Want to step back in time to a village that played a crucial role in World War I? Then you’ve come to the right place at Wijtschate. Wijtschate sits 7 kilometers south of Ieper. It is on the road that connects Ieper to Armentieres. This village has a history marked by conflict and resilience.
Wijtschate was first seized by the Germans in November 1914. But Commonwealth forces recovered it during the Battle of Messines on June 7 1917. However the Germans seized Wijtschate again on April 16 1918. Finally on September 28 it was liberated.
After the Armistice Wytschate Military Cemetery was created. Graves were moved here from smaller battlefield cemeteries around Wijtschate. These included Rest and Be Thankful Farm. Also R.E. Beaver Farm and the Cemetery near Rossignol Estaminet. There was also Somer Farm Cemetery No.2 and Gordon Cemetery.
Today Wijtschate Military Cemetery holds 1002 servicemen from World War I. 673 of these burials are unidentified. Special memorials honor 16 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. These men lost their lives near Rossignol Estaminet R.E. Beaver Farm and Rest and Be Thankful Farm. Their graves could not be found during the war.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The Battle of Messines was a significant event here. The 36th Ulster Division and the 16th Irish Division captured Wijtschate. The village had been fortified by the German 4th Army. This capture was a key tactical victory.
Before the British attack in June 1917 senior German commanders considered withdrawing from the Messines salient. But local commanders objected because the eastern slope of the ridge would obstruct artillery. They were also assured that British mining attempts had failed. The British attack included detonating deep mines under the German front lines. IX Corps was to capture Wijtschate. The 36th Ulster and 16th Irish Divisions captured the village by 800 a.m.
The German 2nd Division occupied the Wijtschate sector. They suffered severely from mine explosions artillery and gas bombardments. General Maximilian von Laffert the Gruppe Wijtschate commander was dismissed after the battle. German General Hermann von Kuhl later wrote that if Crown Prince Rupprecht had agreed to a withdrawal the Germans would have avoided one of the worst tragedies of the war.
The landscape around Wijtschate played a crucial role. Messines Ridge runs southeast from Wijtschate. The ridge has a shallow decline on the east side. The Germans had spent two years fortifying the area. By 1917 the villages were in ruins. Trenches ringed the village and machine-gun nests were in house cellars.
So as you stand here remember the soldiers who fought and died. Wijtschate Military Cemetery stands as a lasting testament to their sacrifice. It serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war.