Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery

Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery is one of the larger Commonwealth war cemeteries near Ypres, sitting roughly 5 kilometres west of the town centre, just south of the village of Vlamertinge. It holds the graves of more than 1,800 soldiers of the First World War and offers a quieter, less-visited counterpart to the region's better-known memorial sites.

Why "New"?

For most of the war Vlamertinge lay just beyond the usual range of German shellfire, which made it a valuable rear area — artillery units and field ambulances were stationed here throughout the conflict. Burials were initially made in the older, nearby Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery. As Allied forces prepared for a major offensive on this section of the front in the summer of 1917 — the battle that would become known as Passchendaele — a second, larger burial ground was opened in June 1917, giving rise to the "New" in its name.

Period of use

The New Military Cemetery remained in use from June 1917 until October 1918, but the bulk of the burials date from the most intense phase of fighting, between July and December 1917, corresponding to the Third Battle of Ypres. During this period, the nearby casualty clearing stations and field ambulances processed enormous numbers of wounded soldiers, many of whom did not survive and were laid to rest here.

Who is buried here?

The cemetery contains the graves of soldiers from across the British Commonwealth. Alongside British troops, visitors will find the graves of Canadian gunners, New Zealand soldiers, and at least a handful of South African casualties. Among those buried here is a recipient of the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy — a detail that underlines the range of service records represented within the cemetery's rows.

Design and layout

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, a prominent British architect commissioned by the Imperial War Graves Commission (the forerunner of today's Commonwealth War Graves Commission) to design numerous war cemeteries across Belgium and France after the First World War. His hallmark style is visible here: uniform rows of white headstones, carefully tended lawns, and a central Cross of Sacrifice — a layout repeated at many CWGC sites across Flanders.

Why visit

Though overshadowed by larger, more famous sites such as Tyne Cot or the cemeteries within Ypres itself, Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery is a meaningful stop on any First World War remembrance route through Belgium. Its quiet setting on the outskirts of Vlamertinge, away from the busier tourist paths of central Ypres, offers space for reflection on the human cost of the fighting around Ypres. The site is particularly worthwhile for visitors interested in military history, for descendants tracing family members who served with Commonwealth forces, and for anyone wanting a fuller picture of the Passchendaele campaign beyond its most-visited memorials.

Frequently asked questions

How many people are buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery? The cemetery holds 1,812 Commonwealth burials from the First World War.

Who designed the cemetery? It was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield on behalf of the Imperial War Graves Commission.

When do most of the burials date from? Most burials date from July to December 1917, during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).

How do you get to the cemetery? It is located about 5 km west of Ieper (Ypres) town centre, just south of the village of Vlamertinge.