Motor Car Corner Cemetery

Motor Car Corner Cemetery is a small Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial ground in the municipality of Comines-Warneton (Dutch: Komen-Waasten), about 17 km south of Ieper (Ypres) town centre. It lies on a road running off the Rijselseweg (N365), the road connecting Ieper with Wijtschate, Mesen, Ploegsteert and, further on, Armentières. The site is signposted, with parking for two cars on the opposite side of the road, and the entrance is just 15 metres from the parking spot. The cemetery is open year-round.

Where does the unusual name come from?

The name is not a coincidence. In this sector of the front, "Motor Car Corner" marked the point beyond which military vehicles were not allowed to proceed — from there on, movement had to continue on foot or on horseback, as the road ahead lay within range of German artillery. This practical military designation for a spot on the map eventually became the name of the cemetery that grew up around it.

What is the history of this place?

The cemetery was begun in June 1917, at the outbreak of the Battle of Messines, one of the key Allied offensives in Flanders that year. Burials continued here until the end of March 1918. Between 10 April and 29 September 1918 the site fell under German control, and during that period German forces extended the cemetery to the north, burying their own dead there. After the ground was retaken, those German graves from the extension were removed, leaving the cemetery close to its present layout.

Who is buried here?

The cemetery now contains 132 First World War burials. The overwhelming majority, 131, are Commonwealth war graves, alongside a single German war grave. Among the identified Commonwealth casualties, New Zealand troops form the largest group with 81 burials, followed by 36 from the United Kingdom and 9 from Australia. This national breakdown reflects the composition of the forces fighting in this part of Flanders in the second half of 1917, when New Zealand and Australian units played a significant role in the fighting for the Messines Ridge and the surrounding ground.

What should visitors know before going?

Motor Car Corner Cemetery is a typical example of a small "battlefield" cemetery established directly behind the front line while fighting was still ongoing, as opposed to the large concentration cemeteries created after the war. This gives the site an intimate, authentic character and helps visitors grasp the scale and course of the fighting that took place at this specific point of the front. It forms part of the wider network of CWGC sites in the Ypres area that draws visitors interested in the First World War battlefields of Flanders.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the cemetery free? Yes, the site is open to the public year-round, free of charge.

Is it easy to reach by car? Yes, the cemetery is signposted and there is a small parking area for two vehicles right on the roadside, only a short walk from the entrance.

How many people are buried here? A total of 132 war graves — 131 Commonwealth casualties, mainly from New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia, plus one German soldier.

Why does the cemetery have such an unusual name? Because this was the point beyond which the road was no longer safe for military vehicles — from here the front line was too dangerous for wheeled traffic.