Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery

Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground in Wijtschate, on the Ypres Salient in West Flanders, Belgium, set on one of the highest points along the Messines Ridge. The cemetery takes its name from a windmill, Spanbroekmolen, that stood on this exact spot before the First World War.

When was the cemetery established?

The burial ground was laid out in the summer of 1917, shortly after the Battle of Messines. Most of the men buried here were killed on the opening day of the offensive, 7 June 1917, with one further burial from the following day. Among the graves are 57 soldiers of the 36th (Ulster) Division, killed when a series of mines detonated beneath the German lines at the start of the assault.

Why was Messines Ridge fought over for so long?

The ridge offered a commanding view over the surrounding lowlands, making it one of the most contested observation points on this stretch of the Western Front from the war's early years. As early as January 1916, British tunnelling companies began digging beneath the old mill site, preparing explosive charges meant to shatter the German defences the moment the ground assault began.

What happened on 7 June 1917?

On that day, British forces detonated 19 underground mines positioned beneath German positions along the Messines Ridge, opening the Battle of Messines with a series of enormous blasts. One of the resulting craters, formed exactly where the Spanbroekmolen windmill had stood, survives today as a pond known as the Pool of Peace — roughly 12 metres deep and 129 metres across. Although the crater itself lies just next to the cemetery rather than on the same plot, the two sites are bound together by the same event.

How did the crater become a memorial rather than being filled in?

In the 1920s, the crater site was purchased on behalf of the Toc H organisation by Lord Wakefield, with the explicit intention of preserving it as a lasting memorial on the former Ypres Salient battlefield. Since then, the site has remained a quiet, tree-lined spot that stands in deliberate contrast to the violence of its origin.

Where exactly is the cemetery located?

Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery lies in the village of Wijtschate, within the municipality of Heuvelland, at coordinates 50.77833 N, 2.86708 E, among a cluster of other First World War memorial sites spread along the Messines Ridge.

Frequently asked questions

Who is buried at Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery? Mainly soldiers killed on the first day of the Battle of Messines, 7 June 1917, including 57 men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who died in the mine explosions that opened the battle.

What is the Pool of Peace? It is a pond formed in one of the 19 mine craters created on 7 June 1917, preserved today as a memorial site next to the cemetery.

Why is the cemetery called Spanbroekmolen? It is named after a pre-war windmill that stood on this high point of the Messines Ridge before being destroyed during the fighting.

Is the cemetery open to visitors? Yes, like most CWGC cemeteries on the Ypres Salient, it is freely accessible to the public.