Underhill Farm Cemetery

Underhill Farm Cemetery is a small First World War cemetery located in the municipality of Comines-Warneton (Komen-Waasten), on the border between Flanders and Wallonia, roughly 12 km south of the centre of Ypres. It sits beside a road connecting Ypres to Wijtschate and Mesen (Messines), close to the north-western edge of Ploegsteert Wood.

Where does the cemetery's name come from?

The name comes from two farm buildings, "Underhill Farm" and "Red Lodge", which stood in this area during the war. Both were used as dressing stations for wounded soldiers, and the cemetery was established right next to one of them, which is how it came to bear its present name.

What is the history of this site?

The cemetery was begun in June 1917 and used until January 1918, receiving the burials of Commonwealth soldiers who fell fighting on this stretch of the Flanders front. In the spring of 1918, following the German offensive, the ground fell into German hands, and the cemetery continued to be used by German forces under a different name, referring to the nearby "Nightingale Hill". The site was recovered by Allied forces in September 1918, after which it was used once again for Commonwealth burials until the end of the fighting in the area.

How many graves does the cemetery hold?

Underhill Farm Cemetery contains 190 Commonwealth war graves from the First World War. Nine of these belong to soldiers who could not be identified, despite the research carried out after the war. The cemetery also holds special memorials commemorating five casualties whose exact place of burial within the cemetery could not be determined — it is known that they are buried somewhere on the site, but not precisely where.

What does the layout of the cemetery look like?

The cemetery is rectangular in shape and runs parallel to the adjacent road. The main entrance is set in the middle of one side, flanked by a hedge that runs the entire length of the cemetery. The entrance consists of two brick-and-stone pillars with a thigh-height, two-leaf metal gate, one leaf of which opens inward on a latch. The site is accessible to wheelchair users through the main entrance.

Who looks after the cemetery?

The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the organisation responsible for commemorating and caring for the graves of Commonwealth soldiers who died in the two world wars. The CWGC keeps records of individual burials, maintains the grounds, and helps families and historians trace information about the soldiers resting here.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Underhill Farm Cemetery located? The cemetery lies in the municipality of Comines-Warneton (Komen-Waasten), beside a road leading off the N365 (Rijselseweg) that connects Ypres with Wijtschate and Mesen, near Ploegsteert Wood.

From which period do the burials date? All the graves date from the First World War, mainly from 1917 to 1918.

Is the cemetery open to visitors? Yes, the site is open to the public and accessible to wheelchair users through the main entrance.

How many people are buried at the cemetery? 190 Commonwealth soldiers, including 9 unidentified graves and five special memorials.