About this place
La Laiterie Military Cemetery is a British First World War cemetery located in Heuvelland, a few kilometres south of Ypres, along the road connecting the town to Kemmel. Its name comes from a former dairy farm (French: laiterie) that once stood nearby.
How did this burial ground come to be?
The cemetery was started in November 1914, right at the beginning of trench warfare on this stretch of the Flanders front. Over the following four years, until October 1918, it received burials from units holding this sector of the line near the Kemmel hill. The site's history was not without disruption — on 25 April 1918, during the German spring offensive, the cemetery fell into German hands. It was only recaptured by Allied forces at the start of September that same year, in the closing months of the war.
What can visitors find at the cemetery today?
After the fighting ended, following the Armistice, further graves were brought into the cemetery from battlefields to the north and north-east of Kemmel. As a result of these post-war concentrations combined with wartime burials, the cemetery now holds 751 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War. A significant number — 180 of the burials — remain unidentified, their graves marked as belonging to unknown soldiers. In addition, special memorials commemorate two servicemen whose original graves were destroyed in later fighting on the site.
Who designed the cemetery?
The layout and architecture of the cemetery were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, one of the principal architects responsible for Commonwealth war cemeteries built across Flanders and northern France after the First World War. Lutyens designed numerous similar sites throughout the region, giving them a restrained, monumental character in which rows of uniform white headstones create an orderly, contemplative space of remembrance.
Why is this cemetery worth visiting?
La Laiterie Military Cemetery will appeal to visitors interested in the history of the First World War and the fighting in Flanders, particularly the battles for Kemmel hill, one of the key points of resistance during the 1918 German spring offensive. Although less well known than the larger cemeteries around Ypres, it stands as an important record of the scale of losses suffered by British and Commonwealth forces in this part of the Western Front. Its quiet, out-of-the-way setting, away from the main tourist routes, makes for a reflective visit.
Frequently asked questions
How many people are buried at La Laiterie Military Cemetery? The cemetery holds 751 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War, of whom 180 are unidentified.
When was the cemetery established? The cemetery was started in November 1914 and used until October 1918.
Where does the cemetery's name come from? The name comes from a former dairy farm (laiterie) that once stood near the site.
Who designed the cemetery? The cemetery was designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Where exactly is the cemetery located? The cemetery lies in the municipality of Heuvelland, on the road connecting Ypres to the village of Kemmel.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.