, orderly condition typical of CWGC sites. Access is via a roughly 100-metre grassed path unsuitable for vehicles, so visitors need to approach on foot.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cemetery open to visitors? Yes, like most CWGC cemeteries it is open year-round and free to visit.

Can you drive right up to the cemetery? No — the final stretch is a grassed footpath, so cars must be left earlier along the road.

How many people are buried here? 117 Commonwealth war graves from the First World War, including 40 unidentified burials.

What is the Irish connection? The cemetery was established by the 16th (Irish) Division, and its name comes from a nearby farmhouse the troops called "Irish House".